Fiji is the name of a place.
Fiji ( [ ˈfiːdʒiː ] ) ( Viti [ ˈβitʃi ] फ़िजी ) , officially the Republic of Fiji ( Matanitu Tugalala o Viti फ़िजी गणराज्य ) , is an island country in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about 1100 nmi northeast of New Zealand 's North Island . Viti Levu 's interior is sparsely inhabited due to its terrain . Taveuni ( pronounced [ taweuni ] ) is the third-largest island in Fiji , after [ [ Viti Levu ] , Vanua Levu , with a total land area of 434 km2 . Vanua Levu ( pronounced [ βaˈnua ˈleβu ] ) , formerly known as Sandalwood Island , is the second largest island of Fiji . Viti Levu ( pronounced [ ˈβitʃi ˈleβu ] ) is the largest island in the Republic of Fiji , the site of the nation 's capital , Suva , and home to a large majority of Fiji 's population .