# The "Gulf of America"? Wth? Can you just change the name of a body of water? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [January 7, 2025, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683 "2025-01-07T18:54:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2025, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/161 "2025-01-21T20:15:58Z")
I wonder if Trump will have to run his ideas of renaming GofM and Denali past Musk’s DOGE? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/162 "2025-01-22T02:27:41Z")
I think it’s just political theater he can tout to the rubes while not addressing egg prices. Having said that I’ve seen it in use already. One of my F/B friends, a retired nurse living on the edge of Mobile Bay, was commenting on the weather (it’s snowing there) and pointed out that they’re just 20 miles from the Gulf of America. She could just as easily gone with coastal Alabama, or just outside Mobile, but went with GOA in a matter-of-fact way. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/163 "2025-01-22T02:45:33Z")
> [@outlierrn](#): > > I think it’s just political theater he can tout to the rubes while not addressing egg prices. Yep. While not addressing egg prices, health care, homelessness, the ever-growing wealth gap, etc. It’s like when I would say “is that a green tree frog” and point to get my young relatives attention off something I didn’t want them to see. It works just as well for Trump. He robs the nation blind while the common folks bask in the Gulf of America. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/164 "2025-01-22T03:16:05Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Sure. Just tell any national agencies to use the new name when preparing maps or writing papers, etc. So when NOAA talks about a hurricane coming inland, they’ll be saying it’s currently in the Gulf of America. > > It doesn’t mean anyone else will use the new name but plenty of places in the world have multiple names depending on who’s talking. > > To be clear, I think it’s dumb but I don’t think there’s any actual barriers to it. Unlike annexing Canada or Greenland which has a bunch of obvious problems. Right. Renaming the Gulf is just silly. The other two ideas are crazy and dangerous. > [@outlierrn](#): > > I think it’s just political theater he can tout to the rubes while not addressing egg prices. Yep. The real #1 reason trump won. But there is nothing he can really do about inflation. In fact, several of his ideas- tariffs, getting rid of migrant farm workers- will _cause rampant inflation._ ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/165 "2025-01-22T18:54:01Z")
New name for the gulf: [![](https://i.imgflip.com/9hlc9m.jpg) ](https://i.imgflip.com/9hlc9m.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/166 "2025-01-22T19:22:18Z")
In what may be its first official use of the term, a Coast Guard press release about repositioning assets to comply with border protection uses the name Gulf of America. Private entities can do what they want, but the US government has started using the term already ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/167 "2025-01-22T19:27:21Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Well, you can certainly ask, but I suspect Denmark’s price will be too high. At least a dozen reindeer hides. But seriously, if we paid the same that we did for Alaska and given inflation, we’d be looking at paying Denmark about $145M. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/168 "2025-01-22T19:30:21Z")
My question is: is there any sort of official international agreement involved beyond just usage? Back in the 1980’s the Gulf of California (USA) was also known as the Sea of Cortez (Mexico). If Cuba wanted to start calling that body of water the Gulf of Castro, who could stop them? ---
**Author:** ![rsat3acr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@rsat3acr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsat3acr)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/169 "2025-01-22T19:32:46Z")
seems to me that Musk and the DOGE should be against it since it requires reprinting maps, charts, books etc. and of course that is inefficient for something that isn’t needed. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/170 "2025-01-22T19:47:15Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > My question is: is there any sort of official international agreement involved beyond just usage? Nope. There are lots of areas where it can be a sore point to use the wrong one, too. If you want to work with Argentina, you refer to the Malvinas Islands, not the Falklands. Likewise, the US military will use Arabian Gulf rather than Persian Gulf when working with any of the Arab states. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/171 "2025-01-22T19:48:43Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > a Coast Guard press release That’s why he fired the head of the USCG. Get a toadie in there to do what Trump bids. [https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-fires-coast-guard-commandant-over-dei-security-fox-news-reports-2025-01-21/](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-fires-coast-guard-commandant-over-dei-security-fox-news-reports-2025-01-21/) ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/172 "2025-01-22T19:49:20Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Private entities can do what they want, but the US government has started using the term already I can’t imagine it’s official yet. I make charts for the US gov and they would have issued something telling us to make the changes already. Especially since our charts go to print in a week. The Coast Guard might have said something, but I’ve not heard a thing, official or unofficial about a name change. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/173 "2025-01-22T19:58:06Z")
> [@Edward\_The\_Head](#): > > I can’t imagine it’s official yet. And what exactly makes it official? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/174 "2025-01-22T20:00:02Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > > [@Loach](#): > > > > a Coast Guard press release > > That’s why he fired the head of the USCG. Get a toadie in there to do what Trump bids. > > [Trump removes US Coast Guard chief, official cites DEI focus | Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-fires-coast-guard-commandant-over-dei-security-fox-news-reports-2025-01-21/) By that definition, everyone in the military is a toady and always has. I am sure if he kept the former admiral in charge she would have done everything. The president ordered just like she did under President Biden as long as it wasn’t illegal. It was a symbolic gesture to fire her. I’m sure he also wasn’t happy that she was a woman. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/175 "2025-01-22T20:02:50Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > And what exactly makes it official? You know I don’t really know. I would guess USGS would have to say something as to the best of my knowledge they are who gives the names to places in the US. I’ve been working in/for the government since 97 and haven’t seen any big name changes in that time. We’ve always taken our names from USGS quads. I will ask my NOAA buddies if anything has come down on their end. Since they make the nautical charts they would be one of the first to know. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/176 "2025-01-22T20:06:06Z")
> [@Edward\_The\_Head](#): > > I’ve been working in/for the government since 97 and haven’t seen any big name changes in that time. Mount McKinley to Denali seemed pretty big. “President Barack Obama and Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell took action in 2015 to restore the name Denali to the mountain.” ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/177 "2025-01-22T20:28:05Z")
> [@Edward\_The\_Head](#): > > I will ask my NOAA buddies if anything has come down on their end. Doesn’t Trump want to get rid of NOAA? I vaguely remember thinking, “What will Dirk Pitt do now?” ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/178 "2025-01-22T20:28:08Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > Mount McKinley to Denali seemed pretty big. I will need to go back and look at the archived charts and see what was done. I don’t work with Alaska so don’t remember off the top of my head. But looking it seems that the area has been changed to Denali National Park and the peak is called Denali. I doubt Obama just said change the name and it was done though. [US Board on Geographic Names](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Board_on_Geographic_Names) is the group that deals with names. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/179 "2025-01-22T20:29:54Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > > [@Edward\_The\_Head](#): > > > > I can’t imagine it’s official yet. > > And what exactly makes it official? The US Board on Geographic Names approves the name change. And then they probably have to publish it somewhere. Not sure exactly where. They do have a large database, but there’s probably some circular listing the latest decisions. > **[Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) | U.S. Geological Survey](https://www.usgs.gov/tools/geographic-names-information-system-gnis)** > > The U.S. Geological Survey's National Geospatial Program developed the GNIS in support of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names as the official repository of domestic geographic names data, the official vehicle for geographic names use by all... ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683/180 "2025-01-22T20:30:37Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Doesn’t Trump want to get rid of NOAA? I vaguely remember thinking, “What will Dirk Pitt do now?” At least the weather service part he does. But there are four buildings that house NOAA in the DC area. They do a lot more than just weather. Though I’m sure he’d be happy to get rid of all of the fishing regulations and such as well. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gulf-of-america-wth-can-you-just-change-the-name-of-a-body-of-water/1012683.md?page=10)