Trenton, New Jersey. In an effort to show off their state pride over a waterway that shares a border with Delaware and New Jersey but is the Delaware River’s outflow, New Jersey politicians are seeking to rename the Delaware Bay the Bay of New Jersey.
Senator Michael Testa, a Republican from New Jersey, introduced the bill.
During the 2024–2025 legislative session, a new measure called S4670 was filed, which would require all state departments and agencies to adapt their publications, websites, signage, and other materials to reflect the change. Notifying federal agencies of the planned renaming is another requirement of the act.
The measure focuses on New Jersey’s topographical and cultural claim to the waterway, ignoring Delaware, despite the fact that the bay borders both states. The bay is more in line with New Jersey’s infrastructure and identity, according to the bill’s supporters.
Early English immigrants in the 17th century gave the Delaware Bay its historical name in honor of Thomas West, the 3rd Baron De La Warr. It is an important estuary that supports wildlife, shipping, and fishing in both states.
Despite historical ties, the state wants an official renaming.
Bill S4670, if approved, would be the first time a U.S. state has attempted to unilaterally change the name of a significant body of water that is shared with another state and that is now recognized by the federal government. As of yet, neither federal agencies nor Delaware lawmakers have expressed any opposition or support.
Given that the U.S. Board on Geographic Names is in charge of overseeing geographic names in the US, the proposed modification might encounter legal and practical issues. Before authorizing formal name changes, that board usually takes stakeholder opinion, local use, and historical precedent into account.
Similar to other moves by U.S. governments to rebrand or recover geographical names deemed out-of-date or inaccurate, New Jersey is attempting to rename the bay. Few, though, have involved the namesake of a nearby state.
As of Thursday, neither state lawmakers nor Delaware Governor John Carney had released an official remark on the planned renaming. There is still a need for federal input from organizations like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Geological Survey.
Before possibly moving on to a full vote in the state Senate, the bill is still pending committee review.
