Google Maps has renamed Lake Ontario as “Lake America” for users in the United States. The change follows an executive order issued by US President Donald Trump.
Google said the update reflects naming changes in official US government sources. The relevant authority is the US Geographic Names Information System, known as GNIS.
However, the change will not apply globally. Canadian users will continue seeing the body of water as Lake Ontario.
Users outside the United States and Canada will see both names, Google said. The company explained its approach in a blog post issued Saturday.
Trump Orders Lake’s Name Changed
Trump announced the name change on Thursday. Lake Ontario is the smallest of North America’s five Great Lakes.
The executive order applies to the US Geographic Names Information System. It establishes naming standards used for official US government maps.
The order does not change Canada’s official naming conventions. It also does not determine what other countries call the lake.
The naming dispute comes amid worsening trade tensions between Washington and Ottawa. The two countries have imposed reciprocal tariffs on billions of dollars in goods.
The White House has linked several recent actions to Trump’s broader America First agenda. The latest naming decision has therefore attracted attention beyond geographic terminology.
Google Uses Different Names by Location
Google said its Maps service follows official government naming sources. For US users, that source is the GNIS.
As a result, people using Google Maps in America will see “Lake America”. Canadian users will continue to see “Lake Ontario”.
People accessing Maps elsewhere will reportedly see both names. This approach reflects the different official naming positions held by the two countries.
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Google previously made a similar change involving the Gulf of Mexico. The company began displaying “Gulf of America” for US users after Trump’s earlier order.
That decision also followed an executive order issued during Trump’s first day back in office. The latest lake dispute has similarly drawn strong reactions from Canadian officials.
Canada Rejects the New Name
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney quickly rejected Trump’s decision. His government has maintained that the lake remains Lake Ontario.
The decision also drew criticism from political leaders in neighbouring US states. New York Governor Kathy Hochul said her state would not use the new name.
Vermont Governor Phil Scott also criticised the move. He described the decision as “petty and disappointing” in a social media post.
The reactions reflect the lake’s importance to communities on both sides of the border. Lake Ontario is shared by the United States and Canada.
Ontario Premier Unveils New Sign
Ontario Premier Doug Ford also responded to the name change. On Saturday, he unveiled a large sign beside the lake.
The sign reads “Lake Ontario: Now and Always”. It displays the message in both English and French.
Ford said Trump could use whatever name he wanted. However, he argued that the rest of the world would continue using Lake Ontario.
The White House and offices of Carney and Ford had not immediately commented on Google’s decision. The naming dispute remains part of broader tensions between Canada and the United States.
For now, Google Maps will reflect the disagreement through different labels. US users will see “Lake America”, while Canadians will continue seeing “Lake Ontario”.
