Apple Maps renames Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America

Apple has begun renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America" in its Maps app, with some users noticing the change when tapping on the location. While the update is rolling out in the U.S., Apple plans to expand it globally over time.

The shift follows an update to the U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), which both Apple and Google rely on for official place names.

Google Maps and Waze have also adopted the new label, though outside the U.S., the traditional name remains, sometimes with "Gulf of America" in parentheses.

The change has sparked debate, as other countries are not required to recognize the new name. Meanwhile, another proposed revision—renaming Denali back to Mount McKinley—has yet to be reflected in Apple or Google’s mapping services.

For now, the update continues to roll out, raising questions about its broader acceptance.