We first learn that our names sound a little different in other languages of the world at school. So, in English lessons, Sasha becomes Alex, Misha becomes Mike, Katya becomes Kate, etc. Schoolchildren perceive this as an interesting game of reincarnation, besides, sometimes Russian names in English sound funny.
In adulthood, people also often have to change their names in the English manner (in most cases). And not for the game. This is necessary when drawing up various documents, during official acquaintances with foreigners, etc.
Transliteration as a way of translating names and surnames
Many believe that a given name or surname must necessarily be "translated" and are desperately looking for their equivalent in another language. Some names in Russian and English are indeed similar, but they are still different. To introduce yourself in English, you don’t need to “translate” the name or look for a similar one, but you just need to be able to use the rules of transliteration.
What is transliteration? This is a linguistic device that consists in the letter-by-letter transmission of words or text written using one alphabetic system by means of another alphabetic system. Accordingly, the transliteration of the Russian alphabet in Latin is the transfer of letters, words, expressions and texts written using the Russian alphabet, using the Latin alphabet. In a word, writing the Russian word in English letters.
There is a whole theory of translating the letters of the Cyrillic alphabet into Latin, developed by the US State Department. Here's what it looks like:
| A - A | I - I | C - S | b - goes down |
| B - B | Y - Y | T - T | Y - Y |
| B - V | K - K | U - U | b - goes down |
| G - G | L - L | F - F | E - E |
| D - D | M - M | X - KH | Yu - YU |
| E - E, YE | H - N | C - TS | I am YA |
| Yo - E, YE | O - O | H - CH | |
| Zh - ZH | P - P | SH - SH | |
| Z - Z | R - R | Щ - SHCH |
Transliteration methods
In the past, there were several ways to translate Russian names into English, and various standards for transliterating Cyrillic into Latin are still used today. So, in the English version, the same Russian name or surname can be spelled differently.
Examples: Julia (Yulia, Yuliya, Julia, Julja); Dmitry (Dmitry, Dmitriy, Dmitri, Dimitri); Eugene (Yevgeny, Yevgeniy, Evgeny, Evgeni, Evgeniy, Eugeny); Tsvetaeva (Tsvetaeva, Tsvetayeva, Cvetaeva); Zhukovsky (Zhukovsky, Zhukovski, Zhukovskiy, Jukovsky).
However, there are cases when the transmission of a particular letter and sound becomes a real dilemma. "Special" Russian names in English are written as follows:
- the combination of Russian letters KS is best rendered in Latin letters KS, not X;
- in English, the letter h often, according to the rules of reading, goes unnoticed in order to convey the Russian sound [x], h is enhanced by the letter k - kh;
- an apostrophe is used in transliteration to emphasize the softness or hardness of the previous consonant;
- the ending -iya can be transliterated both as -ia and -iya. But often, in order to avoid unnecessary bulkiness, y is usually omitted.
For owners of a rare name on the Internet, there are many online automatic transliteration services that you can use if you encounter difficulties with translation.
On-line transliteration of the text from Cyrillic to Latin or translation of Russian names and surnames.
The peculiarity of the translation of surnames into English
How to write a surname in English? Male and female surnames are also translated into English through transliteration. To do this, use the system for translating letters of the Cyrillic alphabet into Latin, developed by the US State Department, which was mentioned above.
Female surnames in Russian have endings (-aya), which are transmitted to English using endings such as -aya, -ova (Golovataya, Ivanova). In English, everything is simpler, there are no such endings.
Example: Michael Brown - Hanna Brown (Michael Brown - Anna Brown), Catherine Johnson - Nicholas Johnson (Katherine Johnson - Nicholas Johnson).
Examples of writing a full name
When writing the last name, first name and patronymic, you should pay attention to the following: choosing one of the transliteration methods (for example, you have chosen a system in which the letters “u” and “ya” correspond to the English ju and ja), you must adhere to it to the end. If in correspondence or when filling out documents, filling out a questionnaire, you began to write your initials in one way, do not change the way they are translated into English: put a signature or write the name of the sender in the same way.
Below are examples of various combinations (last name, first name and patronymic). After studying this information, you can practice writing full names in Latin.
