The Nauru 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.
The Constitution (Amendment) (No.2) Act 2026 was tabled in Parliament on 29 January 2026. It has not yet been passed. Under Article 84, the bill will be laid over for 90 days before returning to the Order Paper for debate on its Second Reading.
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”.
President David Adeang tabled the bill and said that while the name “Nauru” has been recognised internationally since independence, the proposed change seeks to 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.
“Today, we have the opportunity to bring our name home,” President Adeang said in a statement, as he called for support at a national referendum.
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 from “Nauru” to “Naoero”.
