ISTANBUL, July 31 — Nauru has officially changed its name to the Republic of Naoero, the small Pacific island nation’s government announced earlier this week, Anadolu Ajansi reported.

The country’s abbreviated name will be Naoero, while its country code will change to NRO. Its people will be referred to as dei-Naoero, according to a government statement posted on Wednesday on Facebook.

The decision to restore the country’s traditional name was proposed in January through a bill to amend the constitution. It was followed by a 90-day waiting period and unanimous approval by members of parliament.

Speaker Marcus Stephen certified the amendment on May 13, formally enacting the change.

Although the government had been expected to hold a referendum, it decided against doing so after “thoughtful deliberation.”

It said the move was not about adopting a new name but restoring a traditional one that “has never been lost, but rather has been waiting to be fully embraced.”

President David Adeang said the change was not about politics but about identity and heritage, as well as “preserving the legacy of our ancestors and strengthening the future of our children.”

“Naoero is the beginning of renewed national pride, and a new chapter founded on unity, responsibility, patriotism, better health, education, and sustainable development,” he said.

The government said international organisations and other countries had been formally notified of the change and had begun making the transition. — Bernama-Anadolu