And although different systems are used in these examples of translation, it is important to remember that one should not go beyond one system within the same name.
- Petrova Aleksandra Pavlovna
- Sinitsyn Anton Pavlovich - Sinitsyn Anton Pavlovich.
- Karelin Vladimir Sergeevich
- Kozlova Elena Vladimirovna
- Kuzmenko Yulia Filippovna - Kuzmenko Yuliya Filippovna.
- Fedoruk Roman Konstantinovich - Fedoruk Roman Konstantinovich.
- Ivanova Tatyana Nikolaevna
- Pavlenko Maria Vladimirovna - Pavlenko Mariia Vladimirovna.
- Nefyodov Denis Arkadevich
- Katrushina Lyudmila Mikhailovna - Katrushina Lyudmila Mikhaylovna.
- Lesovaya Olesya Evgenievna - Lesovaya Olesya Evgen`evna.
- Tatarchuk Igor Grigorevich
- Somova Irina Yaroslavovna
- Koroleva Alexandra Leonidovna - Korolyova Aleksandra Leonidovna.
- Krupnov Igor Valerievich
- Anisova Marina Valentinovna - Anisova Marina Valentinovna.
- Lisitsina Daria Yurievna - Lisitsina Daria Iurevna.
Using all of the above transliteration rules, you can introduce yourself to a foreigner correctly and not be ashamed of your name. Lack of this knowledge increases the risk that you will be misunderstood.
There is nothing more natural than to start learning English by writing your own name in Latin letters.
Writing Russian names in English often causes difficulties - largely because there are no uniform rules in this regard. However, a set of general principles can still be defined.
- Read further in our article about the special transliteration rules currently used when issuing passports.
General rules for transliteration of names
The first thing to remember is names and surnames are not translated especially when it comes to documents and business correspondence. You should not pick up English-language counterparts and call Elena - Helen, and Michael - Michael. Instead, the name should be transliterated, that is, written in Latin. In this case, the following system of correspondence can be used:
| A | A | Andrey (Andrey) | ABOUT | ABOUT | Olga (Olga) |
| B | B | Boris (Boris) | P | P | Pavel (Paul) |
| IN | V | Valery (Valery) | R | R | Roman (Roman) |
| G | G | Gleb (Gleb) | WITH | S | Sergey (Sergey) |
| D | D | Dmitry (Dmitry) | T | T | Tatyana (Tatiana) |
| E | Ye/E | Yelena, Elena (Elena) | At | U | Ulyana (Ulyana) |
| Yo | Yo/E | Pyotr, Petr (Peter) | F | F | Filipp (Philip) |
| AND | Zh | Zhanna (Jeanne) | X | Kh | Khariton (Khariton) |
| W | Z | Zinaida (Zinaida) | C | Ts | Tsarev (Tsarev) |
| AND | I | Irina (Irina) | H | Ch | Chaykin (Chaykin) |
| Y | Y | Timofe y(Timof th) | W | Sh | Sharov (Balls) |
| K | K | Konstantin (Konstantin) | SCH | Shch | Shchepkin (Schepkin) |
| L | L | Larisa (Larisa) | S | Y | M y skin (M s skin) |
| M | M | Margarita (Margarita) | E | E | Eldar (Eldar) |
| H | N | Nicholas (Nicholas) | YU | Yu | Yury (Yuri) |
| I | Ya | Yaroslav (Yaroslav) |
Special rules for transliteration of names
In addition to the more obvious rules of transliteration, there are cases where it is not entirely clear how one or another name should be written. Let's look at these options.
Letter b And Kommersant are not transmitted in transliteration. Using an apostrophe (") in their place is also not recommended:
- Daria
- Igor
- Olga
Letters S And Y transmitted by letter Y:
- Bystrov
- Sadyrova
- Mayorov
If the last name ends with "-th", in transliteration remains "-y":
- White
Since the letter H in English sometimes it is not readable, for the transmission of Russian sound "X" combination is used KH:
- Akhmatova
- Rachmaninov - Rakhmaninov
Russian combination KS it's better to spell it out KS, but not X:
- Ksenia - Ksenia
- Aleksandr
If letter E denotes one sound (as in the name Vera), it is transmitted by the Latin letter E Vera. If it denotes two sounds (after a soft sign), it is transmitted by a combination YE— Astafyev.
