The US Board on Geographic Names (BGN) has changed the name of the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America.
The Details
This follows Executive Order 14172 signed by President Trump on Jan. 20, 2025, calling for the name change, as part of an effort at “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness.”
A follow-up Order dated Feb. 7, 2025, signed by Doug Burgum, Secretary of the Department of the Interior (home to BGN), states,
The BGN is ordered to immediately take all actions necessary to rename the feature currently known as the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, including updating the Geographic Names Information System.
The official geographic names repository for the United States, GNIS, has been updated to reflect the new name. The summary report for the feature states,
Secretary’s Order 3423 directs the Board on Geographic Names (“BGN”) to immediately rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and to update the Geographic Names Information System to appropriately reflect the change. This Order implements President Trump’s direction in Executive Order 14172, “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness,” that the name be changed.
The Gulf of America, formerly known as the Gulf of Mexico, with an average depth 5300 ft is a major body of water bordered and nearly landlocked by North America with the Gulf’s eastern, northern, and northwestern shores in the U.S. and its southwestern and southern shores in Mexico. Bordered by Cuba on the SE, it connects to the Atlantic Ocean via the Florida Straits between the U.S. and Cuba, and the Caribbean Sea via the Yucatan Channel between Mexico and Cuba. In common usage, the term “Gulf Coast” refers to the continuous portion of the coast running from Cape Sable, FL to the northern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula; in geographic usage it extends East from and to include the Florida Keys to the northerly sides of the Keys there. The Gulf of America spans over 1,700 miles of U.S. coastline.
As noted in an earlier post, the Gulf of America is an international water body, bordering on Mexico and Cuba. Therefore, other nations do not have to follow the US example.
The BGN’s DNC (Domestic Names Committee) Executive Secretary’s Report on January 30, 2025 addresses the issue as follows.
Executive Order 14170 – Restoring Names that Honor American Greatness was released on 20 Jan. Department of Interior put out a press release on the DOI website on 24 Jan stating, “The U.S. Board on Geographic Names, under the purview of the Department of the Interior, is working expeditiously to update the official federal nomenclature in the Geographic Names Information System to reflect these changes, effective immediately for federal use.
This press release, dated Jan 24, 2025, goes on to say,
The Gulf of America, formerly known as the Gulf of Mexico, is one of the most vital assets in the Nation’s history and economy. Spanning over 1,700 miles of U.S. coastline and encompassing nearly 160 million acres, the Gulf has been a critical artery for America’s trade, energy production, and maritime industries.
From its rich fisheries, which drive local economies, to its vast reserves of oil and natural gas that have fueled innovation and prosperity, the Gulf of America has consistently been a cornerstone of the Nation’s growth. Its ports rank among the largest and most impressive in the world, connecting American goods to global markets. Recognizing the Gulf’s enduring contributions to the economic strength and vitality of the United States, President Trump’s directive affirms its central importance to the Nation by officially renaming it the Gulf of America.
It appears that, after the name change, BGN received several proposals to change the name of Mt. McKinley back to Denali. The Staff Report for the Feb. 13, 2025, DNC meeting indicates that these proposals will not be accepted for consideration, citing BGN policy on names established by the President or Congress. Specifically,
Geographic names and their applications specifically established by an act of Congress or Executive order are legally official, and therefore, are not bound by BGN principles, policies, and procedures. Occasionally, a name or name-change proposal submitted to the BGN concurrently becomes a matter of proposed congressional legislation. Accordingly, the BGN adheres to the foregoing policy to prevent confusion that would arise from conflicting action by Congress … Geographic names and their applications established by the United States Congress or the President of the United States are the official names, and take precedence over BGN principles, policies, and procedures.
How have some of the big mapping companies responded? There’s been a lot of conversation about this topic on the web, since Google made the change to their maps while Apple has not (at least, not yet).
What about Denali?
Denali (a mountain peak in Alaska and the tallest mountain in North America) was also covered in President Trump’s Executive Order. That Order changed the name to Mt. McKinley. The Department of Interior press release from Jan. 24, 2025, states,
Mount McKinley, North America’s highest peak, stands as a monument to the strength and determination of President William McKinley, the 25th President of the United States. President McKinley heroically led the Nation to victory in the Spanish-American War, fostering an era of rapid economic growth and territorial gains for the Nation. Tragically assassinated while in office, President McKinley’s leadership and sacrifice remain a testament to American resilience and success.
In 1917, the country officially honored President McKinley through the naming of North America’s highest peak. Yet after nearly a century, President Obama’s administration, in 2015, stripped the McKinley name from federal nomenclature, an affront to President McKinley’s life, his achievements, and his sacrifice. The decision to return the peak to its historical name is a meaningful recognition of President McKinley’s enduring legacy.
However, GNIS still refers to the peak as Denali. It’s not immediately apparent why this change has not occurred. However, it may relate to a resolution passed by the Alaskan legislature asking that the name Denali be maintained.
Denali has been the official Alaskan name for the mountain since 1975. Denali is a an Athabascan name that translates into “the high one” in English.
Both Google and Apple continue to show the peak asDenali, not Mt. McKinley.