Prompt Cast
The History of Countries Changing Their Names
TLDR North Macedonia, Turkey, Eswatini, and Myanmar are among the countries that have changed their names for various reasons, such as disputes with other nations, rebranding efforts, and a desire to reclaim traditional names. While name changes are not common, there have been instances throughout history where countries have chosen to adopt new names.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
North Macedonia is the latest country to change its name.
02:12
North Macedonia changed its name due to a dispute with Greece over the use of the name "Macedonia" and the claim to the legacy of Alexander the Great.
04:08
North Macedonia changed its name to North Macedonia in 2019 to join NATO and other international organizations, while the Czech Republic has been trying to encourage the use of the name Czechia instead, and Turkey wants people to use the traditional pronunciation and spelling of the country.
06:11
Turkey has attempted to rebrand itself in the past and is currently using the name Turkey-A in international organizations, while Eswatini changed its name back to its traditional name to get rid of the name given to it by the British, and Myanmar changed its name from Burma to Myanmar in 1989.
08:00
Myanmar changed its name from Burma in the late 1980s to be more inclusive, but both names are still used interchangeably today, similar to how Britain and the United Kingdom or the United States and America are used interchangeably.
09:51
Several countries changed their names after becoming independent, including Burkina Faso, Benin, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Sri Lanka, Cote d'Ivoire, and Cabo Verde, with significant name changes in the 1930s being the switch from Siam to Thailand and from Persia to Iran.
11:49
Countries changing their names is not a common occurrence, but it has happened in the past and there are ongoing discussions about changing the name of the Philippines.
