Turkey will now be known as Türkiye at the United Nations (UN) as its intergovernmental body has agreed to a formal request for the name change from Ankara.
- The UN’s acceptance of this name change marks the start of the similar process of adoption by other similar bodies and international organisations.
Key Highlights
- Several international bodies will be asked to make the name change as part of a rebranding campaign launched by the Turkish president in 2021.
- Most Turks already know their country as Türkiye. However the anglicised form Turkey is widely used, even within the country.
- Among the reasons for the image rebrand was the association with the bird traditionally associated with Christmas, New Year or Thanksgiving.
- It also pointed out the Cambridge English Dictionary’s definition of one of the meanings of the word as “something that fails badly” or “a stupid or silly person”.
Countries with new names
- In 2020, The Netherlands dropped Holland in a rebranding move.
- Macedonia changed its name to North Macedonia due to a political dispute with Greece.
- Swaziland became Eswatini in 2018.
- Iran used to be called Persia.
- Siam is now Thailand.
- Rhodesia was changed to Zimbabwe.
(Source: BBC)
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