What was Nauru formerly known as by Europeans?

What was Nauru formerly known as by Europeans? Nauru was formerly known as Pleasant Island.

British sea captain John Fearn recorded the island in 1798 while sailing aboard the Hunter, a 300-ton trading ship. He reportedly chose the name “Pleasant Island” because of its attractive appearance. European whalers and traders later used the name while visiting for food and fresh water.

The name was an English description rather than Nauru’s traditional indigenous name. Nauruans have long used names including Naoero, which is also reflected in the country’s official name and internet country-code domain, .nr.

Nauru lies in Micronesia, in the central Pacific. It became a German colony in 1888, was administered under international mandates after World War I, and achieved independence in 1968. “Ocean Island” is a common mix-up: that was the former European name for nearby Banaba, now part of Kiribati.