Several Nations Adopt New Names

Why this is here: The Republic of Türkiye began a campaign in 2021 to replace “Turkey” with “Türkiye” due to the English word’s association with the bird and negative dictionary definitions.

Since 2000, Cape Verde, the Czech Republic, Timor-Leste, North Macedonia, Eswatini, The Gambia, and Türkiye have all formally requested name changes with the United Nations. These shifts stem from diverse reasons—post-colonial identity, political maneuvering, or simply a desire for clearer international recognition.

Cabo Verde sought to unify its identity by discarding an English translation of its Portuguese name. The Czech Republic adopted “Czechia” for casual use, while Timor-Leste reclaimed a Portuguese name to distance itself from Indonesia.

North Macedonia’s name change resolved a decades-long dispute with Greece. Eswatini reverted to a pre-colonial name, though critics questioned the motives of its absolute monarchy.

The Gambia briefly became an Islamic Republic before reverting to its original name after a change in leadership. Türkiye aimed to shed negative connotations linked to the English word "turkey."

Adoption of these new names proves challenging, as governments can update official documents quickly, but changing ingrained language takes time. The work of redefining national identity continues.