What’s in a name, anyway?

Do you still call the Netherlands "Holland"? Countries that changed names

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It is always a delicate matter when a country changes its name, as it signifies a shift not only for the geographical area but also for its inhabitants. The very identity of a nation is affected, which is why such changes are relatively rare. But they do happen. Did you know that Iran was once known as Persia? Or that Colombia was once called New Granada? Not many people remember the original names of these 12 countries. Do you?

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A well-known historic name, Persia was Iran’s official name in the West until 1935, when the new denomination was formally adopted by the government. This new name, Iran, was the name of the country in its own language, Persian.

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Until 1939, Thailand was known as Siam. The name was changed by the government following the establishment of a constitutional monarchy, as part of a broader effort to modernize the country and promote a unified national identity.

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In 1989, the military government of Burma officially changed the country’s name to Myanmar in English, stating it was intended to improve the nation's image and to "promote ethnic unity." In the Burmese language, Myanmar is a more formal, literary version of Burma, so the change did not affect the native name.

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If you remember calling the Netherlands Holland, you're not alone. However, in 2020, the Dutch government officially stopped using Holland as a promotional name for the country. This rebranding effort aimed to present a more unified national image and move away from recreational associations, factors that have long drawn tourists to the Dutch capital, Amsterdam, which is located in the province of North Holland.

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To distance itself from its colonial past, Sri Lanka changed its name from Ceylon, a name given during British rule, to Sri Lanka. The name Sri Lanka is derived from the Sinhalese language and means "resplendent land."

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The African country of Zimbabwe changed its name from Rhodesia after gaining independence from British colonial rule in 1980. The name Rhodesia came from Cecil Rhodes, the British imperialist who played a major role in the colonization of the region.

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After the fall of the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia peacefully split into two countries in 1993: the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In 2016, the Czech government officially adopted Czechia as the country's short-form name, recommending its use in international contexts, so that it can expand on business by having an easier name.

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After gaining independence from the British Empire in 1922, the Irish Free State existed as a self-governing dominion within the British Commonwealth. In 1937, a new constitution was adopted, and the country officially changed its name to Ireland (Éire in Irish), signaling a move to assert greater national identity and distance itself from its colonial past.

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The country formerly known as East Pakistan changed its name to Bangladesh after separating from West Pakistan in 1971. This change reflected deep cultural, linguistic, and political differences between the two regions and marked the culmination of the Bangladesh Liberation War, which led to Bangladesh’s independence.

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The region now known as Ethiopia was historically referred to as Abyssinia, a name commonly used by foreigners for many centuries. The term Abyssinia broadly referred to the Ethiopian Empire, which was ruled by various dynasties dating back to at least the 13th century. The name Ethiopia has ancient roots and was officially adopted as the country’s name by Emperor Haile Selassie in the 20th century, emphasizing Ethiopia’s longstanding heritage and identity.

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Modern-day Colombia was once part of the territory known as New Granada during Spanish colonial rule. After independence, the country went through several name changes: it became the Republic of New Granada, then the United States of Colombia following a civil war, and finally the Republic of Colombia in 1886. The name Colombia is derived from the surname of Christopher Columbus.

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The country formerly known as Swaziland officially changed its name to eSwatini in 2018. The name change was intended to shed traces of its colonial past and to reduce confusion with Switzerland, a landlocked European country. Notably, eSwatini is one of the few country names that begins with a lowercase letter.

The fear factor

Afraid of what?! Here are some phobias you didn’t know existed!

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We all know someone who’s afraid of spiders, heights, or enclosed spaces. But what about those who fear belly buttons? Or the color yellow? Phobias come in all shapes and sizes, and some are pretty unusual. Hey, no judgment here! Even if they are weird, they’re genuine to the people who experience them. Let’s take a deep dive into the world of weird phobias; don’t be afraid to keep reading!

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Do you know that feeling when peanut butter gets stuck to the roof of your mouth? If the thought truly terrifies you, you might have arachibutyrophobia.

Most of us just grab a glass of milk and move on, but those with this rare fear experience real anxiety at the sight of peanut butter. Some people develop it due to a choking incident, while others may have a general fear of sticky textures. In any case, PB&J are off the menu!

