The Pacific Island nation of Nauru has officially changed its name to the Republic of Naoero, a move President David Adeang stated is intended to honor the country's heritage, language, and identity. The new name matches the spelling and pronunciation in the national language, transitioning from the internationally recognized "Nauru" to "Naoero," which is spoken as Now-ero.
This change affects the country's international code, which will shift from NRU to NRO, and its people will now be known as dei-Naoero, replacing the term Nauruan. The government stated that the name Naoero was not lost but had been awaiting full embrace, as it is already used within the community and appears on the national coat of arms.
The decision follows a proposal by President Adeang to Parliament in January, which has since been endorsed by lawmakers. While a referendum was initially considered, extensive discussions led to the decision that a public vote was not necessary. The government indicated that the name change signifies a "beginning of renewed national pride."
Nauru, the world's third-smallest country by population with approximately 12,000 residents, achieved independence in 1968. The island nation has experienced significant economic shifts, including a period of wealth in the 1970s due to phosphate mining, followed by economic struggles in the 1990s when the industry collapsed. Currently, Nauru is recognized as one of the nations most vulnerable to rising sea levels, prompting government initiatives to seek overseas investment for relocating people and infrastructure.
The name change is part of a broader trend of nations shedding colonial-era designations. Examples include Eswatini's reversion from Swaziland in 2018 and Turkey's request to the United Nations in 2022 to refer to the country as Türkiye. Nauru's national aircraft and ships will also adopt the new designation. International bodies and several foreign ministries, including those of Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and China, already recognize the country as Naoero on their official websites.
