More than 60 Indian Cities & towns names changed after 1947
A name is never just a name—it carries the history, identity, culture and aspirations of a place. Around the world, countries and cities have changed their names, sometimes to break with the past, sometimes to reclaim their heritage, and sometimes to reflect a new political or national identity. Names of more than 10 countries have been change after 2nd world War .
Name of 5 Indian states changed after 1947. Changing the name of a state cost more than Rs 1,000/= crores . Few of the name changes were spelling correction only. The older generation are anti to change the name of state or city but few Political parties as a political show-off changed name to satisfy their poll agenda .
More than 60 Indian cities name changed after 1947. For example , Bombay which had a historical name from 17th Century during British Empire and the whole world know India due to Bombay as global identity and financial capital. But in 1995 Bombay name was changed to Mumbai inspired by name of Hindu Goddess and linking with Marathi heritage. Bombay was a brand , 200 year old branded city name was changed because one Political party felt so .
Change to Country Names
Many countries changed their names after 1945, either because of independence, decolonization, political changes, mergers, or restoration of historical names. More than 50 countries got their name changed . Some of the most famous post-1945 changes to Country’s name are:
Republic of China to People Republic of China ( 1949 )
China did not simply “rename” itself in 1949. The government and political system changed, and the new government adopted a new official name. Before 1949, China was officially the Republic of China (ROC), established in 1912 after the fall of the Qing dynasty. After a Civil War The Communists won the mainland. On 1 October 1949, Mao Zedong proclaimed the establishment of the: People’s Republic of China (PRC) . So, 1949 was primarily a change of government and regime, not merely a change of the country’s name.
Gold Coast to Ghana ( 1957 )
The Gold Coast was renamed Ghana in 1957 mainly because the country was becoming independent from British colonial rule and wanted a new national identity.
Gold Coast was a colonial name . The British called the territory the Gold Coast because of the region’s historically important gold trade. The Gold Coast became independent from Britain on 6 March 1957. Its leaders wanted a name that represented the country’s African heritage rather than its colonial past.
“Ghana” referred to an ancient West African empire. The name Ghana was taken from the ancient Ghana Empire, which flourished in West Africa centuries before European colonialism. The name changes therefore symbolized the end of British colonial rule and the birth of a sovereign African nation.
Zanzibar to Tanzania (1964)
Zanzibar did not simply change its name to Tanzania. Tanzania was created in 1964 by the union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar.
The Zanzibar Revolution –
How Zanzibar became part of Tanzania .The January 1964 revolution dramatically changed Zanzibar’s political situation. The new revolutionary government was more willing to establish a close relationship with Tanganyika. Tanzania is a combination of: Tanganyika + Zanzibar → Tanzania
Why was Ceylon name changed to Sri Lanka?
In 1948 Ceylon got independence from Britishers but kept the same name for 24 Year. In 1972 Cylone changed the name to Sri lanka .
1. Ceylon was a colonial-era name . The name Ceylon came from European versions of the island’s name and was widely used during British colonial rule.
2. Sri Lanka was a traditional/local name
The name Sri Lanka has ancient roots in the island’s languages and history. Sri is an honorific meaning roughly “respected” or “radiant,” while Lanka is an ancient name for the island.
3. The country became a republic. Ceylon became independent from Britain in 1948, but it initially remained a dominion under the British Crown. In 1972, it adopted a republican constitution and became the Republic of Sri Lanka.
4. It symbolized a break with colonialism . Changing the name was part of a broader effort to establish a distinctly Sri Lankan national identity and remove remaining colonial-era symbols.
Why was Burma renamed to Myanmar ?
Burma was officially renamed Myanmar in 1989 by the military government that ruled the country. The change was intended partly to move away from the colonial-era English name and use the country’s traditional Burmese name. The government argued that Myanmar was more inclusive of the country’s many ethnic groups than “Burma.”
Main reasons of name change –
1. “Burma” came from the name of the Bamar people .Burma is an English-language form derived from Bamar, the largest ethnic group in the country.
2. “Myanmar” is an older Burmese name . Myanmar is a traditional Burmese term for the country and has been used for centuries. The government argued that Myanmar was more inclusive of the country’s many ethnic groups than “Burma.”
3. It followed a major political upheaval , In 1988, massive pro-democracy demonstrations were violently suppressed, and the military took power. The new military government, the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), announced the name change in 1989 to Myanmar .
Why did Turkey change name to Türkiye?
Turkey is the member of NATO and got independence in 1923.
1. To use the country’s Turkish name internationally . In 2021, the Turkish government began promoting Türkiye instead of “Turkey” in international communications and exports.
2. To strengthen national identity . “Türkiye” is the name used by Turkish people for their country. The government wanted the international name to reflect the country’s Turkish-language identity rather than the English word “Turkey.”
3. To avoid confusion with the English word “turkey” In English, turkey is also the name of the bird. The Turkish government argued that using Türkiye would give the country a more distinctive international identity.
