Nauru Rebrands Itself to 'Naoero' at UN, Embracing Heritage

President David Adeang of Nauru announced at the United Nations General Assembly that the Pacific island nation is officially changing its name to Naoero. Adeang described the move as a rebranding effort aimed at reclaiming the country's heritage and shedding its colonial past. He stated that 'Naoero' is the name the indigenous population has always used, while 'Nauru' was adopted by outsiders who struggled with pronunciation.

The name change, officially declared in August after being signaled in February, seeks to affirm a historical truth and is intended for both international recognition and the nation's own people. The international country code will change from NRU to NRO, and residents will now be known as Dei-Naoero. The new pronunciation is "Now-ero," distinct from the previous "Now-roo."

Nauru, an island nation with an area of just eight square miles and a population of approximately 12,000, gained independence in 1968 after periods of colonial rule by Britain, New Zealand, Australia, and Germany. The country maintains diplomatic relations with Israel and recently inaugurated its embassy in Jerusalem earlier this month, following its recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital in 2019.

President Adeang emphasized that the name change is not about erasing history but honoring it, stating, "This name carries the memory of our ancestors, our language, and our identity. It has been there all along. It was never lost, never absent. Today we bring back Naoero." He concluded his address, which also touched upon challenges like rising sea levels and economic issues, by urging the audience to "Say our name."

Nauru joins a global trend of countries adopting new names to modernize or reject colonial legacies. Notable examples include Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia), Thailand (formerly Siam), Iran (formerly Persia), and Turkey's request for the UN to use "Turkiye" in English. Other historical name changes include Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) and Myanmar (formerly Burma).