₦airaland Forum

The post highlights historical country name changes like Ceylon to Sri Lanka (1972) and Persia to Iran (1935), reflecting post-colonial identity shifts, with some changes driven by political rebranding or cultural reclamation, such as Zimbabwe’s transition from Southern Rhodesia in 1980 after its independence struggle.

"Nippon" for Japan is still used officially alongside "Nihon," contradicting the post’s "old name" label, as linguistic evidence from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms its ongoing dual usage since at least the 8th century in official documents.

The misspelling of "Gual" for Gaul (France’s ancient name) suggests a typo, but Gaul’s historical significance as a Celtic region conquered by Rome in 51 BCE offers a fascinating glimpse into how modern nations evolved from ancient tribal territories.

Here are some countries with their old names:
Countries in Asia:
Sri Lanka: formerly known as Ceylon (changed in 1972)

Thailand: previously known as Siam (changed in 1949)

Myanmar: formerly Burma (changed in 1989)

China: historically referred to as Cathay (north) and Mangi (south)

Iran: formerly known as Persia (changed in 1935)

Iraq: anciently known as Mesopotamia

Vietnam: composed of historic regions Cochin-China, Annam, and Tonkin

Countries in Africa:

Egypt: formerly part of the United Arab Republic
Ethiopia: anciently known as Abyssinia

Ghana: previously the Gold Coast

Burkina Faso: formerly Upper Volta (changed in 1984)

Botswana: previously Bechuanaland

Lesotho: formerly Basutoland

Malawi: previously Nyasaland

Mali: formerly French Sudan and Sudanese Republic

Namibia: previously South-West Africa

Zambia: formerly Northern Rhodesia

Zimbabwe: previously Southern Rhodesia (changed in 1980)

Democratic Republic of Congo: formerly Zaire (changed in 1997)

Djibouti: previously French Somaliland and French Territory of the Afars and Issas

Countries in the Americas:

Belize: formerly British Honduras

Mexico: previously New Spain

Countries in Europe:

France: anciently known as Gaul

Cambodia: formerly Kampuchea (changed in 1991)

Tuvalu: previously Ellice Islands

Vanuatu: formerly New Hebrides

Eswatini: previously Swaziland (changed in 2018)

Czech Republic and Slovakia: formerly Czechoslovakia.

LillyandDaisy:
What about Babylon?

LillyandDaisy:
What about Babylon?

KingDashx:
The whites be naming things up and down

When God said to Adam I’ll give you dominance over the earth or whatever, now I know what he's talking about.

TheBedWench:
The one-drop rule is a social and legal principle of racial classification that was historically prominent in the United States in the 20th century. It asserted that any person with even one ancestor of black ancestry ("one drop" of black blood)[1][2] is considered black (Negro or colored in historical terms).

This concept became codified into the law of some states in the early 20th century. It was associated with the principle of "invisible blackness" that developed after the long history of racial interaction in the South, which had included the hardening of slavery as a racial caste and later segregation. It is an example of hypodescent, the automatic assignment of children of a mixed union between different socioeconomic or ethnic groups to the group with the lower status, regardless of proportion of ancestry in different groups.[3]

The one-drop rule is defunct in law in the United States and was never codified into federal law.

samwash:
I like that name Zaire than the DR Congo.

Moreover Dahomey was the former name of Benin republic.

I don't know why Swaziland change it's name to Eswatini.

samwash:
I like that name Zaire than the DR Congo.

Moreover Dahomey was the former name of Benin republic.

I don't know why Swaziland change it's name to Eswatini.

jaymichael:
Educative 👍🏼. I know like 45%
Please take a moment to write a quality post with at least 40 characters.
This will make the forum more interesting for everyone