Key facts
- Nauru has officially changed its name to the Republic of Naoero.
- The name change aims to strengthen national identity and cultural heritage.
- A constitutional amendment was passed in May to rename the country.
- President David Adeang stated that a planned referendum was dropped.
- European colonizers changed the country's name from Naoero due to pronunciation difficulties.
The Pacific island nation of Nauru has officially reverted to its traditional name, Naoero, a move intended to bolster national identity and cultural heritage. The decision, formalized through a constitutional amendment passed in May, will see the country referred to as the Republic of Naoero, with its citizens known as 'dei-Naoero'.
President David Adeang announced that plans for a national referendum on the name change have been dropped, stating that Naoero is already the established identity of the people and is permitted by the constitution. European colonizers had previously altered the island's name to Nauru due to difficulties in pronouncing its native designation.