Apple Maps Renames Gulf of Mexico to “Gulf of America” for U.S. Users

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Apple Maps users in the United States will now see the Gulf of Mexico labeled as the Gulf of America, following an executive order issued by President Donald Trump in January. This change, which was implemented this week, aligns Apple with Google Maps, which has also adopted the new name—but only for U.S. users. Mexican users will still see “Gulf of Mexico,” while other countries will display both names.

A Historic Name Change

The Gulf of Mexico, which was first named in the 16th century, is bordered by Mexico, Cuba, and the United States. The U.S. controls over 1,600 miles of the Gulf’s coastline, making up nearly half of the total, and holds sovereign rights over a 12-nautical-mile stretch beyond its coast, with economic control extending 200 miles offshore.

Typically, U.S. place names are determined by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, a federal agency under the Department of the Interior. This organization, founded in 1890, oversees geographic naming conventions and maintains the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). However, the recent executive order directly instructed the board to update the Gulf’s name, bypassing the usual process.

Apple’s Decision & Its Impact

While federal agencies are required to follow the name change, Apple’s decision to update Apple Maps was voluntary, as the executive order does not apply to private companies. Nonetheless, Apple’s compliance mirrors Google’s move, signaling widespread adoption of the new name across popular digital maps.

This shift may fuel political debate and international scrutiny, especially from Mexico and Cuba, which continue to recognize the original name.

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