But: If E stands at the beginning of the name, both options are possible: the name Elena can be written as Elena or Yelena.
Letter Yo usually written in the same way as E, but if you want to emphasize the pronunciation of the name, then you should use the letter combination YO— Fyodor, Piotr.
Letter W can be written in the form SCH, but in German this combination will be read as "sh". In order to avoid confusion, it is recommended to use an unpronounceable, at first glance, combination of letters SHCH.
Ending "-and I" can be transliterated as -IA or -IYA. However, to avoid unnecessary bulkiness, Y usually do not write:
- Maria
- Valeria - Valerie
Important note: transliteration when issuing passports
The rules for transliteration when applying for foreign passports often change. At the moment, as of 2015, the following transliteration rules apply (we present the differences from the main table):
- Previously, when issuing foreign passports, the rules of GOST R 52535.1-2006, introduced in 2010, were used.
If you want to keep the original spelling of your name and surname when you receive a new passport, you can write a corresponding application to the issuing authority, duly substantiating your desire. The basis for such a statement is the presence of documents with a different spelling of your first and last name: passports, diplomas, residence permits, visas, as well as other registration and banking documents, including bank cards.
class="bold">Last year, the rules for writing proper names in Latin for foreign passports changed in Russia. Keep in mind that they changed in 2010. At the same time, different departments of the FMS applied different rules, both international and Russian. The new transliteration in the international passport in 2019 complies with the international standard.
What are the differences
The changes affected the letters "Y" and "C". There was a translation for the solid sign and the letter "Ё".
| Cyrillic | Translit | Cyrillic | Translit | Cyrillic | Translit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | A | TO | K | X | KH |
| B | B | L | L | C | TS |
| IN | V | M | M | H | CH |
| G | G | H | N | W | SH |
| D | D | ABOUT | O | SCH | SHCH |
| E | E | P | P | Kommersant | IE |
| Yo | E | R | R | S | Y |
| AND | ZH | WITH | S | b | |
| W | Z | T | T | E | E |
| AND | I | At | U | YU | IU |
| Y | I | F | F | I | IA |
What will your new name look like? Online transliteration for a passport is available on many sites, but be careful: some of them are already out of date.
Translation rules
Transliteration of the name in the passport is carried out automatically by a special program. Your task is to fill out the questionnaire correctly, and the task of the FMS specialists is to correctly enter the data in Cyrillic into the computer. Such rules for writing surnames in a passport have long been introduced by the International Civil Aviation Organization and are used in many countries around the world.
Will there be problems
Many people ask if there will be problems if their surname is written differently on different papers. It is no secret that when there is a difference in at least one letter, it is necessary to prove, for example, family ties through the courts.
In fact, it is not very critical if the spelling in the new passport differs from the old one. There should be no problems with bank cards either: the next time the card is reissued, the spelling of your name will simply be changed.
According to the rules of many airlines, you can also fly with a new passport on a ticket that was bought on the basis of the old document, even if your name began to look a little different. 
How to keep your "old" name
When applying for a new foreign passport, write a free-form application in which you indicate how your last name (or first name) should look and why. Address the application to the head of the FMS department. For persuasiveness, refer to the order of the FMS dated March 26, 2014 No. 211 (clause 28.1.8). Attach a sample to the application, copies of documents with the old transliteration: class="bold">
- passport of another country;
- resident card;
- birth certificate;
- Marriage certificate;
- old passport;
- education documents;
- visa.
All documents issued by foreign states must be translated into Russian and legalized.
You cannot change the transliteration rules solely at your request.
If misspelled
What to do if you notice an error in the new passport? You need to immediately point it out to the migration service employees.
A passport printed with errors is considered invalid and cannot be used.
Make sure that there is indeed an error in the passport, and not the new transcription rules that have been in force since 2015. As a rule, an employee enters your data into a computer in Russian, and the translation is done automatically. Therefore, if you entered your data correctly in the questionnaire, the probability of an error is negligible.
