Apple Maps and Bing Maps have followed Google in changing their Maps software to display “Gulf of America” instead of the traditional name, Gulf of Mexico. Google began implementing the change on February 10, with Apple following suit on February 11. Microsoft’s Bing Maps had not made the change at the time of reporting, but a spokesperson confirmed that it was in progress. The companies explained that they are updating their maps to reflect the Geographic Names Information System’s nomenclature in the United States, which includes renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.
The transition to the new name is not seamlessly integrated yet on any of the map sites. Google Maps still returns “Gulf of Mexico” as the top search result when users type “Gulf,” but selecting it takes them to the body of water labeled as Gulf of America. Apple Maps also initially shows the map of the Gulf of Mexico when users search for it, but then changes the label to Gulf of America. Bing Maps, as of Tuesday afternoon, was still displaying the Gulf of Mexico wording, but a statement from the company indicated that the update was on its way.
Some individuals expressed their displeasure with the name change on social media, with some users considering switching to alternate map software from Apple and Microsoft following Google’s adoption of the new name. Despite criticism, the companies are moving forward with the changes in line with the executive order from President Donald Trump to rename the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America. Google stated on social media that they are complying with Global Navigation Information Systems data and that it may take some time for the update to be fully implemented.
Google, in a blog post on February 10, informed its users about the name change and how it is being implemented in its software. The company explained that the names displayed in the Maps app are based on the user’s country location, determined by information from the device’s operating system, such as iOS and Android. Users can also select their region in the Search settings or let the device determine the location. Apple and Bing maps are likely to follow a similar approach in updating their systems to reflect the new name for the body of water previously known as the Gulf of Mexico.
While the name change has sparked some controversy and backlash on social media, the companies are standing by their decision to update their maps in accordance with the directive from the US government. The transition to using “Gulf of America” in place of “Gulf of Mexico” may take some time to fully integrate across all platforms, but users can expect to see the changes reflected in their Maps software in the near future. The companies are committed to providing accurate and up-to-date information to their users, aligning with the Geographic Names Information System’s guidelines for naming geographical features in the United States.
