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Except the "Baja" in this case (or its lack in the USA) is like the compromise, "North" Macedonia.

The situations would be more analogous if the Mexican state were called simply "California" or the US state were called "Baja California."

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In both cases, the bigger and more powerful side got to keep the plain name and the other side had to settle for a geographic prefix.

As I understand it, both sides had prefixes: Baja and Alta. After the US took Alta California, they dropped that prefix. Mexico was never forced to add one.

They dropped the prefix because Mexico wasn't in a position to object. I wouldn't be surprised if many expected at the time that the newly founded US state would annex Baja eventually.

We had that opportunity -- the guy negotiating the treaty decided San Diego was far enough.

counterpoint: the Indian state of West Bengal and the country of Bangladesh (lit. Land of the Bengali).

The Baja peninsula includes two separate Mexican states: Baja California and Baja California Sur.

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