The Gulf of Mexico and Denali mountain are having their names changed by the US government. Here's why that matters to locals.

News & Advice How Names on Maps Get Changed—and Who Gets to Decide The Gulf of Mexico and Denali mountain are having their names changed by the US government. Here's why that matters to locals.

The company said that Maps will reflect any updates to the Geographic Names Information System, a database of more than 1 million geographic features in the United States.

Using US census data, creator Brian Lee Yung Rowe has developed an interactive map showing how names have grown and waned in popularity in different states since the early 1900s.

Google says it will take its cue from the U.S. government if it has to change the names of the Gulf of Mexico and Denali on its maps.

Google Maps has confirmed that, following the US GNIS, it will rename the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America." ...

People in Mexico will still see the name Gulf of Mexico, with international users seeing both names, Google said. The change follows an executive order from President Trump.