Google Maps has renamed the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America" for users in the United States following a formal name change by the Trump administration.
The update, visible on both web and mobile versions of Google Maps, reflects a decision by the US government to modify the designation of the body of water located between the eastern coast of Mexico and the Florida Panhandle.
Google said it follows the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), a US database of official location names.
Photo: Google Maps says “Gulf of America” and Apple Maps says “Gulf of Mexico.”
Users in Mexico will continue to see "Gulf of Mexico," while international users will see the original name with “Gulf of America” in parentheses.
Google determines a user’s location through data from their mobile operating system, SIM card, and network settings.
Desktop users may see variations based on search settings and device location.
Apple Maps has not yet made any changes and still redirects searches for "Gulf of America" to the Gulf of Mexico.
Other mapping services, including MapQuest, have not followed suit. Google-owned navigation app Waze displays both names when searching for the Gulf of Mexico but does not recognize searches for the "Gulf of America."
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