by Dictionary Scoop
It is always a delicate matter when a country changes its name, as it signifies a shift not only for the geographical area but also for its inhabitants.
The very identity of a nation is affected, which is why such changes are relatively rare. But they do happen. Not many people remember the original names of these 12 countries. Do you?
1–Persia to Iran
A well-known historic name, Persia was Iran’s official name in the West until 1935, when the new denomination was formally adopted by the government. This new name, Iran, was the name of the country in its own language, Persian.
2–Siam to Thailand
Until 1939, Thailand was known as Siam. The name was changed by the government following the establishment of a constitutional monarchy, as part of a broader effort to modernize the country and promote a unified national identity.
3–Burma to Myanmar
In 1989, the military government of Burma officially changed the country’s name to Myanmar in English, stating it was intended to improve the nation’s image and to “promote ethnic unity.” In the Burmese language, Myanmar is a more formal, literary version of Burma, so the change did not affect the native name.
4–Holland to Netherlands
If you remember calling the Netherlands Holland, you’re not alone. However, in 2020, the Dutch government officially stopped using Holland as a promotional name for the country. This rebranding effort aimed to present a more unified national image and move away from recreational associations, factors that have long drawn tourists to the Dutch capital, Amsterdam, which is located in the province of North Holland.
5–Ceylon to Sri Lanka
In an effort to distance itself from its colonial past, Sri Lanka changed its name from Ceylon—a name given during British rule—to Sri Lanka. The name Sri Lanka is derived from the Sinhalese language and means “resplendent land.”
6–Rhodesia to Zimbabwe
The African country of Zimbabwe changed its name from Rhodesia after gaining independence from British colonial rule in 1980. The name Rhodesia came from Cecil Rhodes, the British imperialist who played a major role in the colonization of the region.
7–Czech Republic to Czechia
After the fall of the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia peacefully split into two countries in 1993: the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In 2016, the Czech government officially adopted Czechia as the country’s short-form name, recommending its use in international contexts, so that it can expand on business by having an easier name.
8–Irish Free State to Ireland
After gaining independence from the British Empire in 1922, the Irish Free State existed as a self-governing dominion within the British Commonwealth. In 1937, a new constitution was adopted, and the country officially changed its name to Ireland (Éire inIrish), signaling a move to assert greater national identity and distance itself from its colonial past.
9–East Pakistan to Bangladesh
The country formerly known as East Pakistan changed its name to Bangladesh after separating from West Pakistan in 1971. This change reflected deep cultural, linguistic, and political differences between the two regions and marked the culmination of the Bangladesh Liberation War, which led to Bangladesh’s independence.
10–Abyssinia to Ethiopia
The region now known as Ethiopia was historically referred to as Abyssinia, a name commonly used by foreigners for many centuries. The term Abyssinia broadly referred to the Ethiopian Empire, which was ruled by various dynasties dating back to at least the 13th century. The name Ethiopia has ancientroots and was officially adopted as the country’s name by Emperor Haile Selassie in the 20th century, emphasizing Ethiopia’s longstanding heritage and identity.
11–New Granada to Colombia
Modern-day Colombia was once part of the territory known as New Granada during Spanish colonial rule. After independence, the country went through several name changes: it became the Republic of New Granada, then the United States of Colombia following a civil war, and finally the Republic of Colombia in 1886. The name Colombia is derived from the surname of Christopher Columbus.
12–Swaziland to eSwatini
The country formerly known as Swaziland officially changed its name to eSwatini in 2018. The name change was intended to shed traces of its colonial past and to reduce confusion with Switzerland, a landlocked European country. Notably, eSwatini is one of the few country names that begins with a lowercase letter.
Page 7 