4. The UN officially adopted Türkiye in 2022 . In June 2022, Türkiye formally requested that the United Nations use Türkiye instead of Turkey. The UN adopted the requested name change. Türkiye is the country’s official international name at the UN now. Top of FormBottom of Form
Change of Indian States names –
India got independence in 1947 . Name of the few states are changed afterwards , the reason of name changes are majorly influence by politics . Name of 5 states were changed after independence . Changing name of a state is a gorilla task and cost Thousand of crore to change the name in every document , Govt Buildings , Roads , Educational intuitions , Text books , stationary , Buildings and road signs and many more itesms etc
Madras state name changed to Tamil Nadu (1969 )
Madras State was established in 1950 but was officially renamed Tamil Nadu in 1969. The change reflected the Tamil language, culture and regional identity of the people of the state.
Main reasons –
1. “Madras” was associated with the colonial period . The name Madras had been used during British rule for both the Madras Presidency and later Madras State. After independence, there was growing support for a name reflecting the state’s Tamil identity.
2. Tamil linguistic identity became important . The state was predominantly Tamil-speaking .
3. “Tamil Nadu” means “Tamil country/land” . The name Tamil Nadu literally conveys the idea of the land of the Tamils. It was considered more representative of the state’s linguistic and cultural character.
4. Political movement for the name change . The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) strongly supported the name Tamil Nadu. After the DMK came to power under C. N. Annadurai in 1967, the process of changing the state’s name gained momentum.
The city of Madras did not immediately disappear from the map when the state changed its name. The state became Tamil Nadu in 1969, while the city was much later officially renamed Chennai in 1996.
Mysore name changed to Karnataka ( 1973 )
Mysore State was officially renamed Karnataka on 1 November 1973. The main reason was to give the state a name representing the entire Kannada-speaking region, rather than identifying it with the former princely state of Mysore.
Main reasons –
1. Mysore represented only part of the Kannada region . When the state was reorganized on linguistic lines in 1956, Kannada-speaking areas from several neighbouring states were brought together with the former Mysore State. The enlarged state was still called Mysore State, even though it was now much larger than the old Mysore kingdom.
2. “Karnataka” had a broader historical meaning . The name Karnataka has deep historical and cultural associations with the Kannada-speaking region. It was therefore considered more appropriate for the enlarged state.
3. Growing Kannada regional identity . There was increasing support for a name that represented Kannada language and culture throughout the state.
Uttaranchal renamed Uttarakhand ( 2006 )
In 2000 Uttaranchal was created as a new State. Uttaranchal was officially renamed Uttarakhand in 2006. The principal reason was to restore the historical name “Uttarakhand”, which had been strongly associated with the regional identity and the movement for a separate Himalayan state.
Main reasons –
1. Uttarakhand was the original name of the statehood movement . For decades, activists demanding a separate state from Uttar Pradesh commonly used the name Uttarakhand. The term has historical roots and refers broadly to the northern Himalayan region. When the new state was created in 2000, however, the central government officially named it Uttaranchal.
2. Many people preferred “Uttarakhand” . After the state was created, there was continuing political and public support for returning to the name Uttarakhand, particularly because it was closely connected with the statehood movement.
What does Uttarakhand mean? Uttarakhand comes from Sanskrit:
Uttara = north , Khand = region/land
So it can broadly be understood as “northern land/region.
Orissa rename changed to Odisha ( 2011 )
Orissa was officially renamed Odisha in 2011. The main reason was to bring the English spelling of the state’s name closer to its traditional Odia pronunciation and spelling.
Main reasons –
1. “Orissa” was an English/colonial spelling . The name Orissa was an English rendering of the region’s traditional name. In the Odia language, the state was called Odisha . The pronunciation of Odisha was not accurately represented by the English spelling “Orissa.”
2. Restore the traditional name . There was a long-standing demand to use Odisha, which was considered more faithful to the state’s historical and linguistic identity.
The specific reason for changing the name to Odisha was particularly about correcting the English form of the traditional name.
Kerala name changed to Keralam ( 2026 )
When the state was created on 1 November 1956, its official English name was Kerala.
- Kerala = the English/official name of the state
- Keralam = the Malayalam name traditionally used for the state
Keralam is the traditional Malayalam form of the name. The exact historical origin of Kerala/Keralam is debated, but it is an ancient name associated with the region. There have been proposals in recent years to change the official name from Kerala to Keralam. The idea is essentially to make the official name correspond more closely to the Malayalam name. It is better described as a proposed change from the English form Kerala to the Malayalam form Keralam.
