Have you ever wondered why some countries have different names in your old textbooks compared to today’s maps? Countries sometimes change their names to reflect their history, culture, or independence. Here are a few fascinating examples.Sri Lanka was once known as Ceylon. The name “Ceylon” came from colonial times, when the island was ruled by the Portuguese, Dutch, and later the British. After gaining independence, the country decided to return to its roots and officially became Sri Lanka in 1972, a name that means “resplendent island” in Sanskrit.Thailand used to be called Siam. Until 1939, the country was widely known as Siam. The government changed the name to Thailand, which means “land of the free,” to show national pride and unity.Zimbabwe was formerly known as Rhodesia. The old name honoured Cecil Rhodes, a British colonialist. In 1980, after gaining independence from Britain, the country adopted the name Zimbabwe, inspired by Great Zimbabwe, an ancient city with impressive stone ruins.Burma became Myanmar in 1989. The government chose “Myanmar” to better represent the country’s many ethnic groups. However, some countries and people still use the old name, Burma.Other interesting examples include Iran, which was called Persia until 1935, and Eswatini, which was known as Swaziland until 2018. King Mswati III decided to change the name to Eswatini, meaning “land of the Swazis,” to mark 50 years of independence.These name changes help countries reclaim their identity, celebrate their heritage, or mark important milestones. So, the next time you spot a new name on the map, remember—there’s usually an interesting story behind it!.Old names still appear in famous productsYou’ll find “Ceylon tea” and “Persian rugs” still widely known by their former country names..Siamese twins and cats keep the old nameThe term “Siamese twins” comes from conjoined twins born in old Siam (now Thailand).Most name changes happened after independenceChanging a country’s name often marks a new start and celebrates national identity.Some airport codes never changedSri Lanka’s main airport code is CMB—for “Colombo,” used during the Ceylon era.
