List Of 20+ Countries Which Have Changed Their Names: Iran, Sri Lanka, Myanmar And More

20+ Countries Which Have Changed Their Names: Throughout history, many countries have undergone name changes. A number of factors, including achieving independence, shifting political structures, cultural identity, or a desire to abandon colonial names, can lead to these name changes. For instance, in 1935, Iran replaced Persia to reflect its original name. In a similar vein, Ceylon changed its name to Sri Lanka in 1972 to better reflect its indigenous culture after gaining republican status.

After the freedom from colonial domination, some nations changed their names. Formerly a British colony, Burma became officially known as Myanmar in 1989. Following its independence from British colonial rule in 1980, Rhodesia was renamed Zimbabwe. Other instances include Gold Coast, which changed its name to Ghana in 1957, and East Pakistan, which became Bangladesh in 1971. In some cases, names were changed for branding or global recognition. For instance, the Czech Republic began using the shorter form, Czechia, in 2016 for international use. Even recently, Swaziland officially changed its name to Eswatini in 2018 to reflect its native language and avoid confusion with Switzerland.

List of 20+ Countries Which Have Changed Their Old Names

These changes are not just about new names—they often mark a fresh identity, a new beginning, or pride in local culture and language. In this article, we explore a list of 20+ countries that have changed their names and the reasons behind these important decisions that reflect their history and growth.

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