The request to officially change the name of Mount McKinley to Denali across the United States was sent to the Board on Geographic Names and was ultimately accepted. This change, which took 40 years to implement, was based on the desire to honor the traditions of Alaska Natives and the support of the people of this state. Despite objections from prominent figures such as the senators from Alaska and President William McKinley, the name change was carried out according to the law.
President Trump's proposal to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico generated controversy. However, making such a change is different from modifying a geographic name within the borders of the U.S., as the gulf is not within the territory of the country. The Board on Geographic Names has the authority to change names on official U.S. maps, but there is no international board to manage place names globally.
Trump's Executive Order urges honoring American visionaries and patriots, which includes changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America and Denali to Mount McKinley. Although some consider these changes insignificant, respecting official names is essential to avoid confusion on maps and documents. Generally, the process of changing a place name begins at the local level, with proposals backed by community support.
It is important to highlight that each country decides the names of its places, and there is no official mechanism to compel other countries to change geographic names. In the United States, recently, names such as Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis have been changed to Bde Maka Ska to reflect local cultural heritage. Naming issues are sensitive and reflect the history and identity of communities, so changes must be made respectfully and following established procedures.
