Gulf of America - Gulf of Mexico
community.openstreetmap.org
President Donald Trump just said during his inauguration that he wants to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. Aside from the political aspects, how does that even work? How does OSM choose a source for that? I’m curious! Also, somebody executed what I thought while I wrote this post:
  • KalciferOPEnglish
    2•5 months ago

    Do note that there are commonly used methods in OSM to add local names [1.1], alternate names [1.2], language specific names [1.2], etc [1].

    References
    1. “Names”. OpenStreetMap Wiki. Published: 2024-11-20T00:17. Accessed: 2025-02-04T02:41Z. https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Names.
    • Boomkop3English
      4•5 months ago

      A quick read finds me the local name should not be recognized under those either. That is, until it’s actually commonly referred to like that. Then still, it would only be a local nickname to some region.

      And the other two don’t appear to apply at all. Perhaps as language evolves a bit in the coming decades this might change.

      • KalciferOPEnglish
        2•5 months ago

        Oh, yeah — I wasn’t inferring that any one of those is the appropriate tag for this purpose; I was just mentioning that there are methods for tagging alternate names depending on the context, and that, perhaps, something similar could be done for this purpose (which, imo, it seems is main topic of discussion in the linked forum post).

        • Boomkop3English
          1•5 months ago

          I think it’s a needless discussion. Let’s wait until anything actually changes officially before we start going with some wild claim

          • KalciferOPEnglish
            1•5 months ago

            […] Let’s wait until anything actually changes officially […]

            Hm, I would argue that there is no such thing as “officially” in regards to OpenStreetMap. Or are you referring to the name “Gulf of America” changing officially in the USA?

            • Boomkop3English
              2•5 months ago

              Yes, I am. I don’t expect it to change internationally anytime soon

          • KalciferOPEnglish
            2•5 months ago

            […] Let’s wait until anything actually changes officially before we start going with some wild claim

            I wasn’t claiming anything — or, perhaps I misunderstand what you mean? Would you mind clarifying?

            • Boomkop3English
              2•5 months ago

              It’s a general suggestion in the light of the recent political developments. I think OSM shouldn’t just go out and follow every random suggestion any politician makes.

              This isn’t the only region recently contested by one leader either

              • KalciferOPEnglish
                2•5 months ago

                […] I think OSM shouldn’t just go out and follow every random suggestion any politician makes. […]

                I think there’s some use in including a countries official names for specific features, in some way. I’m not saying that the primary name should be that, but it’s at least a name that is known and conceivably could be searched.

                • Boomkop3English
                  3•5 months ago

                  Official, yes. But this isn’t official (yet). For search it makes sense tho

                  • KalciferOPEnglish
                    2•5 months ago

                    […] this isn’t official (yet). […]

                    Fair point! [1]

                    References
                    1. “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness” Executive Order 14172. Published: 2025-01-31 (Signed: 2025-01-20). Accessed: 2025-02-05T21:10Z. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/restoring-names-that-honor-american-greatness/, https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/01/31/2025-02096/restoring-names-that-honor-american-greatness.
                      • §4.b.

                        As such, within 30 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of the Interior shall, consistent with 43 U.S.C. 364 through 364f, take all appropriate actions to rename as the “Gulf of America” the U.S. Continental Shelf area bounded on the northeast, north, and northwest by the States of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida and extending to the seaward boundary with Mexico and Cuba in the area formerly named as the Gulf of Mexico. […]

                        • The executive order states that 30 days from the date the order was signed, or perhaps 30 days from the date it was published, The Gulf of Mexico will be renamed to “The Gulf of America”. This will either happen on 2025-02-19 (at the earliest), or 2025-03-02 (at the latest).