​10 countries that changed their name​

​In 2018, Swaziland adopted a new name: Eswatini, a name meaning "land of the Swazis" in the Swazi language. King Mswati III announced on the country's 50th anniversary of independence. Its new name reflects the country's indigenous heritage and follows the example of African nations taking on names in their native languages. It would clear off the confusion with Switzerland and mark a milestone toward assuming an identity and sovereignty of their own.
(Pic Credits: Canva)

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​In 2019, the Republic of Macedonia changed its name to North Macedonia. The change was the result of a long-standing dispute with Greece, which has a region called Macedonia. The new name was part of the Prespa Agreement that resolved the dispute, allowing North Macedonia to become a member of international organizations like NATO and the EU. The question mark has remained over it considering the name change. According to the opponents The word "North", defines a geographical term but that separation does not take place in terms of nationality and language.(In Picture: Aerial view of North Macedonia)
(Picture Credits: Canva)

​This was the name this country had during the colonization period of the British. It changed its name in 1972 to the official name, Sri Lanka, after gaining status as a republic. Sri Lanka comes from Sanskrit and means "resplendent island." It depicts all rich cultural and natural beauty that this nation has. The reason it got this name was to shed off the vestiges of colonial legacies and instead represent an identity of the nation indigenously entrenched in culture and history.

In Picture: ​Temple of tooth of buddha

(Picture Credits: Canva)
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​Irish Free State, officially established in 1922 after its independence from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, changed its name into Ireland with the adoption of its new constitution in 1937. The renaming had then been another milestone toward full sovereignty and national naming. Ireland, or Éire in Irish, symbolizes its connection to the Gaelic and the struggle for unity and independence. The name change was part of the more important movement for Ireland to declare itself a nation amongst nations.
(In Picture: Dublin Ireland)
(Picture Credits: Canva)

​Until 1939, the country was called Siam; after that, it was renamed Thailand, which means "land of the free." It was done in the context of the nationalistic effort to highlight the country's independence and its own cultural identity. Indeed, Thailand is the only country in Southeast Asia that never had to encounter colonization by a European power; this is exactly what is reflected in its new name. This name change also created a sense of unity and pride in nationality among the people of Thailand.

​Formerly known as Burma, it was renamed Myanmar in 1989 by its ruling military government. The word 'Myanmar' is a derivative of the word 'for the country' in the Burmese language and hence can be said to be inclusive of all the various ethnic groups within the nation. It had been part of a wider effort at assertion of national identity and to move away from colonial-era names. Given that the name change has been a source of some controversy, this naming is not universally accepted. This does, however, constitute an attempt on the part of the government to engender unity and national pride.
(In Picture: Yangon, Myanmar, Credits: Canva)
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