Google Maps has updated its labeling of Lake Ontario to ‘Lake America’ for users within the United States, following an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on August 27, 2026. The change means that U.S.-based users will now see ‘Lake America’ when searching for the body of water on the popular mapping service.
This alteration is part of an escalating trade dispute between the United States and Canada. President Trump had previously ordered the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the ‘Gulf of America’ in 2025, and Google Maps made a similar adjustment at that time, reflecting changes in official U.S. government sources. Google’s policy is to update its maps to align with name changes appearing in official government data, such as the U.S. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
For users in Canada, Google Maps will continue to display the name ‘Lake Ontario,’ acknowledging its historical significance and Indigenous roots. The name ‘Ontario’ is derived from a Wendat word, often translated as ‘the lake is beautiful, the lake is big,’ and predates both Canadian Confederation and the U.S. Declaration of Independence.
Users outside of both the United States and Canada will see both names displayed, typically with ‘Lake America’ in parentheses. The executive order directing the name change applies to U.S. federal agencies and databases. However, it does not compel Canada or international bodies to adopt the new designation. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has publicly stated that Canada will continue to refer to the lake as Lake Ontario.
The decision has drawn criticism from various political figures, including the governor of New York, Kathy Hochul, who called the idea ‘absurd.’ While Google Maps has complied with the executive order, other mapping services have responded differently. MapQuest has explicitly stated it will not change the name and has even introduced a name generator for users to create their own labels for the lake. Apple Maps has also not yet updated its labeling to ‘Lake America,’ retaining ‘Lake Ontario’ as of August 30, 2026.
President Trump has framed the renaming as a patriotic gesture and a response to perceived unfair trade practices by Canada. He has referred to Canadian officials as ‘nasty people’ and stated that Canada has been ‘ripping us off for a long time on trade.’ This action follows a period of increased tariffs imposed by the U.S. on Canadian goods, leading to retaliatory tariffs from Canada.
The US Geological Survey has confirmed that the name change has been made and will be reflected in printed documents over the coming days.
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