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The names of many countries around the world have been changed. Today, we'll tell you about some of the countries whose names were changed at or before independence.

The world is changing, and with this change, many countries have presented their identities through new names. At different times in history, some countries changed their names after independence, some to promote their language and culture, and some for political reasons. Old names remained in the past, and new identities were created with new names.

Starting in South Asia, the country that was once known as Burma is now known as Myanmar. The government made this change in 1989. It was said that the new name brought together all the ethnic groups and communities of the country. Although people in many countries still call it Burma, the official name remains Myanmar.

Similarly, the island nation in the Indian Ocean was once called Ceylon. Today, that country is Sri Lanka. The name was changed in 1972 to shed the colonial era identity and promote its language and culture. Sri Lanka has become the country's new identity today.

The names of these countries also changed.

The story of name changes in the Middle East is no less interesting. What was once known to the world as Persia is now Iran. This decision was made in 1935. Iran means "land of the Aryans," which is linked to the country's ancient identity.

In recent years, a country located on the border of Europe and Asia also made a significant decision regarding its name. Turkey requested the world to call it Turkiye. The government argued that this name truly reflects the country's identity and language. The United Nations also approved this name.

A story of controversy and resolution regarding the name has also emerged in Europe. The country, long known as Macedonia, is now North Macedonia. After a dispute with Greece over the name, this new name was finalized in 2019 and received international recognition.

Moving to Africa, history has also undergone numerous name changes. The country known as Rhodesia during British rule is now Zimbabwe. After independence in 1980, a new name was adopted, reflecting local history and pride. The country formerly known as Swaziland is now Eswatini. In 2018, the king announced the name change to strengthen local identity while distancing itself from foreign influences.

Another major change was witnessed in Southeast Asia when the country known as Siam became Thailand. This change, which took place in 1939, was driven by a spirit of independence. The word "Thai" means "free," and this was the message the country wanted to convey to the world.