How to spell your last name in English. Russian names in English


In a foreign passport, both new and old, the surname and name of the holder are always written in Latin letters. When registering all, special attention is paid to writing all personal data. Transliteration in the passport is carried out according to certain rules, which may change, so it is worth clarifying the current examples of writing in Latin before submitting a package of documents.

In 2019, the transliteration is new, but fully complies with international standards.

The last update was exactly 6 years ago.

The procedure for transliterating a surname and name into a passport is carried out in each department of the migration service, and transcription can be carried out not only according to international rules, but also Russian ones. On the this year relevant international standards. The process itself is carried out automatically using computer program. All that is required from the applicant is to fill in without blots and errors. Employees of the migration service enter all the information in Cyrillic into the program. This method works in most countries of the world.

Since 2010, transliteration has undergone many changes, and therefore many are concerned about the difficulties or problems associated with different spellings of personal information in different documents. Often there are situations when a difference of at least one letter can cause a lot of trouble, for example, proceedings in court to prove kinship, etc.

As for foreign passports, the situation is not so serious: the spelling of the name in the old-style document may differ from what is indicated in the biometric.

Most airlines allow you to fly on a ticket that was purchased before biometric passport, even if there are differences in the spelling of the data in the new document compared to those indicated in the ticket. If the initials on the bank card are written differently than in the new passport, then when the reissue period is reached, the information will be rewritten again.

Innovations

Last year, the changes affected the transliteration of some letters of the alphabet, which is why some names and surnames seem completely unrecognizable and difficult to read. The letter "ё" is now also taken into account, like "e", the solid sign has also become translated. In addition, the combination of some vowels has been changed, “ts” and “y” are indicated differently. More detailed information is shown in the table:

DesignationTranslitDesignationTranslitDesignationTranslitChanges
aatokXkhLetterIt wasIt became
bbllctsctcts
invmmhchVowelsyu, yaIu,ya
GgnnwshKommersantdid not haveie
ddaboutoschshchthyi
eePpbie
yoeRrsy
andzhWithsb
hzttuhe
andiatuYuiu
thiffIia

According to the new rules, in 2019, many surnames and names are written differently, not like in the passports issued earlier: not Sergey, but Sergei, not Sofiya, but Sofiia, etc.

In some cases, it is important to leave the old spelling of the data in order to match the spelling in the documents of other family members or in previously issued important papers. In order to leave the “transliteration” the same and not go through a rather complicated re-registration procedure, it is enough just to write an appropriate application in accordance with clause 78 of the administrative regulations.

What to do if you want to keep your "former" name

The application, which indicates how to write the first / last name, is filled out completely in free form with the obligatory indication of the reason why the information should look like the desired way. The document is addressed to the head of the local migration department. In order for the application to have administrative force, it is necessary to refer to the 28th paragraph of the order of the Federal Migration Service numbered 211, dated 2014

The following must be attached to the document (where there is an old spelling of personal data):

  • Foreign passport (previous);
  • An official marriage certificate issued in any other state;
  • A copy of the internal passport of the country;
  • Birth certificate (you can even have a child, as the parent's data is indicated);
  • Any documents about the education received in Latin;
  • A visa that has not yet expired.

All documents issued outside the territory of the native country must be legalized and translated into Russian. By own will it is impossible to change the transliteration rules.

Online translation

You can independently translate a surname or name for preliminary familiarization with the correct result in a future document that allows you to travel abroad, using the appropriate online service, with which transliteration is carried out in a matter of minutes. To get the desired result, you need to do the following:

  1. Enter the required personal data in the line.
  2. Click to start the process.
  3. View the received information.

It is worth considering that the applicant is only required to correct the data written in Russian letters. Employees of the Federal Migration Service correctly "convert" the information received into a ready-made version written in Latin.

Enter text in Russian letters:

Translate Clear

How will it be in Latin letters:

Why translate Russian letters into Latin?

Since our Russia is not very good yet rich country and most companies can't afford to give away free samples to advertise their product, at the moment most freebie offers come from abroad.

Since the most common language is English, the order forms for free samples are often in English.

Address information and full name of the recipient in such forms must be filled in Latin. Since both our postmen and those companies that distribute freebies will understand the Latin alphabet.

If you write in Russian, then there is a risk that the organizers of the action simply do not want to spend time translating and understanding what is written there.

If you write in English, then our postmen will not understand to whom and where to deliver.

by the most the best option is to write the freebie delivery address and the full name of the freebie recipient in Latin.

Now the Internet is full of different translators, but most of them are either not convenient, or they need to be searched for a long time.

We offer to constantly use our free translator of Russian text into Latin.

When you order a freebie through forms written in English, then write the delivery address and full name in Latin.

Translate Russian text into Latin will allow our free, simple and convenient service. When we order samples from foreign sites, we always do this and it's a freebie, not always of course :-), but it comes. So the way is correct.

We all sooner or later face the translation of a name into English language. Names are an integral part of all languages ​​of the world. When translating a name, accuracy is important, because just one wrong letter, and you get a completely different name, and this is already a problem. Due to such an error in the certificate for the embassy, ​​for example, you may be denied a visa.

