Changed names of cities, states, and countries
Here is a List of important Cities, States, and countries with their old and new names. This general geography knowledge is essential for various competitive examinations, especially for government jobs.
Here’s a table listing the old and new names of various cities, states, and countries around the world:
| Old Name | New Name | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bombay | Mumbai | City (India) | 1995 |
| Calcutta | Kolkata | City (India) | 2001 |
| Madras | Chennai | City (India) | 1996 |
| Bangalore | Bengaluru | City (India) | 2014 |
| Trivandrum | Thiruvananthapuram | City (India) | 1991 |
| Baroda | Vadodara | City (India) | 1974 |
| Benares | Varanasi | City (India) | 1956 |
| Poona | Pune | City (India) | 1978 |
| Cawnpore | Kanpur | City (India) | 1948 |
| Cochin | Kochi | City (India) | 1996 |
| Allahabad | Prayagraj | City (India) | 2018 |
| Gurgaon | Gurugram | City (India) | 2016 |
| Mewat District | Nuh District | District (India) | 2016 |
| Orissa | Odisha | State (India) | 2011 |
| Uttaranchal | Uttarakhand | State (India) | 2007 |
| Burma | Myanmar | Country | 19891 |
| Ceylon | Sri Lanka | Country | 1972 |
| Siam | Thailand | Country | 1939 |
| Persia | Iran | Country | 1935 |
| Dutch East Indies | Indonesia | Country | 1949 |
| Abyssinia | Ethiopia | Country | 1941 |
| Rhodesia2 | Zimbabwe | Country | 1980 |
| Gold Coast | Ghana | Country | 1957 |
| Zaire | Democratic Republic of the Congo | Country | 1997 |
| East Pakistan | Bangladesh | Country | 1971 |
| Constantinople | Istanbul | City (Turkey) | 1930 |
| Peking | Beijing | City (China) | 1949 |
| Leningrad | Saint Petersburg | City (Russia) | 1991 |
| Saigon | Ho Chi Minh City | City (Vietnam) | 1976 |
| Salisbury | Harare | City (Zimbabwe) | 1982 |
| New Amsterdam | New York | City (USA) | 1664 |
| Batavia | Jakarta | City (Indonesia) | 1942 |
| Edo | Tokyo | City (Japan) | 1868 |
| Byzantium | Constantinople | City (Turkey) | 330 AD |
Here are important facts and context about some of the renamed cities, states, and countries mentioned earlier — explaining why they were renamed, historical or political significance, and public response.
India – Renamed Cities & States
| Old Name | New Name | Facts & Reasons |
|---|---|---|
| Bombay | Mumbai | Renamed in 1995 to reflect Marathi heritage. Named after the goddess Mumbā Devi. Part of identity politics led by the Shiv Sena. |
| Calcutta | Kolkata | Changed in 2001 to align with Bengali pronunciation. Intended to shed the colonial legacy. |
| Madras | Chennai | Renamed in 1996 to reflect Tamil origins. “Chennai” is derived from “Chennapattinam.” |
| Bangalore | Bengaluru | Officially changed in 2014 to reflect local Kannada language and historical name. |
| Trivandrum | Thiruvananthapuram | Reverted to its original Sanskrit-based Malayalam name in 1991. |
| Poona | Pune | Changed in 1978; Pune is the original Marathi name. “Poona” was the anglicized form. |
| Allahabad | Prayagraj | Changed in 2018 to reflect its ancient name “Prayag,” meaning confluence of rivers. Politically linked to Hindu heritage. |
| Orissa | Odisha | Changed in 2011 to match native Odia language. State’s language also renamed from “Oriya” to “Odia.” |
| Uttaranchal | Uttarakhand | Changed in 2007 due to local demand; “Uttarakhand” means “Northern Land” in Sanskrit. |
| Gurgaon | Gurugram | Changed in 2016; “Gurugram” refers to the land of Guru Dronacharya from Mahabharata. |
Renamed Countries – Facts & Significance
| Old Name | New Name | Facts & Reasons |
|---|---|---|
| Burma | Myanmar | Renamed by military junta in 1989 to remove colonial-era name. Controversial internationally. |
| Ceylon | Sri Lanka | Changed in 1972 after becoming a republic. “Sri Lanka” means “resplendent island” in Sanskrit. |
| Siam | Thailand | Renamed in 1939. “Thailand” means “land of the free.” Changed again briefly during WWII, then back to Thailand. |
| Persia | Iran | Renamed in 1935 by Reza Shah to reflect native name. “Iran” comes from “Aryan.” |
| East Pakistan | Bangladesh | Became independent in 1971 after the Liberation War. Name means “Land of Bengal.” |
| Zaire | Democratic Republic of the Congo | Changed in 1997 after fall of Mobutu regime; Zaire was a colonial-era name. |
| Gold Coast | Ghana | Renamed upon independence in 1957; Ghana refers to an ancient African empire. |
| Rhodesia | Zimbabwe | Name change in 1980 after independence from British rule. “Zimbabwe” refers to ancient city of Great Zimbabwe. |
| Byzantium → Constantinople → Istanbul | Modern Istanbul | Originally Byzantium (Greek), became Constantinople under Roman rule (330 AD), renamed Istanbul in 1930 after Turkey became a republic. |
| Peking | Beijing | “Beijing” is the modern pinyin romanization; name change standardized in 1949 with PRC government. |
| Saigon | Ho Chi Minh City | Renamed in 1976 after reunification of Vietnam. Named after communist leader Ho Chi Minh. |
| Leningrad | Saint Petersburg | Originally founded by Peter the Great, renamed “Leningrad” in 1924 after Lenin, reverted in 1991 after USSR collapse. |
| New Amsterdam | New York | Renamed in 1664 when British seized it from the Dutch, in honor of the Duke of York.3 |
| Kampuchea | Cambodia | Kingdom of Cambodia (restored after UN-brokered Paris Peace Agreements in 1993 and constitutional monarchy reinstatement)4 |
Old & New Names of Cities, States & Countries
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FAQs
Q1.Why do cities, states, and countries change their names?
Sometimes, names are changed to reflect cultural identity, correct historical inaccuracies, or remove colonial influences.
Q2.What is the old name of Mumbai?
Mumbai was formerly called Bombay until 1995.
Q3.What was the original name of New York?
Before it was New York, the city was called New Amsterdam under Dutch rule.
Q4.Why did Calcutta change to Kolkata?
The name was changed in 2001 to better match the Bengali pronunciation and remove colonial influence.
Q5.What is the new name of Ceylon?
Ceylon is now called Sri Lanka (since 1972).
Q6.Why did Peking become Beijing?
The spelling changed in 1979 to better reflect Mandarin pronunciation (“Peking” was based on an older romanization).