The Pacific nation of Nauru has officially transitioned its name to the Republic of Naoero. President David Adeang announced that the new name better reflects the spelling and pronunciation used in the native language. As part of this transition, the national code will shift from NRU to NRO, and citizens will now be referred to as dei-Naoero instead of Nauruan. The internationally recognized pronunciation of the name is also changing from Now-roo to Now-ero.
Government officials stated that the change restores the traditional name of the South Pacific island. The original name was adopted internationally for foreign convenience, as the native spelling proved difficult for non-residents to pronounce. President Adeang emphasized that this shift is meant to respect the nation’s heritage, language, and cultural identity. The constitutional amendment received approval from lawmakers following two successful rounds of voting.
Nauru, which is a small coral limestone atoll, holds the rank of the world’s third-smallest country by population with 12,000 residents. The island was formerly a German colony and was later administered by Australia before gaining independence in 1968. It has a complex history, marked by a period of significant prosperity during the 1970s driven by phosphate mining.
