From Ceylon to Sri Lanka : 20 Countries That Changed Their Names.

As India assumes the spotlight as the host of the G20 summit, a heated debate has arisen regarding the inclusion of the term “Bharat” in official state invitations to world leaders. This engaging discourse is rooted in deep historical foundations and holds significant cultural and political ramifications. Here is a list of 20 countries that have changed their names, along with the old and new names, and the reasons for the name changes:

1. Burma (Myanmar)
   • Old Name: Burma
   • New Name: Myanmar
   • Reason: The name change was initiated by the military government in 1989, claiming that “Myanmar” was a more inclusive term for the country’s various ethnic groups.
2. Czechoslovakia
   • Old Name: Czechoslovakia
   • New Name: Czech Republic (and Slovakia)
   • Reason: Czechoslovakia peacefully dissolved into two separate countries, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, in 1993.
3. Zaire
   • Old Name: Zaire
   • New Name: Democratic Republic of the Congo
   • Reason: The name change occurred in 1997 after the overthrow of Mobutu Sese Seko’s regime. It was intended to symbolize a return to democracy.
4. East Timor
   • Old Name: East Timor
   • New Name: Timor-Leste
   • Reason: East Timor gained independence from Indonesia in 2002 and chose the name Timor-Leste, which means “East Timor” in Portuguese.
5. Swaziland
   • Old Name: Swaziland
   • New Name: Eswatini
   • Reason: King Mswati III announced the name change in 2018, stating that it better reflected the country’s cultural identity and heritage.
6. Macedonia
   • Old Name: The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM)
   • New Name: North Macedonia
   • Reason: The change was part of a historic agreement with Greece in 2018 to resolve a longstanding dispute over the use of the name “Macedonia.”
7. Ivory Coast
   • Old Name: Ivory Coast
   • New Name: Côte d’Ivoire
   • Reason: The Ivorian government requested that the country be referred to as Côte d’Ivoire in 1985, as it reflects the country’s official French name.
8. Rhodesia
   • Old Name: Southern Rhodesia
   • New Name: Zimbabwe (after independence)
   • Reason: Rhodesia adopted the name Zimbabwe upon gaining independence from British colonial rule in 1980.
9. Western Samoa
   • Old Name: Western Samoa
   • New Name: Samoa
   • Reason: The country officially changed its name to “Samoa” in 1997 to reflect its status as the first independent Polynesian nation.
10. Siam
    • Old Name: Siam
    • New Name: Thailand
    • Reason: The name change occurred in 1939 when the government sought to emphasize the national identity and culture of the Thai people.
11. Upper Volta
    • Old Name: Upper Volta
    • New Name: Burkina Faso
    • Reason: The name change in 1984 was intended to signify a break from colonial ties and to reflect the country’s commitment to a new national identity.
12. Ceylon
    • Old Name: Ceylon
    • New Name: Sri Lanka
    • Reason: The name change in 1972 was a part of a broader effort to assert a distinct national identity following independence from British colonial rule.
13. Persia
    • Old Name: Persia
    • New Name: Iran (officially)
    • Reason: Iran requested to be called by its Persian name, “Iran,” in international relations in 1935, as it better represents its cultural heritage.
14. Dahomey
    • Old Name: Dahomey
    • New Name: Benin
    • Reason: The name change in 1975 was a move to emphasize a more inclusive national identity and break from its colonial past.
15. South West Africa
    • Old Name: South West Africa
    • New Name: Namibia
    • Reason: Namibia adopted its new name upon gaining independence from South African administration in 1990.
16. Dutch Guiana
    • Old Name: Dutch Guiana
    • New Name: Suriname
    • Reason: Suriname gained independence from Dutch colonial rule in 1975 and adopted its new name. The name Suriname possibly originates from the indigenous Surinen people who lived in the region during European contact. The -ame suffix is prevalent in Surinamese geographic names like the Coppename River.
17. Upper Silesia
    • Old Name: Upper Silesia
    • New Name: Silesia (divided among Poland and Czechoslovakia)
    • Reason: Following World War I, Upper Silesia was divided between Poland and Czechoslovakia, and its name was simplified to Silesia.
18. The Congo Free State
    • Old Name: The Congo Free State
    • New Name: Belgian Congo and now the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
    • Reason: The name change occurred in 1908 when the Belgian government took over the administration of the territory from King Leopold II. The former colony in 1964 adopted its present name the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
19. Serbia and Montenegro
    • Old Name: Serbia and Montenegro
    • New Name: Serbia (and Montenegro became independent)
    • Reason: After a referendum in 2006, Montenegro declared independence from the state union with Serbia, leading to a change in its name.
20. East Pakistan
    • Old Name: East Pakistan
    • New Name: Bangladesh
    • Reason: Following a war of independence in 1971, East Pakistan became an independent nation and adopted the name Bangladesh.

This article has been written by VOLF.TV TEAM , content strategy and produced by Manjeet Kumar.