• The Pacific nation of Nauru has officially changed its name to the Republic of Naoero.
• The name change aligns with the local pronunciation and seeks to honor the country’s heritage.
• Nauru's international country code will change from NRU to NRO, with citizens referred to as dei-Naoero.
• This move is part of a broader trend of nations reclaiming indigenous identities from colonial names.
• The UN and international agencies are updating their records to reflect this change.

The Pacific island nation of Nauru has officially changed its name to the Republic of Naoero, which better reflects the pronunciation in the national language. This change includes a shift in the country's international code from NRU to NRO, and its people will now be referred to as dei-Naoero instead of Nauruan, with the new name pronounced as "Now-ero" rather than "Now-roo," which had become common internationally due to pronunciation difficulties, according to latimes and npr.

The change, initially proposed by President David Adeang in January, aims to honor the nation's heritage, language, and identity. Lawmakers endorsed the constitutional amendment required to formalize this change through two rounds of voting. However, the government decided that a public referendum was unnecessary after "extensive discussions," framing the name Naoero as a true representation of the nation that had long been overshadowed by its colonial name, according to indiatimes and latimes.

Naoero's history has been marked by external control and economic challenges, including the decline of its once-thriving phosphate mining industry. Today, the government is addressing modern threats posed by climate change, particularly rising sea levels that jeopardize its existence. The name change is also seen as a catalyst for renewed national pride as the country seeks to attract overseas investment, evidenced by a paid citizenship program intended to fund relocation efforts, according to npr.

This decision contributes to a wider movement among nations to redefine themselves by adopting indigenous names and distancing from colonial influences. Comparisons have been made to countries like Eswatini, which returned to its historical name in 2018, and Turkey’s push for the use of Türkiye at the United Nations in 2022. Officials are currently engaging with international organizations and countries to ensure the recognition of the newly adopted name, as the United Nations has already updated its records, along with other diplomatic entities, according to indiatimes, latimes, and npr.