The Pacific Island nation of Nauru, the world's third-smallest country, has officially changed its name to the Republic of Naoero, President David Adeang announced. The change aligns the country's name with its spelling and pronunciation in the Nauruan language. The president said the new name reflects the nation's identity and heritage. The government will now use the updated name in official contexts. Nauru, located northeast of Australia, has a population of about 10,000 and is known for its phosphate mining history. While the country has been commonly called Nauru internationally, the adoption of Naoero marks a symbolic step toward preserving its indigenous language. The announcement was made public in a statement, though no specific date for the change took effect was provided. Observers note that the move could set a precedent for other small island nations seeking to reclaim indigenous place names.