Key keywords: Nauru name change, world's third smallest country, Republic of Naoero, Pacific island nation, decolonization of country names, UN member state name update, Micronesia indigenous identity, Naoero rebranding On October 12, 2024, the government of the world’s third-smallest sovereign state officially announced a landmark change to its national identity, replacing its long-used colonial-era official English name “Republic of Nauru” with the indigenous name “Republic of Naoero”. The announcement marked the culmination of a 3-year national consultation process led by the country’s cultural council, which received overwhelming public support in a 2023 national referendum, with 87% of voters backing the name shift. Naoero, which covers a total land area of just 21.1 square kilometers in the central Pacific Ocean’s Micronesia region, ranks as the third smallest independent country on Earth, behind only Vatican City (0.44 square kilometers) and the Principality of Monaco (2.08 square kilometers). It has a population of roughly 12,700 residents, most of whom are indigenous Naoeran people. The name “Nauru” was first introduced by German colonizers in the late 19th century, a mispronunciation and misspelling of the traditional local name “Naoero” that had been used by the island’s indigenous community for thousands of years. The Naoeran government confirmed that it has formally submitted the name change application to the United Nations Secretariat, and the UN is expected to complete the update of its official member state roster, diplomatic document templates and global conference materials within 90 days. The government stressed that the name change will not alter any of the country’s existing international treaty obligations, diplomatic relations, trade agreements or immigration policies, and a 18-month transition period will be provided to allow businesses, travelers and international organizations to adjust to the new name. The country will also gradually roll out updated passports, government stationery, national brand assets and official website content featuring the new official name over the transition period. The Pacific Islands Forum has already issued a statement welcoming the decision, describing it as a critical milestone in the broader decolonization movement across the Pacific region, as more small island nations move to reclaim indigenous cultural identities erased by centuries of foreign occupation. Cultural policy experts note that the name change also gives the small nation a unique opportunity to raise its global profile, as global media coverage of the shift has already driven a 320% increase in search interest for the country over the past week, according to data from Google Trends.