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Ever feel a little lost when you forget your phone at home? Nowadays, we might all have a little bit of this. But imagine that feeling cranked up to full panic mode: that’s nomophobia or the fear of being without a mobile phone.

People with this phobia get extremely anxious if their battery is low or if their signal is weak. Worst case scenario? Losing their phone!

While modern life makes phone use unavoidable, nomophobia can seriously disrupt daily life. Maybe it’s time for a digital detox or at least a backup battery.

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Math anxiety is one thing, but arithmophobia takes it to the next level. People with this phobia don’t just dislike numbers; they are genuinely afraid of them.

The thing is, numbers are everywhere, so you can imagine how disturbing this phobia can be! The sight of math equations or even having to deal with numbers in daily life can trigger anxiety. Thankfully, calculators exist, but even using one might be nerve-wracking for someone with this phobia.

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Most people dream of winning the lottery; we know we do! But that’s not the case for people with plutophobia, who would rather stay broke. Why? Because this phobia is a fear of money, either having it, dealing with it, or even being around wealthy people.

Some fear the responsibility that comes with wealth, while others associate money with greed or corruption. While the rest of us check our bank accounts with dread, plutophobes avoid money matters entirely. If only bills could pay themselves, right?

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The color yellow is usually associated with sunshine and happiness, but for people with xanthophobia, it’s a cause for panic. Can you believe that?

This rare phobia involves an intense fear of anything yellow (yes, from flowers to school buses, and even a banana could trigger anxiety.) Since yellow is everywhere, avoiding it entirely is nearly impossible. Imagine trying to walk through a grocery store without spotting mustard or lemons!

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For most of us, opening our eyes is an automatic action, but for those with optophobia, it’s a source of fear. This rare and highly debilitating phobia makes people afraid to open their eyes, often due to a deep fear of what they might see.

It’s usually linked to anxiety disorders and can make daily life incredibly difficult. Many sufferers prefer to stay in dimly lit spaces or keep their eyes closed as much as possible.

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If just reading this word made you nervous, you might have hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia: the fear of long words. Ironically, the name itself is one of the longest words in the dictionary, which seems a bit cruel for those who actually suffer from it, don’t you think?

A more manageable term for this phobia is sesquipedalophobia, but either way, it involves anxiety over reading or pronouncing long words. It often develops during childhood if someone struggles with reading, leading to embarrassment or fear of making mistakes.

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Belly buttons are harmless, right? Well, not if you have omphalophobia, the fear of belly buttons. People with this phobia can’t stand looking at, touching, or even thinking about navels, sometimes even their own!

Some sufferers keep their belly buttons covered at all times, while others avoid places like beaches or swimming pools where they might be exposed. If you know someone with this phobia, you can cross off crop tops from their gift list!

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Believe it or not, some people are terrified of string. Linonophobia is the fear of string, yarn, or anything similar. Even the thought of touching string can cause extreme anxiety in those who suffer from it.

You may think this one is not quite debilitating, but think of all the clothes! Or wrapping a gift, let alone sewing! Those are impossible tasks for them. Have you ever heard of this one?

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Facial hair is trendy, and most men have it! But for people with pogonophobia, beards are downright terrifying.

Phobias are irrational; there’s no logic behind them, but we can imagine that some find beards unclean, while others feel uneasy about their texture and volume. Pogonophobes may avoid bearded people entirely, which can be tricky during "No Shave November." Sorry, Santa, these folks aren’t coming anywhere near you!

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We all complain about work, but people with ergophobia take it to a whole new level. This phobia involves an intense fear of working, the workplace, or anything job-related.

It can stem from anxiety, past job trauma, or even fear of failure. While it might sound like an excuse to avoid going to the office, ergophobia can seriously disrupt a person’s ability to earn a living. Can you imagine?

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People with eisoptrophobia want nothing to do with mirrors. This fear may stem from superstitions (who wants to risk seven years of bad luck?), self-image issues, or a fear of seeing something supernatural.

Some avoid looking at their reflection entirely, which makes getting ready in the morning a bit of a challenge. Whether it’s about avoiding bad luck or just disliking what they see, mirrors are a no-go for eisoptrophobes.