Countries change their names for various reasons, from cultural shifts to political decisions. Let’s explore some nations that have undergone name transformations:
Countries that Have Changed Their Names:
| Old name | New name | Reason for change |
|---|---|---|
| India | Bharat (planning) | India plans to change its name to Bharat, from the Sanskrit word. |
| Turkey | Turkiye | Turkey changed its name to Turkiye in 2023 to emphasize its culture. |
| Czech Republic | Czechia | In 2016, the Czech Republic became Czechia for simplicity. |
| Swaziland | Eswatini | Eswatini replaced Swaziland in 2018 to distance from its colonial past. |
| Holland | the Netherlands | Officially, it’s the Netherlands, but Holland often refers to it. |
| Macedonia | North Macedonia | To resolve a dispute with Greece, the Republic of Macedonia became North Macedonia in 2019. |
| Ceylon | Sri Lanka | Ceylon changed to Sri Lanka in 1972, embracing its Buddhist heritage. |
| Irish Free State | Ireland | In 1949, the Irish Free State became the Republic of Ireland after gaining independence from the UK. |
| Siam | Thailand | Siam renamed to Thailand in 1939 to strengthen its national identity. |
| Cape Verde | Republic of Cabo Verde | Cape Verde adopted the Republic of Cabo Verde upon independence from Portugal in 1975. |
| Burma | Myanmar | In 1989, Burma changed to Myanmar following a military coup. |
These changes reflect each nation’s evolving identity and aspirations.