Change to Indian cities Names –
More than 50 Indian City names changed after 1950. Indian cities and towns have been renamed mainly to restore historical and cultural identities, replace colonial-era names, and reflect local languages. The renaming of Indian cities is not merely a change of signboards. It reflects India’s effort to reclaim its historical identity, promote regional languages, and recognize cultural heritage. Some changes are also politically controversial, particularly when different communities have competing views about a city’s history. List below are the major cities whose name were changed.
| Old name | New name | Year |
| Baroda | Vadodara | 1974 |
| Bombay | Mumbai | 1995 |
| Madras | Chennai | 1996 |
| Calcutta | Kolkata | 2001 |
| Pondicherry | Puducherry | 2006 |
| Bangalore | Bengaluru | 2014 |
| Mysore | Mysuru | 2014 |
| Mangalore | Mangaluru | 2014 |
| Gulbarga | Kalaburagi | 2014 |
| Belgaum | Belagavi | 2014 |
| Gurgaon | Gurugram | 2016 |
| Allahabad | Prayagraj | 2018 |
| Faizabad | Ayodhya | 2018 |
| Hoshangabad | Narmadapuram | 2022 |
| Aurangabad | Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar | 2023 |
| Osmanabad | Dharashiv | 2023 |
| Ahmednagar | Ahilyanagar | 2024 |
State politics was one of the main reasons for changes to City name. Many cities lost their time tested worldwide brand identity after change of their name, good example is Bombay & Madras .
Bollywood Star name change
Many Bollywood star changed their name when they enter the film industry , they opted for a Filmi name to suit the film industries trend .
| Star | Birth name | Screen name |
| Amitabh Bachchan | Inquilaab Srivastava | Amitabh Bachchan |
| Rajesh Khanna | Jatin Khanna | Rajesh Khanna |
| Dev Anand | Dharam Devdutt Pishorimal Anand | Dev Anand |
| Dilip Kumar | Muhammad Yusuf Khan | Dilip Kumar |
| Meena Kumari | Mahjabeen Bano | Meena Kumari |
| Madhubala | Mumtaz Jehan Begum Dehlavi | Madhubala |
| Dharmendra | Dharam Singh Deol | Dharmendra |
| Jeetendra | Ravi Kapoor | Jeetendra |
| Rekha | Bhanurekha Ganesan | Rekha |
| Rajinikanth | Shivaji Rao Gaekwad | Rajinikanth |
| Akshay Kumar | Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia | Akshay Kumar |
| Govinda | Govind Arun Ahuja | Govinda |
| Johnny Lever | John Rao Janumala | Johnny Lever |
| Nana Patekar | Vishwanath Patekar | Nana Patekar |
| Jackie Shroff | Jaikishan Kakubhai Shroff | Jackie Shroff |
| Shammi Kapoor | Shamsher Raj Kapoor | Shammi Kapoor |
| Shatrughan Sinha | Shatrughan Prasad Sinha | Shatrughan Sinha |
| Raj Kumar | Kulbhushan Pandit | Raaj Kumar |
| Guru Dutt | Vasanth Kumar Shivashankar Padukone | Guru Dutt |
| Manoj Kumar | Harikishan Goswami | Manoj Kumar |
| Johnny Walker | Badruddin Jamaluddin Kazi | Johnny Walker |
| Bobby Deol | Vijay Singh Deol | Bobby Deol |
| Tiger Shroff | Jai Hemant Shroff | Tiger Shroff |
Place names changed by Donald Trump in 2026 ( forcefully )
Donald Trump did forcefully using Google map Co’s. Authority to change the name of area near American boundary. Donald Trump has directed or proposed several geographic name changes during his second presidency and have carry a big list for illegal changes.
1. Lake Ontario to Lake America – Trump signed an order directing U.S. federal agencies to use the name “Lake America” for Lake Ontario. The order does not change Canada’s official name for the lake. But google map and Apple made the changes on the map which is hundreds year old.
2. Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America – Trump signed an order in 2025 directing U.S. federal agencies to change the name of Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America despite Mexico have more sealine along the ocaean .
3. New Mexico state to New America (proposed) – 2026Proposal
In September 2026, Trump promoted the idea of renaming the US state of New Mexico to “New America” on Truth Social. This was not an official state name change. The proposal was criticized by New Mexico residents and Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, who argued that the state’s historical identity should be preserved. A U.S. president cannot unilaterally rename a state.
Trump’s 2026 renaming efforts illustrate how geographic names can bully other countries and make it symbols of national identity, political messaging, and disputes over historical heritage.
Conclusion –
Renaming a state or a city can be worthwhile when it restores a meaningful historical or cultural identity and people of the state respect it . The decision should be based on genuine public interest, historical evidence, and a reasonable assessment of costs—not merely political popularity. This is to note that changing a name of the city or State cost many crores of Rupees to implement in to Govt and public system and records. Many of the name changes were politically motivated , whether public want it or not .
I still call it Bombay-Delhi flight , and sing “ Bombay se aaya mera dost , dost ko salam karo “
Very interesting blog. I too am of the opinion that names are often changed to serve politically motivated agendas and, in the process, play with the sentiments of the local people. Undoubtedly, changing the name of a place can dilute or even erase a part of its historical identity.
I still fondly recall the stories of Burma and Ceylon narrated by my grandmother. Personally, I would love to hear “Bombay” instead of “Mumbai” and “Madras” instead of Tamil Nadu. The Madras Regiment of the Indian Army has its own proud and distinguished history, and I sincerely hope our political masters do not tinker with such historically established identities.
It was also interesting to learn the real names of many of our Bollywood personalities. We have known and admired them all along by their reel names!
Loved reading this. 🙏🫡