Google Maps has renamed Lake Ontario as “Lake America” for users in the United States, following President Donald Trump’s executive order to change the name of the Great Lake.
The change, which took effect on Sunday, means users accessing Google Maps from the US now see “Lake America,” while Canadian users continue to see “Lake Ontario.” Users outside the US and Canada are expected to see both names.
Google said the decision reflects official US designations while preserving local naming conventions in other regions. The company explained that it updates Google Maps based on official government sources, including the US Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
The development has added a new layer to already strained US-Canada relations, coming amid an escalating trade dispute and reciprocal tariffs between the two neighbours. Trump’s decision to rename the lake has also triggered criticism from Canadian officials and some US politicians.
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes and sits along the border between New York State and the Canadian province of Ontario. Its name, which is more than 400 years old, has deep historical and Indigenous roots.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has rejected the change, insisting that Canadians will continue to call it Lake Ontario, while Ontario Premier Doug Ford has also reaffirmed the lake’s historic name.
Google’s decision has also highlighted a divide among major technology companies. While Google Maps has adopted “Lake America” for US users, Apple Maps has so far continued to display “Lake Ontario.” However, US Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said on Monday that Trump had spoken directly with Apple and suggested the company could soon make a similar change.
The renaming follows a broader pattern under the Trump administration, which has pursued changes to the names of major geographical landmarks, including the Gulf of Mexico, renamed the “Gulf of America” for US federal purposes.
For now, the same body of water carries two names depending on where users are viewing it: Americans see “Lake America,” while Canadians continue to see “Lake Ontario.”
