List of renamed places in Myanmar
Many cities and towns in Myanmar were renamed in 1989 by the State Law and Order Restoration Council following a seizure of power by Saw Maung. Some places were renamed to their traditional, pre-colonial names, others were simply a bid to make their spellings better reflect their true Burmese pronunciation.
Old Name | New Name | Notes |
Akha | Kaw | |
Akyab | Sittwe | |
Arakan | Rakhine | |
Ava | Inwa | |
Bassein | Pathein | |
Bre | Kayaw | |
Burma | Myanmar | |
Burman | Bama | |
Burmese | Bamar | |
Chin | Zomi | |
Chindwin | Chindwinn | |
Hmong | Meo | |
Irrawaddy | Ayeyarwady | |
Karen | Kayin | Both the state and ethnic group |
Karenni | Kayah | Both the state and ethnic group |
Magwe | Magway Division | |
Maymyo | Pyin U Lwin/Pyin Oo Lwin | |
Mergui | Myeik District | |
Moulmein | Mawlamyine | |
Pagan | Bagan | |
Pa-O | Taungthu | |
Pegu | Bago | |
Prome | Pyay | |
Rangoon | Yangon | |
Salween | Thanlwin | |
Shan | Tai | |
Ta-ang | Palaung | |
Tavoy | Dawei | |
Tenasserim | Tanintharyi |