World Geography • History • Static GK • Competitive Exams
Countries That Changed Their Names: Old Names → New Names
A corrected and updated 2026 exam guide separating genuine country renamings from colonial names, predecessor states and successor countries—with years, facts, memory tricks and MCQs.
Updated: 16 August 2026UN-Verified Name ChangesUPSC • SSC • APPSC • Railways • Police
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Exam Summary in One Sentence:
Not every “old country name → new country name” pair in GK books is a true rename: Myanmar–Burma, Sri Lanka–Ceylon, Burkina Faso–Upper Volta, Eswatini–Swaziland, DR Congo–Zaire and Türkiye–Turkey are genuine or officially recognised name changes, while pairs such as Russia–Soviet Union or Kazakhstan–Soviet Union are successor-state relationships.
Not every “old country name → new country name” pair in GK books is a true rename: Myanmar–Burma, Sri Lanka–Ceylon, Burkina Faso–Upper Volta, Eswatini–Swaziland, DR Congo–Zaire and Türkiye–Turkey are genuine or officially recognised name changes, while pairs such as Russia–Soviet Union or Kazakhstan–Soviet Union are successor-state relationships.
Why This Topic Needs Careful Classification
Many old GK lists mix together four different historical processes: official name changes, short-name standardisation, colonial/pre-independence names, and successor states after the breakup of larger countries.
Important Exam Correction:
Do not treat Russia = Soviet Union, Kazakhstan = Soviet Union, Serbia = Yugoslavia or Slovakia = Czechoslovakia as simple country renamings.
Do not treat Russia = Soviet Union, Kazakhstan = Soviet Union, Serbia = Yugoslavia or Slovakia = Czechoslovakia as simple country renamings.
Quick Facts at a Glance
2022Turkey → Türkiye
2019North Macedonia
2018Swaziland → Eswatini
1997Zaire → DR Congo
2026 Current Usage:
United Nations usage includes Türkiye, Eswatini, North Macedonia, Czechia and Cabo Verde. Use the current official/UN-standard name unless the question asks for the historical name.
United Nations usage includes Türkiye, Eswatini, North Macedonia, Czechia and Cabo Verde. Use the current official/UN-standard name unless the question asks for the historical name.
1. Genuine / Official Country Name Changes
| Current Name | Former Name | Year | Exam Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Türkiye | Turkey | 2022 | The Republic of Türkiye requested the UN to use “Türkiye” instead of “Turkey”. |
| North Macedonia | The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia / Republic of Macedonia | 2019 | The name Republic of North Macedonia became effective in February 2019. |
| Eswatini | Swaziland | 2018 | Kingdom of Swaziland → Kingdom of Eswatini; effective 19 April 2018. |
| Czechia | Czech Republic (former short form) | 2016 | Formal name remains the Czech Republic. Czechia is the UN short name. |
| Cabo Verde | Cape Verde | 2013 | The Portuguese form Cabo Verde replaced Cape Verde in UN usage. |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | Zaire | 1997 | Zaire changed its name to the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 17 May 1997. |
| Myanmar | Burma | 1989 | The UN records Burma as the former name until June 1989. |
| Burkina Faso | Upper Volta | 1984 | Upper Volta became Burkina Faso on 4 August 1984. |
| Benin | Dahomey | 1975 | Dahomey became the People's Republic of Benin; today the state is the Republic of Benin. |
| Sri Lanka | Ceylon | 1972 | UN records Ceylon as the former name until 29 August 1972. |
| Thailand | Siam | 1939 / 1949 | Siam became Thailand in 1939, briefly reverted after World War II, and Thailand became the permanent modern name in 1949. |
| Iran | Persia | 1935 | Persia is the historical exonym; in 1935 the government requested foreign governments to use Iran. |
2. Colonial / Pre-Independence Names
These pairs are useful for exams, but the former term generally refers to a colony, protectorate or pre-independence territory, not a simple sovereign-state rename.
