LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Chalk it up to the nation's neighbor to the north, the United States, whose American independence movement had inspired Mexican leaders of that era. Mexico was also a territory composed of states, and the name stuck and became official in 1824.

United Mexican States turn up on official documents pertaining to international relations. However, for the rest of Mexicans and the world, the nation is simply known -- as Mexico.

Outgoing President Calderon sent to the Mexican Congress this week a piece of legislation to change the country's name officially to simply Mexico.

A conservative president better known for his war on drug cartels and organized crime, Calderon has only a few days to go before relinquishing control of Mexico to Enrique Pena Nieto, who was elected in July, takes on December 1st.

It's not yet known if the new Mexican Congress will quickly act on Calderon's bill or tackle other more pressing matters such as security and the economy.

Calderon, in announcing his decision to officially changing his country's name declared that the name United Mexican States was originally taken because back in 1824 the United States of America was an example of democracy and liberty for the new independent nations in the Americas.

"It's time that we Mexicans retake the beauty and simplicity of our motherland's name: Mexico. (It's) a name that we use when chanting or singing, a name that identifies us throughout the world and that makes us proud," Calderon said.

The word "Mexico" was first used by the Aztecs in their original nahuatl language. The indigenous tribe founded a city called Tenochtitlan in the valley now occupied by the modern Mexico City. That original city was conquered by the Spanish in 1521.

Gaining its independence from Spain in 1821, many Mexicans pronounce the "x" in Mexico as a hard "h."

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