7 international locations that modified their names — and why

“Türkiye is the best representation and expression of the Turkish people’s culture, civilization and values,” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated final December when his authorities launched a memo concerning the identify change.

The rebranding could also be associated to Erdogan’s obvious annoyance over the nation’s unflattering affiliation with the chook. As the nation’s geopolitical position grows, Turkey has reportedly develop into extra image-conscious, and Erdogan’s sensitivity about how the nation is perceived additionally possible ties into his nationalist tendencies.

Incidentally, turkeys (the chook, that’s) really derive their identify from Turkey (the nation) as guinea fowl — initially imported to Europe by Turkey — had been referred to as turkey-hens. Colonists then additionally utilized this identify to the a lot bigger chook from the Americas.

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The Netherlands

The Dutch authorities additionally overhauled its picture by ditching the identify Holland. As of 2020, enterprise leaders, the tourism board and the central authorities all discuss with the nation because the Netherlands.

Now North Holland and South Holland are simply two of 12 provinces within the European nation.

The identify change is reportedly a part of a push to get away from the nation’s affiliation with leisure drug use and authorized prostitution, a potent pull issue for foreigners to the Dutch capital Amsterdam, which lies within the province of North Holland.

It’s not clear what is going to occur to the area identify Holland.com, which continues to be the Dutch tourism company’s touchdown web page.

North Macedonia

In 2019, the Republic of Macedonia (although recognised because the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) formally turned the Republic of North Macedonia. In distinction with another nation identify adjustments, the motivation, on this case, was political.

North Macedonia sought to enhance relations with Greece, with its sights on becoming a member of Nato and the EU. Greece had lengthy disputed use of the identify Macedonia for the neighbouring nation, as that can be the identify of a geographical area in Greece. Macedonia was additionally an historical Greek kingdom. The naming dispute even contributed to instability within the area.

Greece had most well-liked that the Balkan nation relinquish all use of the time period, proposing the names “Vardar Republic” or “Republic of Skopje” as an alternative. But after prolonged negotiations, North Macedonia it was, with the identify for its official language and residents remaining Macedonian.

Eswatini

In April 2018, King Mswati III renamed Swaziland to Eswatini, underscoring the ruler’s bid to interrupt free from the nation’s colonial previous. It is claimed that the king was additionally sad with how Swaziland was confused by some for Switzerland. Announced on the fiftieth anniversary of the African nation’s formation, Eswatini — the nation’s pre-colonial identify — means “land of the Swazis” of their language.

Czechia

Again it’s advertising and marketing that’s behind the identify change of the central European nation, the Czech Republic. In 2016, the Czech authorities formally modified its identify to Czechia, together with a advice to advertise this brief model in worldwide contexts.

Just as France’s official identify is the French Republic, the Czech Republic may very well be Czechia, the reasoning goes. And Czechia is a neater identify to connect to merchandise.

Although the EU, UN and a few large corporations discuss with it as Czechia, the identify has not fairly caught on internationally. Perhaps one cause is that Czechia may too simply be confused with Chechnya, a Russian republic within the Caucasus.

In 2020, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis instructed The Wall Street Journal that he didn’t just like the identify Czechia in any respect.

Cabo Verde

This island nation, positioned within the Atlantic Ocean about 700 kilometres off the coast of Senegal, lodged its official request for a reputation change in 2013.

Previously referred to as Cape Verde, it is a partial Anglicisation of the unique Portuguese “cabo verde,” which suggests “green cape.” Although it isn’t a cape, the archipelago sits simply past the westernmost level of the African continent.

Practical causes are additionally possible behind this identify change. The tradition minister on the time stated the nation sought a standardised identify that didn’t have to be translated. He added that he hoped Cabo Verde would conjure optimistic associations with solar and sea and completely satisfied folks.

Sri Lanka

Like Eswatini, Sri Lanka modified its identify to interrupt from colonial associations.

Although the official identify change was made in 1972 when it turned impartial from British rule, it was not till 2011 that Sri Lanka formally wiped the previous colonial identify Ceylon from authorities use.

However, the favored Ceylon Tea label has remained.