Here's How All Online Maps Are Handling the ‘Gulf of Mexico’ Name Change

Google Maps was the first company to rename the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America. Other software leaders, like Apple Maps, are now following suit.
a hand holding a map with the gulf of america on it all in teal
Photograph: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

If you search map websites for information about the Gulf of Mexico this week in the United States, you will see that, depending on which service you use, the familiar body of water might have a new name—or not.

These search results exemplify the complications stemming from technology companies’ varying policies for following President Donald Trump’s executive order to rename that area of the Atlantic ocean as the “Gulf of America.”

On Tuesday morning, Google searches for the Gulf of Mexico returned an official “Gulf of America” knowledge panel at the top, complete with a tile showing the updated name on Google Maps. Soon after, Apple Maps and Bing had echoed that change.

Curious how other online maps are reacting? I did some searching to find out, and will keep this list updated as and when companies change their listing for the Gulf of Mexico.

Apple Maps

Map: Courtesy of Apple

Google Maps was the first major smartphones navigation app to change its naming, but Apple Maps soon followed suit. I saw the Gulf of Mexico listed Tuesday morning on Apple Maps, but by that evening the name was switched over to “Gulf of America” in the app.

Baidu Maps

Map: Courtesy of Baidu

The navigation app from one of China’s leading technology companies, Baidu Maps, still lists the name as the Gulf of Mexico, according to a screenshot provided by WIRED senior business editor Louise Matsakis.

Bing Maps

Map: Courtesy of Bing

While it accidentally listed the Gulf of Mexico twice on Tuesday, by that same evening Bing Maps had also switched its name over to the Gulf of America.

Google Maps

Map: Courtesy of Google

Google was the first online map I tested that showed the Gulf of America name. However, the app didn’t fully commit to showing only the Trump-ordered name to those in the United States during my tests. When I was zoomed in, Google Maps listed it as Gulf of America, but as soon as I zoomed out further it switched to the nebulously phrased “Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America).”

HERE WeGo

Map: Courtesy of WeGo

A European navigation app that specializes in offline maps, HERE WeGo still lists the body of water as the Gulf of Mexico.

Mapbox

Map: Courtesy of Mapbox

Mapbox provides custom maps for companies like Strava and Snapchat using data partially sourced from the open-source mapping platform OpenStreetMap. While not a navigation service itself, the company does still include a screenshot showing the Gulf of Mexico on its website.

MapQuest

Map: Courtesy of MapQuest

One of the pioneers for online mapping, MapQuest continues to list that area of the Atlantic Ocean as the Gulf of Mexico.

MapXplorer

Map: Courtesy of MapXplorer

One of the top five free navigation apps for American users on Apple’s ioses store, MapXplorer (ioses, androids) has not changed the name from the Gulf of Mexico.

OpenStreetMap

Map: Courtesy of OpenStreetMap

A popular mapping platform that’s run by volunteers and provides underlying data for numerous apps, OpenStreetMap forum users have discussed changing the name, but it remains the same for now.

TomTom

Map: Courtesy of Tomtom

Checking out the company’s free version with TomTom’s AmiGO smartphones app, I still saw the Gulf of Mexico name on my screen.

Yandex

Map: Courtesy of Yandex

The navigation feature from one of Russia’s top tech companies, Yandex, still shows the same name to American users.