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Google Maps has changed the name of Lake Ontario to "Lake America" for users in the United States, following an executive order signed by President Donald Trump mandating that US federal agencies officially adopt the new title.
The tech giant updated its mapping platform in line with the US government’s Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) database following the order signed on Aug 27, 2026. As a result, users accessing the service within the US now see the smallest of the Great Lakes under its new name.
The change does not reflect a global renaming of the lake, which sits along the international border between the United States and Canada. Canadian authorities continue to recognise the body of water exclusively by its historical name, Lake Ontario. Other countries see a compromise.
To accommodate the diplomatic divergence, Google has implemented geo-targeted display settings. US-based users see "Lake America", while users in Canada continue to see "Lake Ontario". Users outside both nations see a combined label displaying "Lake America (Lake Ontario)".
Trump’s decree instructed the US Department of the Interior and the Board on Geographic Names to update federal maps, databases, and official documentation. The administration cited the lake's vital role in the domestic economy, maritime transportation, and strategic presence within the Great Lakes region as justification for the change.
The move mirrors a similar action in 2025 when the Trump administration designated the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America" for federal usage, prompting Google Maps to introduce regional display rules for that waterway as well.
Lake Ontario remains one of the five Great Lakes of North America, bordering New York state to the south and the Canadian province of Ontario to the north. Consequently, the title "Lake America" currently serves as an official designation strictly within US jurisdiction, carrying no legal standing in Canada or internationally.
