Nauru's President Announces Restoration of Indigenous Name Naoero at UN

At a UN General Assembly session, President David Adeang announced that the South Pacific island state long known as Nauru will officially adopt the name Naoero, restoring its original spelling and pronunciation. He explained that the adjustment honors the nation’s ancestors, language and identity, and is not intended to erase history. The renaming will be reflected in the country’s international code, which will shift from NRU to NRO, and its people will be referred to as dei-Naoero.

Adeang highlighted ongoing challenges such as rising sea levels and economic concerns, then concluded with a plea for global leaders to respect the new name. The move follows a pattern of post-colonial name changes seen in other countries.