The significance of a name change is often debated, particularly regarding geographical features, and the dialogue has heated up following recent decisions by former President Donald Trump. While the waters between the Southern United States, Mexico, and Cuba have historically been known as the Gulf of Mexico for centuries, Trump’s order to rename it the Gulf of America has stirred mixed reactions. The highest peak in North America, located in Alaska, will remain a notable landmark regardless of whether it’s called Denali, as named by former President Barack Obama in 2015, or reverted to Mt. McKinley, a change initiated by Trump as well.
Trump’s assertions align with his “America First” ideology, prompting a wave of introspection among cartographers and educators, as well as some jesting on social media platforms. One prominent actor in the discussions, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, officially utilized the term “Gulf of America” in a government document, although it remains uncertain how many states bordering the Gulf will embrace this nomenclature.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum humorously suggested that should Trump persist with his renaming initiative, Mexico might label North America as “Mexican America.” However, she later reassured that it would universally continue to be known as the Gulf of Mexico by her country and globally.
The politics surrounding map-making is an intricate issue. Maps serve as representations of significant areas, and differing priorities can create discord, notably in an interconnected world where nations share the same cartographical portrayals. There exists no universally accepted method for naming various geographical features across the globe. Denali is favored by Alaska Natives, whereas Mt. McKinley pays homage to President William McKinley, named in the late 1800s by a gold seeker. Additionally, China regards Taiwan as part of its territory, while the United States refers to the body of water known in China as the South China Sea, which goes by various names among surrounding nations. The Persian Gulf has maintained its name since the 16th century, although several Middle Eastern countries often refer to it as the Arabian Gulf. In 2012, Iran threatened legal action against Google for not labeling the body of water on maps.
The political landscape influences how Americans and Mexicans refer to the river that forms the border between Texas and several Mexican states. In the U.S., it’s known as the Rio Grande, while Mexicans refer to it as the Rio Bravo. Trump’s recent executive order, titled “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness,” emphasizes the importance of promoting America’s heritage and inspiring future generations through the naming of national treasures, whether natural or historic.
The change in designation for the gulf with a vast 3,700-mile coastline raises several questions. Peter Bellerby, a cartographer from London, noted that he seeks guidance on whether to enforce such changes in maps, citing a hypothetical scenario where the Atlantic Ocean could be renamed the American Ocean, which they would likely disregard.
By Wednesday evening, major mapping services like Google and Apple still referred to both the mountain and the gulf by their traditional names. Representatives from these platforms have not responded to inquiries regarding their naming conventions. A spokesperson from National Geographic indicated that the organization refrains from commenting on individual disputes and emphasizes a commitment to impartiality, utilizing multiple authoritative sources in their research. They cite examples of disputed place names and include explanatory notes for such cases.
Ongoing discussions on social media encapsulate the divide on this topic. Some commenters drew parallels with previous name changes, like the notable Sears Tower becoming the Willis Tower, although many still refer to it by its original name. In Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, there was a contentious shift back and forth between Market Street and Martin Luther King Boulevard, eliciting public outcry each time. Similarly, New York’s Tappan Zee Bridge was controversially renamed the Mario Cuomo Bridge but continues to be colloquially referred to by its original moniker.
Intriguingly, one user on Reddit questioned whether educational systems would teach the Gulf of America as a legitimate name for the water body, followed by another suggesting that students could be made aware of both the “official” and “actual” names. Others were resolute in their stance; one expressed they would only refer to it as the Gulf of America if similarly mandated to call the Tappan Zee Bridge by its newly designated name, asserting that would never happen. The dynamics surrounding naming conventions, especially for geographical features, illustrate how deeply rooted cultural and political sentiments are entwined with our understanding of the world we live in.
