11 Countries That Changed Their Name
Bonus: How much does it cost to change the name of a country?
Most of the countries on the list switched their name as a way of erasing part of their past and getting closer to their true identity, while others did it to encourage tourism, like the Netherlands. However, not everything is as easy as it seems. And it’s not cheap either. Each nation paid millions of dollars, or its equivalent in their local currencies, to change its name.
And then you have the citizens who are used to calling their country by a certain name and have to become familiar with writing it and saying it in another. These changes don’t happen overnight, and although many will still wonder if they were even necessary at all, they will usually end up embracing them.
It is not a matter of having a clean slate. The Constitution, official stationery, and even money has to change as well. Everything that bears the country’s old name, like maps, flags, and hymns, must erase it and replace it with the new one. This, of course, takes time.
Would you change your name? Do you agree with what these countries have done? Tell us in the comment section! And share the article with your friends if you thought it was cool!
You may also like
FASHION20 photosBella Hadid in Gorgeous Photoshoots
Explore twenty Bella Hadid photographs, bringing together fashion shoots and portraits that highlight the model's varied styling and presence before a camera.
TRAVELNew11 photosNorth America’s 11 Best Beaches
Discover eleven distinctive North American beaches, from Anguilla and Mexico to Florida, with island landscapes, sheltered bays and broad stretches of sand.
PEOPLE30 photosMonica Bellucci's Little Known Beautiful Looks
Discover a thirty-photo Monica Bellucci gallery, bringing together less-familiar portraits, fashion imagery and varied looks from the actor's archive.
Movies40 Best Sci-Fi Movies of the Last 10 Years
Revisit a forty-film science-fiction selection published in 2020, exploring imagined futures, ambitious worlds and screen stories from its original time period.
FASHIONNew14 photosHailey Bieber Keeps Turning Up the Heat in Her Vacation Bikinis
Browse Hailey Bieber's vacation swimwear, from playful pink and yellow bikinis to simple black styles, finished with scarves, sunglasses and sun hats.
PETS10 photos10 Best Pets For Kids
Explore ten pet options for families with children, with attention to daily care, adult responsibility and the different needs of animals beyond appearance.
