Getting to Know Asian Countries that Changed Their Names

Jakarta – There are hundreds countries in the world today and a lot of these have changed their names for various reasons. Reasons such as boundary change, war, and independence, to honour a leader, splitting of countries, etc.

Besides, political motivation can also make countries change their name. Most countries changed their name to erase their past, while some others did to attract tourism.

Well, here are some Asian countries that changed their official names: 

1. Persia to Iran

The exonym Persia was the official name of Iran in the Western world before March 1935. The Iranian government requested those countries with which it had diplomatic relations, to call Persia "Iran," which is the name of the country in Persian. 

The suggestion for the change is said to have come from the Iranian ambassador to Germany, who came under the influence of the Nazis.

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Ilustrasi Thailand.

Photo :

• businessinsider.com

Thailand is one of the few Southeast Asian countries that has never been colonized by the British or French. For centuries, the region was ruled by a king and was known as Siam. 

In 1939, the king who ruled the country changed its name after it became a constitutional monarchy. It is pronounced as Prathet Thai in its local language, which means “the country of free people.”

Originally called Burma, the ruling military junta changed its name to Myanmar in 1989, a year after thousands were killed in the suppression of a popular uprising. The change was recognised by the United Nations, and by countries such as France and Japan, but not by the United States and the United Kingdom (UK). 

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Pantai Koh Rong, Kamboja

Photo :

• flickr

Cambodia has changed its name several times. Between 1953 and 1970, the country has renamed the Kingdom of Cambodia and then Khmer Republic till 1975. 

Under the communist rule from 1975 to 1979, it was referred to as Democratic Kampuchea. Under the UN transition authority from 1989 to 1993, it became the State of Cambodia. After the restoration of the monarchy in 1993, it was renamed the Kingdom of Cambodia.

In 1505, the Portuguese discovered Ancient Ceylon called Ceilão. In the early 19th century, British Empire changed its name to Ceylon. After independence, the island government changed its name to Sri Lanka. 

In 2011, all Ceylon references were removed from official bodies and companies using the old name Ceylon.

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2. Siam to Thailand