Why not the Gulf of America

Yesterday, during his inaugural address, President Donald Trump announced his intention to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America." He described the new name as "appropriate," highlighting the United States' significant presence and activities in the region.

The process of officially changing the name involves directing federal agencies to implement the new designation in official communications and materials. However, such a change would primarily affect U.S. federal usage; international bodies and other nations are not obligated to adopt the new name. The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), responsible for standardizing maritime nomenclature, includes both the United States and Mexico as members. For the IHO to recognize a name change, a consensus among member states would be necessary, making unilateral changes by a single nation complex.

Historically, the name "Gulf of Mexico" has been in use for over four centuries, with early maps from the era of Christopher Columbus solidifying the designation. The Gulf of Mexico derives its name from its geographical location and the history of the region. Long before European exploration, the Gulf was integral to the lives of Indigenous peoples such as the Maya, Olmec, and Aztec, who relied on its waters for fishing, trade, and transportation. These cultures, while deeply connected to the Gulf, did not give it a singular name. The modern name emerged with the arrival of Spanish explorers in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. As they began mapping the region, they referred to it as the "Golfo de México" (Gulf of Mexico), drawing the name from the neighboring Aztec Empire, known to the Spanish as México, after its capital, Tenochtitlán (modern-day Mexico City). The Gulf quickly became a vital hub for Spanish colonization and transatlantic trade, serving as a conduit for goods such as silver and sugar between the all three of the Americas and Europe.

History of Changing Names

The history of changing names for seas, oceans, and gulfs reflects centuries of cultural evolution, exploration, political power, and geographic understanding. In ancient times, local civilizations named these bodies of water based on their geographical significance, mythology, or practical uses. For example, the Mediterranean Sea was called the "Great Green" by the Egyptians and "Mare Internum" by the Romans, while Indigenous names for waterways were deeply rooted in local traditions. With the advent of the Age of Exploration in the 15th century, European explorers often replaced these names with ones honoring monarchs, patrons, or their own discoveries. Ferdinand Magellan, for instance, named the Pacific Ocean "Mar Pacifico" (peaceful sea) for its calmness compared to the Atlantic, while the Indian Ocean was standardized on maps to highlight its importance in trade routes between Europe and India.

The Persian Gulf has been contested by Arab states, which favor the term "Arabian Gulf," while Iran defends the traditional "Persian Gulf." Similarly, the Sea of Japan is referred to as the "East Sea" by South Korea, reflecting historical tensions. Following decolonization, some regions have sought to restore Indigenous names, such as movements advocating for renaming Africa’s Lake Victoria to its traditional Luo name, Nam Lolwe.

Scientific advancements and evolving geographic knowledge have occasionally prompted changes in names to reflect physical characteristics. For instance, the Southern Ocean was officially recognized in 2000 to highlight the distinct ecological and geographic region around Antarctica. International efforts to standardize names, led by organizations like the International Hydrographic Organization, have attempted to settle disputes, but local preferences often persist, as seen in debates over the South China Sea, referred to by the Philippines as the West Philippine Sea.

In modern times, renaming has become a symbolic act for asserting cultural heritage or sovereignty. Ukraine, for example, emphasizes the Sea of Azov over older Russian terms to assert national identity. These changes underscore the dynamic history of naming and its ties to cultural identity, exploration, and geopolitics. The names of seas, oceans, and gulfs are more than geographical labels—they are narratives of human history, reflecting the power, exploration, and evolving identities of the people connected to these waters.

As other European powers, including the French and English, became familiar with the Gulf region, they adopted the Spanish name in translation, cementing its identity in global cartography. The Gulf’s name reflects not only its geographic proximity to Mexico but also its historical significance during the Age of Exploration and its role in shaping the colonial world. Today, the name serves as a reminder of the blend of Spanish exploration and maritime importance that define the Gulf of Mexico.

But what is a Gulf?

In the context of the Gulf of Mexico and other sea gulfs around the world, the word gulf refers to a large body of water that is partially enclosed by land but connected to a larger body of water, such as an ocean or a sea. In more general terms, a gulf highlights a geographical feature defined by its relationship to the surrounding land and larger water systems.

Since South, Central and North America surround the gulf, it seems to me that it would be appropriate to name it Gulf of America for all continents to attain attribute to the gulf. However, and as referenced in the labeling above, of course Trump is "saying" the Gulf of [Unite States of] America!

What do you think Trump is pushing this idea?

What do you think about the new name?