The island nation formerly known as Nauru has officially changed its name to the Republic of Naoero, a move intended to reinforce the country’s cultural identity. The change was enacted following a constitutional amendment passed by the country’s parliament in May.

Originally known as Naoero by its indigenous population, the name was altered to Nauru by German colonizers in the 19th century, who reportedly found the native name difficult to pronounce. The island has also been historically referred to as Pleasant Island. The government announced that the nation’s abbreviated name will now be Naoero, and its citizens will be identified as dei-Naoero.

While there were initial plans to hold a national referendum on the name change later this year, President David Adeang confirmed that the government decided to forgo the public vote. Adeang stated the decision came after careful consideration, emphasizing that Naoero is already widely recognized and used in the community, appears on the national coat of arms, and is permitted under the constitution. He described the renaming as an effort to honor the nation’s heritage and preserve the legacy of its ancestors, as well as to strengthen its future generations.

Naoero, with a population of approximately 12,000, is the world’s third-smallest country by land area, following Vatican City and Monaco. The government has formally informed other countries and international organizations of the new official name as it seeks to assert its indigenous identity on the global stage.