Why has Google Maps named Persian Gulf as the Arabian Gulf?

Answer 1

It is important to note that only the Arabs insist on calling the Persian Gulf the Arabian Gulf. It is not a commonly used term in any major language other than Arabic and the other five UN languages call the area the Persian Gulf. The same issue arises with the term "English Channel" which is called "La Manche" in French and variations of that name in other languages.

In English and most other languages, the proper term is "Persian Gulf" as much as it offends Arab sensibilities, just as the term "Manche" is the proper international linguistic term of the English Channel as much as that may offend British sensibilities.

However, there are several reasons that Arabs feel the need to push others to see the situation from their perspective:

1. It is used by the Arab League and nations
2. It is used by United Nations in their Arabic documents and Arabic Language is an official language in the United Nations
3. The name "Persian gulf" is linked to the Persian empire that does not exist any more. As Mediterranean Sea used to be called Roman Sea
4. Iran does not mean Persia, Iranian people consist of Persians, Arabs, Azeri, Turkmen, Kurds, Gilakis, Mazandaranis, Lurs, and Baluchis
5. The people who live around the Gulf are mostly Arabs so by demography it should be called Arabian Gulf
6. There are 6 Arabic countries around the gulf but Iran is alone and 70% of the coast line is under Arabic countries
7. Stated clearly in the Arabian history.

All of those are refuted by International Observers who say correspondingly:

1. This is true because its name in Arabic is the Arabian Gulf, this is not in dispute. The question is whether non-Arab parties acquiesce to this.
2. All five other UN languages use a variant of Persian Gulf and those five other languages are the majority. Arabic has no special privilege to trump the others.
3. Many areas are named after people who may or may not still exist. America is named after an Italian explorer who is long dead, but nobody suggests renaming America.
4. The Islamic Republic of Iran is the successor state to Persia. The Persian Empire changed its name to Iran in 1935. The Persian Empire and now Iran was never culturally homogenous. What that has to do with nomenclature is unclear.
5. Current demography does not change place names. Tibet is still consider Tibet outside of China even though there are more Han Chinese in Xijang Province (as the Chinese call it) than native Tibetans.
6. Wholly irrelevant to nomenclature. The South China Sea borders more of Vietnam than China and the Gulf of Aqabah borders Jordan less than each of the three other countries to touch it.
7. See Response 1

Answer 2

Google Maps uses both names with Persian Gulf being the dominant term and Arabian Gulf in parentheticals. This is to reflect the disputed naming of the area between the International Community and the Arab World.

The same issue arises with the term "English Channel" which is called "La Manche" in French and variations of that name in other languages.

Additionally

Google acknowledges the disputes over what places should be named and where borders should be drawn. Google announced that "we have done our best to anticipate these controversies and to address them in a principled, rigorous, and consistent way". Google has considered various approaches to naming bodies of water and tries its best to remain neutral and objective often by providing alternative local names for places in addition to the "official" name.