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Nauru officially changes its name to Naoero

The Pacific island nation formerly known as Nauru has officially changed its name to the Republic of Naoero, with citizens now referred to as dei-Naoero. The change, passed by parliament in May, aims to honor the country's heritage and move away from a colonial-era name.

By Tertius News AI Desk 4 outlets · 5 articles Version 1 Coverage Jul 30 – Aug 4, 2026 Published Aug 14

Lead

The Pacific island nation formerly known as Nauru has officially changed its name to the Republic of Naoero, a move that honors the country's heritage and language. The change was confirmed by President David Adeang, who said the new name matches the spelling and pronunciation in the national language.

Coverage Comparison

The name change was reported by multiple outlets, including ABC Australia, Al Jazeera, The Guardian, and The Hindu. All sources agree on the core fact: Nauru is now officially the Republic of Naoero, and its citizens will be known as dei-Naoero.

The reasons behind the change vary slightly across reports. The Guardian and The Hindu emphasize that the change moves the country away from its colonial past, noting that the name 'Nauru' was given by German colonialists. ABC Australia and Al Jazeera frame the change as honoring the country's heritage and language. The Guardian also highlights that the new name matches the spelling and pronunciation in the national language.

Key Claims

Name Change: The country has officially changed its name to the Republic of Naoero. The new name is pronounced 'now-ero', as reported by The Hindu and The Guardian.
Citizen Designation: Citizens will now be known as 'dei-Naoero' instead of Nauruan, according to all sources.
International Code: The country's international code will change from NRU to NRO, as reported by The Guardian and The Hindu.
Reason for Change: The name change is intended to move away from the country's colonial past and to honor its heritage and language. The name 'Nauru' was given by German colonialists, as noted by multiple sources.
Population: The country has a population of around 12,000, making it one of the world's smallest nations, according to all sources.
Climate Risk: The country is at risk from rising sea levels due to climate change, as reported by The Guardian and The Hindu.
Language Status: The Nauruan language is classified as 'severely endangered', according to Al Jazeera and The Hindu.
Parliamentary Action: The country's parliament passed a constitutional amendment to change the name in May, as reported by ABC Australia and The Guardian.

Perspectives

The government of Naoero, led by President David Adeang, sees the name change as a return to the country's traditional identity. Adeang stated that the decision was about "identity, heritage, and preserving the legacy of our ancestors and strengthening the future of our children." He emphasized that Naoero is not a new name seeking acceptance, but rather an identity the people already hold, as it appears on the national coat of arms and is spoken in the community.