I'm not sure when the term "British Isles" came into common use, but my guess would be that it became accepted sometime after 1801 (and obviously its use pre-dates the division of Ireland in 1921). Although the tan part of the map hasn't been British for decades, the term was probably so ingrained in common usage by then that people just continued using it.

I tend to think of "British Isles" as a mere geographical term, just as North America refers not only to the U.S.A. but also includes Canada and Mexico.

The current official names are:

United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland

-and-

Republic of Ireland / Poblacht na h'Eireann

(The R.o.I. is officially bilingual.)


[This message has been edited by pauluk (edited 12-29-2002).]