Board on Geographic Names: Standardizing Federal Place Names
Consistency in mapping is essential for navigation, governance, and historical record-keeping. In the United States, this consistency is maintained by the Board on Geographic Names (BGN). Established to eliminate confusion and conflict in nomenclature, the BGN serves as the final authority on the spellings and applications of geographic names used across all federal agencies.
Key Facts
- The BGN renders formal decisions on new names, name changes, and conflicting names.
- It manages over two million geographical records via the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
- The board consists of members from six federal departments, the CIA, the Library of Congress, the US Postal Service, and the US Government Publishing Office.
- The BGN generally defers to local usage unless a name is deemed highly offensive.
- Possessive apostrophes are almost never recognized in official naming.
Operational Mandate and Governance
According to the 1969 publication Decisions on Geographic Names in the United States, the BGN's primary purpose is to provide formal decisions on names submitted by individuals, private organizations, or government agencies. These decisions ensure that maps and publications produced by federal agencies remain uniform.
The BGN's structure is designed for specialized oversight. It operates through an executive committee and two permanent committees with full authority: the Domestic Names Committee (10 to 15 members) and the Foreign Names Committee (8 to 10 members). Both committees are composed exclusively of government employees and maintain their own respective databases.
Beyond domestic borders, the BGN establishes policies for foreign and underseas geographic names. Specifically, the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names manages the nomenclature for features within Antarctica.
The Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)
To organize this vast amount of data, the BGN collaborated with the US Geological Survey (USGS) to develop the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). This database serves as a comprehensive repository for topographic map names and bibliographic references.
The GNIS does more than list official names; it cites books and historic maps that confirm a feature's identity and records variant names—alternative terms used for a feature that are not the official federal designation.
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The Naming Process and Special Guidelines
It is a common misconception that the BGN creates place names. In reality, the board is reactive; it responds to proposals from the public, tribal governments, and state or local authorities. While the BGN typically aligns federal names with local usage, it reserves the right to reject names that are considered very offensive.
Handling Foreign Languages
The BGN does not translate foreign terms into English. Instead, it uses the Roman alphabet to represent foreign names accurately. For languages that do not use the Roman script, the board employs transliteration—the process of converting text from one writing system to another—or creates new systems for lesser-known languages.
Punctuation and Data Collection
The BGN maintains a strict policy against the use of the possessive apostrophe. In its entire history, only five exceptions have been granted, one of which is Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.
Collecting this data is a massive undertaking. Because there is often a phase lag—sometimes spanning several decades—between local usage and federal adoption, the USGS utilizes volunteers from the Earth Science Corps to help identify and collect the names of geographic features.
BGN Organizational Summary
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Primary Database | Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) |
| Total Records | Over 2 million |
| Domestic Committee | 10–15 government employees |
| Foreign Committee | 8–10 government employees |
| Antarctic Oversight | Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names |
| Naming Philosophy | Defers to local usage (with rare exceptions) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the BGN create new names for places?
No, the BGN does not create names. It renders formal decisions based on proposals submitted by federal agencies, state, local, and tribal governments, or members of the public.
How does the BGN handle names in non-English languages?
The BGN does not translate names. It uses the Roman alphabet and employs transliteration systems to accurately represent foreign names.
Why are some local names not reflected on federal maps?
This is usually due to a phase lag, where a delay occurs in the adoption of a locally used name. In some instances, this delay can last for several decades.
Are apostrophes allowed in official geographic names?
Generally, no. The BGN does not recognize the possessive apostrophe, granting only five exceptions in its history, such as Martha's Vineyard.
Who uses the decisions made by the BGN?
While the BGN defines names for use by federal agencies, state and local governments as well as private mapping organizations typically follow their decisions.