Myanmar: Understanding the Historical Context of Its Names

Why does this Southeast Asian nation, which has zoomed back into international focus following a military coup on 1 February 2021, have two names? The answer is a complicated one where history, politics, and transliteration all play vital roles. It’s not uncommon for countries to change their names, as seen in the cases of Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe. However, what to make of Myanmar, which is also known as Burma?

During British colonial rule in the 19th and early 20th centuries, atlases and globes labeled the country as Burma, derived from the Burmese term ‘Bama,’ which locals colloquially used. Nevertheless, in more formal contexts, the country is referred to as ‘Myanma,’ leading to the transliteration as Myanmar—with the addition of an ‘r’ to phonetically lengthen the preceding ‘a’ vowel.

In 1948, following its independence from Britain, the nation officially became the Union of Burma. However, the sad reality is that Burma is anything but a united nation. For over 70 years, the country has endured the world’s longest-running civil war, creating instability that has enabled the military to justify its extended rule over democratically elected governments.

Why was the name changed from Burma?

In 1989, after a brutal crackdown on a pro-democracy uprising, the military junta rebranded the nation as the Union of Myanmar. The rationale provided was that Myanmar was more inclusive of the country’s diverse ethnic population. Additionally, colonial-era place names were also abolished—Rangoon became Yangon, and Pagan was renamed Bagan.

The name change became a political flashpoint. While the United Nations and organizations like Amnesty International embraced Myanmar, the main opposition group, the National League of Democracy (NLD), did not agree. “I prefer Burma because the name was changed without any reference to the people,” said Aung San Suu Kyi, the NLD’s leader, in an interview.

The United States, in solidarity with opposition groups, has continued— and continues to officially refer to the country as Burma.

What term does GoTravelDaily use?

Following the 2015 election, the strong feelings of democracy supporters regarding the usage of Burma instead of Myanmar began to wane. Aung San Suu Kyi, speaking to diplomats in her capacity as foreign minister in April 2016, stated they could refer to the nation as either Burma or Myanmar. Although she had been accustomed to calling it Burma herself, she expressed willingness to occasionally use Myanmar for the sake of diplomacy.

GoTravelDaily utilizes Myanmar as the default name for the country, with Burma used for historical reference prior to 1989 and in the context of certain organizations. The term ‘Burmese’ is designated for the Bamar people, along with references to the cuisine and the language.

Simon Richmond is a writer and curator of GoTravelDaily’s Myanmar guidebook and has traveled extensively in the country since 2002.