| Modern Country | Historical / Colonial Name | Correct Understanding |
|---|---|---|
| Ghana | Gold Coast | British Gold Coast became independent Ghana in 1957. |
| Botswana | Bechuanaland | Bechuanaland Protectorate became independent Botswana in 1966. |
| Malawi | Nyasaland | Nyasaland was the colonial-era name before Malawi's independence in 1964. |
| Belize | British Honduras | British Honduras became Belize in 1973; Belize became independent in 1981. |
| Zimbabwe | Southern Rhodesia / Rhodesia | The transition was complex; “Zimbabwe = Rhodesia” is an oversimplification. |
| Indonesia | Dutch East Indies | A colonial predecessor territory, not merely a sovereign-country rename. |
| Bangladesh | East Pakistan | Bangladesh became an independent sovereign state in 1971; East Pakistan was part of Pakistan. |
| Malaysia | Federation of Malaya | Malaysia's formation in 1963 involved territorial and constitutional change, not just a rename. |
| Iraq | Mesopotamia | Mesopotamia is primarily a historical-geographical term, not simply the old official name of modern Iraq. |
| Türkiye | Anatolia | Not a rename. Anatolia is a geographical region, not the former official country name. |
3. Successor States – Not Simple Renames
| Common Wrong Pair | Correct Historical Relationship |
|---|---|
| Russia → Soviet Union | The USSR was a union of multiple Soviet republics. It dissolved in 1991; it did not simply rename itself Russia. |
| Kazakhstan / Uzbekistan / Turkmenistan / Kyrgyzstan / Tajikistan → Soviet Union | These were constituent Soviet republics and became independent states after the USSR's dissolution. |
| Armenia / Azerbaijan / Georgia / Moldova / Ukraine / Belarus → Soviet Union | These are former Soviet republics/successor states, not alternative names for the USSR. |
| Serbia → Yugoslavia | Serbia was a constituent republic in Yugoslav federal structures; modern Serbia emerged through Yugoslavia's breakup and later constitutional changes. |
| Slovenia / Croatia / Bosnia and Herzegovina / Montenegro / North Macedonia → Yugoslavia | Successor or former constituent republics linked to Yugoslavia's dissolution, not simple renames. |
| Slovakia → Czechoslovakia | Czechoslovakia ceased to exist on 31 December 1992; Czech Republic and Slovakia became separate successor states in 1993. |
| Czechia → Czechoslovakia | Czechia is a successor state after Czechoslovakia's dissolution; separately, Czechia became the Czech Republic's short name in 2016. |
Static GK Booster
| Question Area | Correct Fact |
|---|---|
| Old name of Myanmar | Burma |
| Old name of Sri Lanka | Ceylon |
| Old name of Burkina Faso | Upper Volta |
| Old name of Eswatini | Swaziland |
| Zaire is now called | Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| Old name of Benin | Dahomey |
| Former English/UN form of Cabo Verde | Cape Verde |
| Current UN name replacing Turkey | Türkiye |
| Current short name of Czech Republic | Czechia |
| Gold Coast became | Ghana |
| Bechuanaland became | Botswana |
| Nyasaland became | Malawi |
| British Honduras became | Belize |
Memory Tricks
Africa:
Swaziland → Eswatini | Upper Volta → Burkina Faso | Dahomey → Benin | Zaire → DR Congo | Gold Coast → Ghana | Bechuanaland → Botswana | Nyasaland → Malawi
Asia:
Burma → Myanmar | Ceylon → Sri Lanka | Siam → Thailand | Persia → Iran | Turkey → Türkiye
Swaziland → Eswatini | Upper Volta → Burkina Faso | Dahomey → Benin | Zaire → DR Congo | Gold Coast → Ghana | Bechuanaland → Botswana | Nyasaland → Malawi
Asia:
Burma → Myanmar | Ceylon → Sri Lanka | Siam → Thailand | Persia → Iran | Turkey → Türkiye
Do Not Confuse
| Confusion | Correct Understanding |
|---|---|
| Turkey vs Türkiye | Türkiye replaced Turkey in UN usage in 2022. |
| Czechia vs Czech Republic | Czechia is the short name; formal name remains the Czech Republic. |
| DR Congo vs Republic of Congo | Different countries: Kinshasa vs Brazzaville. |
| Myanmar vs Burma | Myanmar is the UN-used country name; Burma remains common in historical and some political contexts. |
| Russia vs Soviet Union | Not a simple rename; the USSR dissolved into multiple states. |
| Bangladesh vs East Pakistan | Bangladesh became independent in 1971; East Pakistan was part of Pakistan. |
| Türkiye vs Anatolia | Anatolia is a geographic region, not an old official country name. |
10 Exam-Focused MCQs
Select an option. The answer appears automatically.
1. Which country was formerly known as Burma?
Correct Answer: B. Myanmar
UN records Burma as Myanmar's former name until June 1989.
UN records Burma as Myanmar's former name until June 1989.
