‘Gulf of Mexico’ is now ‘Gulf of America’ for US Google Maps users
Google Maps changed the ‘Gulf of Mexico’ name once it was officially updated in the U.S. Geographic Names System.
Google, Apple and Bing Maps have changed the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America following an executive order from President Trump.MapQuest has not yet updated its map to reflect Trump’s order.In what appear to be a joke, MapQuest is allowing online users to rename the gulf whatever they want.
If you’re not a fan of the recently renamed Gulf of America, you can call it whatever you want courtesy of MapQuest.
The online navigation company appears to be poking fun at President Donald Trump’s executive order to rebrand the body of water bordering the nation’s southern coast.
Trump’s decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico has been met with mixed results. While some U.S. citizens who live in places like Florida have gladly welcomed the name change, others appear irked.
Among those unhappy with the rebranding is Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who threatened legal action against Google again this week after the tech company changed the Gulf of Mexico’s name for Google Maps users in the United States.
Here’s what to know about the recent switch and the names some people on social media have given it using a new site by MapQuest.
Why did Google change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America?
In a statement posted to X, Google said it updated its maps application to the Gulf of America as part of a long-standing practice of adhering to official government names. The Geographic Names Information System, which is part of the United States Geological Survey, supplies the designated names used in Google Maps.
The gulf name will appear differently for people in other countries, the tech company explained, saying: “When official names vary between countries, Maps users see their official local name. Everyone in the rest of the world sees both names.”
Story continues after photo gallery.
MapQuest retains Gulf of Mexico name
Map applications on Apple and Bing have since followed Google’s lead. MapQuest, however, isn’t among them. The navigation company has retained the Gulf of Mexico name, it joked, not as a political statement but because the company doesn’t remember how to change it.
“MapQuest is NOT renaming the Gulf of Mexico — not because of politics but because we haven’t updated our maps in like 15 years and don’t remember how to do it,” the company posted last month.
‘Name your own Gulf,’ says MapQuest
MapQuest announced last week on X the company “still hadn’t figured out” how to update its maps, but would allow users to rebrand the Gulf of Mexico on the website Gulfof.MapQuest.com.
After giving the gulf a new designation, its title will appear over the water of a map that users can download or share on social media — the image does not change MapQuest’s official map display.
Social media users on BlueSky appear to be venting their frustrations about the Gulf of America by creating maps with names like the “Gulf of Fragile Masculinity,” the “Gulf of Greenland,” and the “Gulf of $7 Eggs.” Here’s what else they’re calling it.
What social media users on MapQuest are calling the ‘Gulf of America’
“Gulf of Fragile Masculinity”
“Gulf of Salt Water”
“Gulf of Greenland”
“Gulf of $7 Eggs”
“Gulf of Cuba”
“Gulf of Mediocre White Men Ruining My Life”
“Gulf of Jimmy Buffett”
“Gulf of Lower Canada”
“Gulf of Where America’s dignity died”
“Gulf of Eggs which broke Democracy”
“Gulf of American Entitlement”
“Gulf of Stupidity”
“Gulf of Gulf of Freaking Mexico”
“Gulf of Screaming Into The Void”
“Gulf of I could do this all day”
“Gulf of Alternate Reality”
“Gulf of This Executive Order Could Have Been An Email”
“Gulf of Dumbest Timeline”
“Gulf of All the Americas. Canada, come on in, the water is warm.”
“Gulf of Incalculable Horrors”
“Gulf of Can I swim to Norway from here?”
What is MapQuest? Is it free to use?
MapQuest is a free online mapping and navigation service launched in 1996, making it one of the earliest such commercial mapping services of its time. Before the advent of voice navigation software in vehicles, users could enter a destination into MapQuest and receive step-by-step directions that could be printed out for use while traveling.
The MapQuest app is available for Apple iPhone and Google Android users.
See scenes from the Gulf of America on Presidents’ Day
John Tufts covers trending news for IndyStar and Midwest Connect. Send him a news tip at [email protected]. Find him on BlueSky at JohnWritesStuff.
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Publish date : 2025-02-21 06:06:00
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