U.S. Board on Geographic Names

The U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) is a federal agency responsible for standardizing and maintaining the official names and boundaries of geographic features and places across the United States. Its goal is to ensure consistency in map-making, navigation, and government records. The BGN reviews name proposals, resolves naming disputes, and keeps an authoritative database of geographic names. Established in 1890, it helps provide clear, uniform naming conventions to support accurate communication and geographic understanding nationwide.