2. Ceylon is the former name of:
Correct Answer: A. Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka was formerly known as Ceylon.
Sri Lanka was formerly known as Ceylon.
3. Which country was formerly called Upper Volta?
Correct Answer: B. Burkina Faso
Upper Volta became Burkina Faso in 1984.
Upper Volta became Burkina Faso in 1984.
4. Swaziland changed its name to:
Correct Answer: B. Eswatini
The name change became effective in 2018.
The name change became effective in 2018.
5. Zaire changed its name in 1997 to:
Correct Answer: B. Democratic Republic of the Congo
Zaire became the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1997.
Zaire became the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1997.
6. Which current UN-used name replaced Turkey in 2022?
Correct Answer: A. Türkiye
The UN adopted Türkiye following the country's official request.
The UN adopted Türkiye following the country's official request.
7. Which statement about Czechia is correct?
Correct Answer: B. Czechia is the short name
Czechia is the short form; the formal name remains the Czech Republic.
Czechia is the short form; the formal name remains the Czech Republic.
8. Which pair is NOT a simple country-name change?
Correct Answer: C. Soviet Union–Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan became independent from the USSR; the USSR did not rename itself Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan became independent from the USSR; the USSR did not rename itself Kazakhstan.
9. Gold Coast is historically associated with which modern country?
Correct Answer: A. Ghana
The British Gold Coast became independent as Ghana.
The British Gold Coast became independent as Ghana.
10. Anatolia is best described as:
Correct Answer: B. A geographic region
Anatolia is not the former official sovereign-state name of Türkiye.
Anatolia is not the former official sovereign-state name of Türkiye.
Quick Revision – 60 Seconds
- Turkey → Türkiye (2022).
- Macedonia/FYROM → North Macedonia (2019).
- Swaziland → Eswatini (2018).
- Czech Republic → Czechia (2016 short-name change).
- Cape Verde → Cabo Verde (2013).
- Zaire → Democratic Republic of the Congo (1997).
- Burma → Myanmar (1989).
- Upper Volta → Burkina Faso (1984).
- Dahomey → Benin (1975).
- Ceylon → Sri Lanka (1972).
- Gold Coast → Ghana, Bechuanaland → Botswana, Nyasaland → Malawi are colonial/pre-independence transitions.
- USSR → Russia/Kazakhstan/etc. and Yugoslavia → Serbia/Slovenia/etc. are not simple renames.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the old name of Myanmar?
Myanmar was formerly called Burma.
What is the old name of Sri Lanka?
The former name is Ceylon.
What is the new name of Swaziland?
The country is now called Eswatini.
Is Czechia a new country?
No. Czechia is the short name used for the Czech Republic; the formal name remains the Czech Republic.
What is the new name of Turkey?
The United Nations uses Türkiye following the country's official request in 2022.
Was Russia formerly called the Soviet Union?
Not as a simple rename. The USSR was a union of multiple republics and dissolved in 1991.
Is Anatolia the old name of Türkiye?
No. Anatolia is a geographic region, not the former official country name.
Official Sources and References
- United Nations Research Guide – Current UN Member States Resources (updated 2026)
- United Nations – Türkiye name change
- United Nations – Eswatini / former Swaziland
- United Nations – Yugoslavia and successor states; North Macedonia history
- United Nations – Czechia short name / Czech Republic formal name
- United Nations – Cabo Verde / former Cape Verde
- United Nations – Zaire to Democratic Republic of the Congo
- United Nations – Burkina Faso / former Upper Volta
- UN Group of Experts on Geographical Names – Geographical Names in a Changing World
- United Nations Treaty Collection – Historical Information on State Names
Verification Note – 16 August 2026:
The old list was reclassified and checked against current United Nations country-name and membership resources. Colonial names and successor states are not presented as if every entry were a straightforward country rename.
The old list was reclassified and checked against current United Nations country-name and membership resources. Colonial names and successor states are not presented as if every entry were a straightforward country rename.
Conclusion
For competitive examinations, know whether a pair represents an official rename, short-name standardisation, colonial transition or successor-state relationship. The highest-value pairs are Burma–Myanmar, Ceylon–Sri Lanka, Upper Volta–Burkina Faso, Dahomey–Benin, Zaire–DR Congo, Swaziland–Eswatini and Turkey–Türkiye.
Educational Disclaimer: Historical country naming can involve constitutional change, decolonisation, state succession and disputed terminology. This post uses current UN-standard terminology where available as of 16 August 2026.
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