The Pacific Island nation of Nauru has officially changed its name to the Republic of Naoero, a move that aligns the country’s international designation with its traditional name and pronunciation in the national language. The change, announced by President David Adeang, signals a renewed sense of national pride and a departure from a colonial past.
The country's international code will shift from NRU to NRO, and its inhabitants will be known as dei-Naoero, replacing the term Nauruan. While commonly pronounced "Now-roo" abroad, the new name is spoken as "Now-ero."
President Adeang proposed the constitutional amendment in January, stating that the change would "more faithfully honour our nation’s heritage, our language, and our identity." Lawmakers have endorsed the amendment through the necessary voting rounds, although formal confirmation of the document's amendment was not immediately clear.
Nauru, a small coral limestone atoll with approximately 12,000 residents, is the third-smallest country globally by population, following Tuvalu and Vatican City. It gained independence in 1968 after being colonized by Germany and administered by Australia.
The nation's history includes significant wealth generated by phosphate mining in the 1970s, followed by severe economic decline in the 1990s. Currently, Nauru is among the countries most vulnerable to rising sea levels due to climate change, leading the government to pursue overseas investment through a paid citizenship program. This initiative aims to fund the relocation of its population and infrastructure away from the encroaching ocean.
While a referendum was previously considered to confirm the name change, the government decided against it after extensive discussions, stating that the name Naoero has always been part of the people's identity and is already reflected in the national coat of arms and community usage. The government asserts that the Constitution permits the designation.
Nauru joins other nations that have reverted to traditional names to move away from colonial legacies, such as Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) in 2018. Turkey also officially requested the United Nations to use its Turkish name, Türkiye, in 2022.
The name change will necessitate updates for Nauru's national aircraft and ships. The government has begun seeking recognition of the shift from other countries and international organizations. The United Nations website already lists the country by its new name, following a request made in June. Websites for the foreign ministries of Australia and New Zealand, as well as the U.S. and Chinese embassies in the region, also reflect the designation Naoero.