Countries that changed their names officially and why
Political, social, and cultural factors have primarily influenced the various transformations that countries have undergone throughout history, including changes to their names. The majority of the nations that underwent name changes did so in an effort to alter their national identities or historical narratives.
We are providing you with a list of nations that have formally changed their names.
Turkey to Turkiye
This country changed its name recently and is now called Turkiye. In addition to announcing a name change, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared that Turkiye would gain international recognition. He went on to say that this choice will affect how the public and other countries view the nation. He went on to say that the word “Turkiye” best captures the ideals, traditions, and civilization of the nation.
Czech Republic to Czechia
Czech Republic was renamed as Czechia in April 2016 to make it easier to name the nation for businesses and athletic events. According to reports, this debate lasted up to 20 years before a decision was made.
Swaziland to Eswatini
The African nation of Swaziland’s monarch formally declared in April 2018 that the country would now be known as Eswatini. Interestingly, since they had been using this name informally for some time. The change was not too surprising to the populace. In addition, a lot of people were relieved to see the previous name changed to Eswatini because it was frequently confused with Switzerland.
Holland to the Netherlands
In January 2020, Holland made the decision to change their name as a marketing strategy. If rumours are to be believed, all promotional materials are now addressed to the Netherlands officially rather than to Holland. The goal of this shift is also allegedly to portray the nation as inclusive and open.
Republic of Macedonia to Republic of North Macedonia
Based on reports, the primary motivation for changing the name was to join NATO. This change took place in February 2019. According to reports, Macedonia was also a part of Greece, so the name change served as a way to set itself apart.
Ceylon to Sri Lanka
According to reports, Sri Lanka changed its name in 1972 to distance itself from colonial ties. The old colonial name Ceylon was officially dropped from official government use in Sri Lanka in 2011.
Kampuchea to Cambodia
Cambodia has never changed its name, but Kampuchea—the English transliteration of Cambodia—is the source of its current name. The nation was formally known as Kampuchea in 1976 under the communist government, but after his rule ended, the official name of the nation was changed to Cambodia.
Irish Free State to Ireland
The Anglo-Irish Treaty led to the creation of the Irish Free State in 1922, which had Dominion status. But in 1937, a new constitution was drafted, renaming the country Ireland and essentially turning it into a republic with an elected non-executive president.
Siam to Thailand
The development of Thailand is not recent, as it was known as Siam until 1939. According to reports, Siam was renamed as Thailand in 1939, then changed back to Siam between 1946 and 1948. In 1948, Thailand was once again given a new name, this time as the Kingdom of Thailand.
Burma to Myanmar
Previously referred to as Burma because of its connection to the well-known Burman ethnic group, the nation experienced a notable renaming in 1989. This change happened in less than a year after the military leaders renamed it as Myanmar due to a severe crackdown by the ruling junta on a pro-democracy uprising.
India Stands Out
India, the country with the largest population in the world, stands out when it comes to name changes. Hindu names have supplanted Muslim and colonial ones during the last few decades. Madras became Chennai, Calcutta became Kolkata, Bangalore became Bengaluru, and Allahabad became Prayagraj, among other changes. The Sanskrit and Hindi names for India are Bharat, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently made a suggestion that the whole nation may soon adopt this name. Recently, Modi invited visiting dignitaries to a banquet hosted by the “President of Bharat” while seated behind a nameplate that read “Bharat” at a G20 meeting in New Delhi.
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