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The Pacific Island nation of Nauru has officially changed its name to the Republic of Naoero, President David Adeang has announced, in a move aimed at aligning the country’s international identity with its traditional language and heritage.
The name change, confirmed in a statement posted recently on the government’s Facebook page, will also see the country’s international code shift from NRU to NRO. Citizens will now be referred to as dei-Naoero instead of Nauruan.
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Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe pronunciation used abroad, commonly rendered as “Now-roo,” will also be replaced with “Now-ero” to reflect the local articulation.
Return To Traditional Name
According to the government, the shift back to “Naoero” is meant to correct a name imposed for convenience.
“The country became known internationally as Nauru only because its local name was difficult for foreigners to pronounce,” an earlier government statement noted.
In January, President Adeang proposed the change to Parliament, saying:
“This proposed change seeks to faithfully honor our nation’s heritage, our language, and our identity.”
Lawmakers have since endorsed the suggested constitutional amendment through the required two rounds of voting. It is unclear if the document has been formally gazetted.
A Tiny Nation With A Turbulent History
With a population of just 12,000, Naoero is the world’s third-smallest country by population, after Tuvalu and Vatican City.
The remote coral limestone atoll was first colonized by Germany, later administered by Australia, and gained independence as a republic in 1968.
The island experienced a boom-and-bust cycle after phosphate mining generated huge wealth in the 1970s. In recent years, it has drawn international attention for its role hosting Australia’s offshore asylum processing center.
The name change is the latest step by Pacific nations to reassert cultural identity on the global stage.
