NAURU’S government has tabled a constitutional amendment that would change the country’s name from Nauru to Naoero, with the proposal now set for further parliamentary process and a national referendum.
President David Adeang tabled the bill and said that while the name Nauru had been recognised internationally since independence, the proposed change sought more faithfully honour the nation’s heritage, language, and identity.
“Nauru emerged because Naoero could not be properly pronounced by foreign tongues, and was changed not by our choice, but for convenience,’’ Adeang said.
“Today, we have the opportunity to bring our name home.”
Adeang called for support at a national referendum on the Constitution (Amendment) (No.2) Act 2026 tabled in Parliament in January.
The proposed amendment to the Constitution of Nauru 1968 seeks to replace all references to “Nauru” with “Naoero”. References in any written law would also apply, and any reference to the term “Nauru” would be deemed to mean “Naoero.”
If approved, the name change would be reflected across the country, including the renaming of the national aircraft and ships, and in the country’s official identity regionally and internationally, including at the United Nations, as well as across national records and symbols.
The government noted that other nations have also changed their country names to better reflect and honour their cultures and languages, including Eswatini, Türkiye and, closer to home, Chuuk.
The change requires a two-thirds majority vote in Parliament. If passed, it will then go to a national referendum, where all eligible Nauruan voters will decide whether to change the name.
Source: Pacnews