According to the law, if a typo occurred due to the fault of the FMS, you should be issued a new passport in record time - in two hours. All you need is a photograph. You do not need to submit documents and pay the fee again.
Of course, such terms are only possible to replace a paper passport. Incorrect transliteration in a new passport will not be corrected so quickly by FMS employees, it can take much more time.
How to make a passport. Ways to submit documents to the FMS: Video
A couple of years ago, some procedures related to the use of passports changed in the Russian Federation. The process of obtaining the document remained the same. But the rules of transliteration have undergone a small but important transformation. This was motivated by the desire of the Russian authorities to switch to the international system of transcription of names and surnames. The changes made it possible to eliminate the confusion associated with the use of previous standards.
The transliteration of names and surnames means the romanization of the Russian text. Simply put, the Cyrillic spelling of letters and their combinations is replaced by Latin. The transliteration rules have changed several times. And now they are brought to international standards.
Before applying for a new passport, you can check the spelling of your name and surname in Latin. This is easy to do on our website. Online transliteration is available absolutely free of charge.
You need to enter the first and last name in Russian. The data is entered in the appropriate form. They will be automatically translated into Latin in accordance with the new transliteration rules.
Key changes
The new transliteration rules affected:
- Most popular Russian names.
- Many common surnames in our country.
For example, EGOR in the new spelling format turned into EGOR (instead of YEGOR). And the surname TsAPLIN used to be written in Latin as TCAPLIN. The latest standardized variant is TSAPLIN. Thus, the main changes affected the following Cyrillic letters:
- The letter "E" is transliterated as "E". Previously, it was represented by the combination "YE".
- "Y" received a new designation "I", while previously it was written with the letter "Y".
- The vowel "Yu" when translated is transformed into "I" with the addition of "U". That is, the correct spelling is "IU". Previously, "Yu" turned into the Latin letters "YU".
- "C" is now denoted by the combination "TS". Previously, the “role” of this letter was the symbols “TC”.
- "Kommersant", which disappeared under the previous system of romanization of the Cyrillic alphabet, received its designation. Now the "hard sign" is written as "IE".
For example, according to the new standards, YULIA became IULIIA DMITRY - DMITRII, and VALERY - VALERII.
Difference in documents
Do not worry if the spelling of the name and surname in the new passport is different from the old one. This also applies to cases where a ticket for a foreign trip was purchased on a document with the same transcription. The Russians will not have problems with traveling on a passport with a new transliteration. However, especially suspicious citizens have the right to ask to keep the previous version of the letter designation of the name and surname.
How to leave the old spelling
If a citizen does not agree to change the spelling of his name and surname in the new passport, it is allowed to leave the previous version. To do this, a corresponding request is attached to the papers for replacing the identity card. In it, the applicant asks to keep the name and surname as they are indicated in the previous sample. In this case, one should refer to the 28th paragraph of Order No. 211, signed by the FMS in 2014.
The application is written in free form. But the citizen must be sure to indicate the reason that prompts him to leave the previous data. As justification, it is recommended to use documents issued on the basis of a passport. For example:
- open visa.
- Residence permit of another state.
- Marriage certificate obtained outside the Russian Federation.
- Education documents
Documents must be valid. The applicant submits their copies.
If an error has crept in
It is also possible that the data about the citizen was entered incorrectly in the new passport - they wrote down the wrong letter in the name or surname. This should be immediately reported to the department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, where the applicant received the document. You should first make sure that this is really a mistake, and not a new transcription standard.
If the error occurred through the fault of officials, the citizen will be issued a corrected passport within a couple of hours. The applicant will only have to provide another passport photo. There is no need to re-pay the state fee and write an application.
However, the efficiency of correcting such shortcomings applies only to old-style documents. The necessary amendments to the new generation of identity cards make a little longer. Therefore, it is advisable to carefully check the relevance of the transliteration rules at the time of ordering a new passport for foreign tours.
According to the Russian authorities, the changes in the transliteration rules for the international passport will benefit the owners of this document. It is under the new rules that the names and surnames of Russians are now entered into the passport and documents issued on its basis. The latter, in particular, include tour bookings, visas, foreign residence permits, foreign bank accounts, various certificates, etc.