Countries that changed their names include Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Türkiye, Czechia, North Macedonia and Myanmar (formerly Burma). Most of these decisions come down to breaking with a colonial past or settling a diplomatic dispute, and sometimes simply to picking a name already used in the country’s own language. The ten cases below give, for each one, the former name, the year and the reason.
1. Eswatini (Swaziland until 2018)
King Mswati III renamed the country in April 2018, on the 50th anniversary of independence. “Eswatini” means “land of the Swazis” in the Swazi language. The change was also meant to end the frequent confusion with Switzerland.
2. Türkiye (Turkey until 2022)
In 2022, the United Nations registered “Türkiye” as the country’s official name, at Ankara’s request. It has been the country’s name in Turkish since the republic was founded in 1923. The goal was to have the local name adopted internationally.
3. Czechia (short name made official in 2016)
The Czech Republic registered “Czechia” as its official short name with the United Nations in 2016. The long name remains valid; the short one was meant to simplify use on maps, jerseys and documents. Its adoption is still uneven, especially in English.
4. North Macedonia (Macedonia until 2019)
The Prespa agreement, signed with Greece in 2018 and effective in February 2019, renamed the country “North Macedonia”. It ended a 27-year dispute with Greece, which has a region also called Macedonia. The change cleared the way for the country to join NATO.
5. Myanmar (Burma until 1989)
The military junta renamed Burma “Myanmar” in 1989, and Rangoon became Yangon. Both names refer to the country in Burmese, one in a literary form, the other in a colloquial form. Several governments and media outlets still use “Burma”.
6. DR Congo (Zaire from 1971 to 1997)
In 1971, as part of his authenticity policy, Mobutu Sese Seko gave the country the name “Zaire”. When he fell in 1997, Laurent-Désiré Kabila restored the name Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Zaire River became the Congo River again as well.
7. Burkina Faso (Upper Volta until 1984)
Thomas Sankara renamed Upper Volta “Burkina Faso” in August 1984. The name combines two of the country’s languages, Mooré and Dioula, and means “land of upright people”. The former name, inherited from colonial rule, referred to the Volta River.
8. Sri Lanka (Ceylon until 1972)
The island dropped the colonial name “Ceylon” in 1972, when it became a republic. “Sri Lanka” means “resplendent island” in Sanskrit. The tea grown there is still sold as “Ceylon tea”.
9. Thailand (Siam until 1939)
The kingdom of Siam became Thailand, “land of the Thais”, in 1939. The name Siam was briefly restored between 1945 and 1949, before “Thailand” returned for good. It is one of the few Southeast Asian countries never to have been colonized.
10. Iran (Persia until 1935)
In 1935, Reza Shah officially asked foreign states to use “Iran” instead of “Persia”. “Iran” has been the country’s name in Persian for centuries. “Persia” was the term inherited from the ancient Greeks, used mostly abroad.
Name changes at a glance
| Current name | Former name | Year of change |
|---|---|---|
| Eswatini | Swaziland | 2018 |
| Türkiye | Turkey | 2022 |
| Czechia | Czech Republic (short name) | 2016 |
| North Macedonia | Macedonia | 2019 |
| Myanmar | Burma | 1989 |
| DR Congo | Zaire | 1997 |
| Burkina Faso | Upper Volta | 1984 |
| Sri Lanka | Ceylon | 1972 |
| Thailand | Siam | 1939 |
| Iran | Persia | 1935 |
Some countries did more than change their name: they vanished from the map. You can also trace the origin of country names, or look instead at the newest countries in the world.
Frequently asked questions
Why did Swaziland change its name?
King Mswati III renamed Swaziland “Eswatini” in 2018, on the 50th anniversary of the country’s independence. The new name means “land of the Swazis” in the Swazi language. It was also meant to end the confusion with Switzerland.
Which country was called Zaire?
Zaire is the former name of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, used from 1971 to 1997 under Mobutu Sese Seko. The country took back its current name when Mobutu fell in 1997.
Are Burma and Myanmar the same country?
Yes, they are the same country. The military junta replaced “Burma” with “Myanmar” in 1989, but both names remain in use: several governments and media outlets still say “Burma”.
Why is Turkey called Türkiye?
“Türkiye” is the country’s name in Turkish. In 2022, the Turkish government had it registered as the official name at the United Nations, so that it would be used internationally in all languages.
