The Republic of Nauru has officially reclaimed its traditional name - Naeoro - marking an historic shift the tiny island's leaders say is about restoring the country's true identity on the global stage.
The government had passed the motion without putting the name change to its people, arguing the issue was not entirely about creating a new image, but honouring its cultural heritage.
The change was made to move away from its past colonial mispronunciation of its Indigenous name.
The constitutional measure follows several months of moves to formally replace the internationally-recognised moniker of Nauru from the past 68 years before the weekend.
Naeoro President David Adeang had first introduced the proposal to parliament back in January.
Naeoro Parliament, which holds 19 members over eight multi-member constituencies, unanimously passed the constitutional amendment in May.
While a national referendum was initially expected to complete the final process, the government recently determined that was unnecessary as Naoero had always been the country's traditional name and spelling within its unique Dorerin-Naoero language branch.
The government said Naoero would "more faithfully honour our nation's heritage, our language, and our identity".
"The decision not to pursue a referendum was reached after thoughtful deliberation that Naoero is not a new name seeking acceptance by the people," the government said in the statement.
"It is already the identity of the people, is on the national coat of arms, and is spoken in the community.
"While a referendum is intended to determine the will of the people, the name Naoero has never been lost, but rather waiting to be fully embraced."
Under the change, the country's official designation will become the Republic of Naoero (Repubrikin Naoero), which will be the commonly shortened to just Naoero, the country's international abbreviation becomes NRO while citizens will be acknowledged ethnically as dei-Naoero people.
The government said the amendment still followed the constitutional process, including a 90-day layover period before parliament unanimously approved the bill after speaker Marcus Stephen certified the amendment.
The United Nations and other prominent international organisations have already been notified of the change to begin updating their official records.
Mr Adeang in his opening address last month described the traditional name as the beginning of a new chapter for the Pacific nation.
The government, operating in a system with no formal parties in parliament, said the change reflects renewed national pride and a new commitment to unity, patriotism and and responsibility towards improved health and education, and also more sustainable development.
"Naoero is the beginning of renewed national pride, and a new chapter founded on unity, responsibility, patriotism, better health, education, and sustainable development," the president said.
The renaming of place names in recent times frequently lies with a greater emphasis on Indigenous identity. British captain John Fearn, who first arrived in 1798, named modern-day Naoero, Pleasant Island, over its lush appearance. German colonisation later recorded several alternative spellings from Naoero people that besides Nauru also includes Anaoero, Nawodo, Onawero and Naura.
Home to just 12,101 people at a mid-year census, the 21-square-kilometre Micronesian country is the world's smallest independent sovereign republic.
After gaining independence from Australia in 1968, the transfer of phosphate mining control from the British Phosphate Commission ensured the country would become among the wealthiest per capita in the world.
But after the impacts of environmental degradation and climate change, Naoero has since spent decades since the 1980s slowly rebuilding its economy that includes receiving funds to house asylum seekers to Australia on behalf of its Federal government.
