Last week, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that mandates the federal government to officially change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America on maps. This transition may take several months to take effect.

 
Google, however, is preparing for the name change.

On Monday, the tech company announced via social media that they will implement the new name once it is confirmed in government records. Additionally, they indicated that they will revert to using the name Mount McKinley for the Alaskan mountain that is currently known as Denali, following a similar renaming directive from Trump.

Here’s what we know so far.

How Does Google Maps Handle Name Changes?

Addressing inquiries about naming conventions in Google Maps, the company stated on X: “We have a long-standing policy of implementing name changes in accordance with updates from official government sources.”

They emphasized that for geographic features in the U.S., updates align with the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). “Once this system is updated, we will promptly modify Google Maps in the U.S. to reflect Mount McKinley and Gulf of America,” they added.

They also noted their consistent practice, stating: “When local names differ between countries, Maps will display the recognized name for each region. Users worldwide can see both names, which will apply in this scenario as well.”

How Long Has the Gulf of Mexico Had Its Name?

The Gulf of Mexico has been known by this name since at least the late 1600s, describing the large body of water bordered to the north by the southern coast of the United States, stretching from Texas to Florida and encircling Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.

It ranks as the ninth largest body of water globally, as stated by the National Parks Service.

With a surface area exceeding 615,000 square miles and dimensions of nearly one thousand miles wide from east to west and 660 miles wide from north to south, it rivals the size of Alaska.

The gulf’s shoreline totals approximately 3,540 miles, with over half of it adjacent to Mexico, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This measurement excludes its numerous bays and inlets.

Who Oversees the Renaming of Geographic Locations?

The task of renaming geographic locations falls under the authority of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN). This federal agency has the authority to rename places within the United States.

According to the BGN’s website, “The BGN is tasked by law to standardize geographic names across the federal government and generally opposes name changes unless warranted by significant reasons.” They add, “Changing a name solely for the purpose of correcting or reinstating historical usage should not be the main rationale for a renaming.”

While BGN changes typically carry no legal obligation for states surrounding the gulf or for foreign nations, at least one state has already adopted it.

In a recent state of emergency announcement regarding cold weather, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis mentioned, “An area of low pressure moving across the Gulf of America, interacting with Arctic air, will produce widespread significant weather conditions in North Florida starting Tuesday.”

Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter. Follow him on X @GabeHauari.