The South Pacific island nation long known to the world as Nauru has officially changed its name to the Republic of Naoero. The change restores the traditional name used in the country's local language, stepping away from a spelling originally introduced for the convenience of foreign visitors.
Along with the country's name, its citizens will now be called dei-Naoero instead of Nauruan, and its international country code will update from NRU to NRO. Pronounced "Now-ero" rather than "Now-roo," the name has always been used by local residents, appearing on the national coat of arms and in daily conversations.
President David Adeang explained that foreign colonizers adopted "Nauru" simply because the native pronunciation was difficult for outsiders. By returning to Naoero, the nation aims to honor its language, heritage, and national identity. The government had previously planned a public referendum, but lawmakers decided a vote was unnecessary since the name was never truly lost to its people.
With a population of around 12,000 residents, Naoero is the world's third-smallest independent country. The small island faced major economic shifts after phosphate mining boomed in the 1970s and collapsed in the 1990s. Today, the nation faces severe threats from rising sea levels caused by climate change, leading the government to seek foreign investment to relocate communities to safer ground.
International organizations and foreign embassies, including the United Nations, Australia, and New Zealand, have already updated their official records to reflect the new name. Naoero is also in the process of renaming its national ships and aircraft as it begins a new chapter of national pride.