Ever looked at a map from 1920 and felt completely lost? It’s a trip. You see names like Upper Volta or Abyssinia and realize how much geography is just a temporary agreement between people. Honestly, countries change names like people change careers. Sometimes it’s about a messy breakup with a colonial power, and other times it’s just a massive branding exercise to reflect who the people living there actually feel they are.
These old names for countries aren't just trivia. They are scars and celebrations.
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The Identity Shift of Siam and Persia
Take Thailand. Before 1939, everyone called it Siam. It sounds elegant, right? Think of the "Siamese Cat" or the musical The King and I. But for the people living there, "Siam" was a name used mostly by outsiders. In 1939, Plaek Phibunsongkhram—a bit of a controversial figure—changed it to Thailand. It literally means "Land of the Free." He wanted to unify the Thai people and distance the nation from the ethnic labels imposed by Western powers. It briefly flipped back to Siam after World War II, but by 1949, Thailand stuck. It was a power move, basically telling the world that the Thai people owned their own narrative.
Then there is Persia.
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Most Westerners still get a bit misty-eyed over the word Persia because it evokes silk roads and ancient empire. But in 1935, the government requested that everyone start using Iran. Why? Because Irān is the native name. "Persia" was derived from Pars, which is just one province in the south. Using Iran was an attempt to be more inclusive of all the ethnic groups in the country, not just the Persians. It’s kinda like if the world called the entire United States "Texas" and the government finally stood up and said, "Actually, there are 49 other parts to this thing, call us the USA."
Why the Map of Africa Looks Nothing Like It Used To
Africa has seen the most dramatic shifts in nomenclature, mostly because of the end of European colonial rule. If you find an old globe, you’ll see Rhodesia. That’s gone. It’s Zimbabwe now. Named after the "Great Zimbabwe," a massive stone city built by the Shona people centuries ago. Changing the name in 1980 wasn't just a legal update; it was a way to scrub away the name of Cecil Rhodes, a British imperialist who wasn't exactly a fan favorite among the locals.
Dahomey is another one. It’s now Benin.
Zaire is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. That one is a rollercoaster. It went from Congo Free State (which was essentially King Leopold II’s private, and incredibly brutal, backyard) to the Belgian Congo, then to the Republic of the Congo. Then Mobutu Sese Seko came along and decided "Zaire" sounded more authentic. After he was ousted in 1997, it went right back to the DRC. It’s confusing. It’s messy. But that’s what happens when a country is trying to find its feet after decades of being told who they are by someone else.
The Ceylon to Sri Lanka Transition
You probably still drink Ceylon tea. It’s world-famous. But you won’t find Ceylon on a modern map unless it’s a vintage one. The island nation became Sri Lanka in 1972. The word "Ceylon" was a British corruption of "Ceilão," which was what the Portuguese called it. Switching to Sri Lanka—meaning "Resplendent Island"—was a massive part of the decolonization process.
Funny thing is, the government took decades to scrub the old name from official institutions. The Bank of Ceylon? Still called that. The tea? Still marketed as Ceylon tea because the brand recognition is worth billions. Economics sometimes moves slower than politics.
Quick hits of names you might have forgotten:
- Burma is now Myanmar. This one is still debated. The UN uses Myanmar, but some countries like the US and UK historically stuck with Burma to protest the military junta that changed the name in 1989.
- Kampuchea was the name of Cambodia for a dark period during the Khmer Rouge era. It eventually reverted.
- East Pakistan is now Bangladesh. This wasn't just a name change; it was a bloody war for independence in 1971.
- Swaziland became Eswatini in 2018. King Mswati III was tired of people confusing his country with Switzerland. Seriously, that was one of the cited reasons.
Europe's Shifting Borders
In Europe, the names usually change because of the collapse of massive empires. The Ottoman Empire became Turkey. The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes became Yugoslavia, which then shattered into seven different countries.
Then there is the recent case of North Macedonia. For years, it was just Macedonia, or the "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" (FYROM). Greece hated that. Greece has a region called Macedonia and they felt the country was trying to "steal" their history and Alexander the Great. After years of literal bickering and blocked treaties, they settled on North Macedonia in 2019. It’s a compromise name. Nobody is thrilled, but it got the job done.
What This Means for Your Next Trip
When you’re traveling, knowing these old names for countries actually helps you understand the local psyche. If you call a Zimbabwean "Rhodesian," you’re going to have a very bad day. If you refer to Ho Chi Minh City as Saigon, locals in the south might actually prefer it, but the government definitely won't.
Actionable Steps for Geopolitical Literacy
- Check the Passport: If you are looking at old family records or stamps, remember that "Dutch East Indies" is now Indonesia. Don't assume the country doesn't exist anymore; it just has a new ID.
- Respect the "New" Name: Even if a name change happened 50 years ago, using the colonial name can feel like a slight. Stick to the current official name in formal settings.
- Use Historical Maps for Context: If you're reading a book written in 1910, keep a "name conversion" list handy. You'll realize that "The Gold Coast" is just Ghana.
- Watch the News in 2026: Names are still changing. There is ongoing talk in India about officially shifting the English name of the country to Bharat. This isn't just a historical topic—it's happening right now.
Geography isn't static. It's a living, breathing thing. Countries change their names to heal, to brag, or just to make a point. Next time you see a name that feels "new," look into what it used to be. You'll usually find a story of a revolution, a king's ego, or a people finally getting to name themselves.