Nauru Officially Changes Name to Reflect Local Language and Heritage

The Pacific island nation of Nauru has officially changed its name to the Republic of Naoero, aligning the spelling and pronunciation with its official language. This change also updates the country's international code from NRU to NRO, and its citizens will now be known as Dei-Naoero instead of Nauruans. The government announced the change on its Facebook page, explaining that the previous name was a convenience for foreigners rather than a choice, and the new name restores the island's traditional identity.

President David Adeang proposed the name change in parliament in January, emphasizing respect for the nation's heritage, language, and identity. The constitutional amendment was approved in two parliamentary votes. Naoero is the third smallest country by population, with about 12,000 residents, located on a rocky island surrounded by coral reefs. It was formerly colonized by Germany and administered by Australia before gaining independence in 1968.

Historically, Naoero experienced economic prosperity in the 1970s due to phosphate mining, but the industry collapsed in the 1990s, pushing the country to the brink of economic ruin. Today, it faces severe threats from rising sea levels caused by climate change. To address this, the government seeks foreign investment, including selling citizenship to fund relocating infrastructure and housing away from vulnerable coastal areas.

Naoero joins other nations reclaiming indigenous names or rebranding internationally, such as Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) and Türkiye (formerly Turkey). The name change will also affect national airlines and shipping companies. The UN website already reflects the new name, and countries like Australia, New Zealand, the US, and China have updated their references accordingly.

Notably, Naoero is a close ally of Israel and recently announced plans to open an embassy in Jerusalem following a meeting between its Vice President and Foreign Minister Lionel Aingimea and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar. The embassy is expected to open in the coming months.