Translation literacy is extremely important when filling out international documents. And this is just one of many examples where a misspelling of a name can make a difference. serious consequences. Of course, one can make an approximate translation at the level of intuition, however, this is not for those who read this article.

Let's learn how to make a competent translation of the last name, first name and patronymic in order to avoid overlaps and confusion in the future, as well as protect ourselves from unpleasant situations.

Transliteration - Russian letters in English

There are names that have analogues in English. For example, the name Natalia in English may sound like Natalie. If translated according to the rules, the name should sound like Natalia. Stop-stop, the very beginning of mastering the topic, and already two versions of the sound of the name? Don't worry, it's not as difficult as it seems. Analogous names in English are best used in colloquial speech. For example, it will be much easier for your American friend to call you Natalie (sounds like Natalie) than Natalia (sounds like Natalia). In case you need a competent written translation, translation for documentation is best to refer to the transliteration.

In the United States, a theory was developed for translating the Cyrillic alphabet into Latin - transliteration. It is very important to monitor the latest information, as transliteration options change periodically, improve, be in trend and keep up with the times. Let's look at the most relevant transliteration option.

A-A
B - B
B-V
G - G
D - D
E - E
Yo - E
W - ZH
Z - Z
I - I
Y - I
K-K
L - L
M - M
N - N
O - O
P - P
R - R
C-S
T - T
U - U
F - F
X - KH
C - TS
H - CH
SH - SH
SH - SHCH
Ъ - IE
Y - Y
b - goes down
E - E
Yu - IU
I am IA

Using this hint, you can easily translate your first and last name correctly. Of course, there are many online name transliteration services, however, we cannot be 100% sure that they work according to the current transliteration rules. In order to make a translation yourself or check the accuracy of the online transliteration service, let's look at the most difficult letters to translate with examples:

Russian letter B denoted as V. Nothing complicated, however, you can doubt and think that B can be interpreted as W. Doubts aside, the only correct option is V. Valentine - Valentin.

  • The letter G is transmitted as G. Everything is simple here, there should be no doubt. George - Georgii.
  • The letters E, Yo, E are transmitted as an English letter E. Previously, these letters could be written in different ways, however, now this translation is accepted, which greatly simplifies our lives. Semyonov - Semenov.
  • The letter U is transmitted as U. Here you can get confused and think about the letter Y. In order not to get confused, it’s better to just remember. Ulyana - Uliana.
  • Letters Zh, X, C, H, W, SH, perhaps one of the most difficult to translate, are transmitted respectively as ZH, KH, TS, CH, SH, SHCH. The only way not to get confused when translating these letters is to look at a cheat sheet or memorize. Jeanne - Zhanna.Khatuna - Khatuna.
  • Letter b descends. It's simple, let's go soft sign and forget about it. Tatiana - Tatiana.
  • The letter b is denoted with recently , like IE. Previously, the solid sign was omitted, but in recent times it began to be designated by such a combination of letters. Letter S transmitted as Y. Remember this and don't get confused. redhead -Ryzhuk.
  • The letters Yu and I are transmitted as IU and IA respectively. Previously, these letters were transmitted as YU and YA, but this is already an outdated version. Focus on a new way of interpreting. Julia - Julia.

Translation of the name, surname and patronymic into English

Let's pretend that we translated the name correctly, however, we need to spell it out so that we are heard 100% correctly without a single mistake. There is a generally accepted technique for transmitting letters during a telephone conversation in English with high accuracy. Probably, all of us have ever said or heard this famous “with like a dollar”, “and with a dot”. Let's finally move away from this and pass the letters correctly:

A-Alfa
B-Bravo
C - Charlie
D - Delta
E-Echo
F-Foxtrot
G-Golf
H - Hotel
I - India
J - Juliet
K - Kilo
L-Lima
M - Mike
N-November
O-Oscar
P-Papa
Q - Quebec
R-Romeo
S-Sierra
T - Tango
U-Uniform
V - Victor
W - Whiskey
X-X-ray
Y - Yankees
Z-Zulu

We have already learned how to translate the first and last name, we can even pronounce it correctly if necessary. However, what to do with the patronymic? Abroad, many do not have it at all. Should we translate the middle name or should we just omit it? In some cases, it will indeed be possible to do without it, but when filling out international documents, you cannot avoid this. In this case, there should be no errors. There are three ways to translate patronymic:

  • Since foreigners most often do not have a patronymic, you can translate our patronymic as “Sergei’s daughter”. For example, Maria Sergeevna - Maria the daughter of Sergei. This method of translation is best used in communication in order to make it easier for a foreigner to understand what you want to convey to him. But when filling out the documentation, you should not be guided by this method.
  • You can write a patronymic as a middle name. A rather strange way of translating a patronymic, because it completely changes the meaning of a patronymic. We advise you not to use it either when filling out documentation or when communicating.
  • Our favorite transliteration is the most acceptable and correct way to translate a middle name. For example, the translation for the name Sergey Sergeevich will look like this - Sergei Sergeevich. Agree, it is convenient and not difficult at all. Transliteration can be used as in Everyday life when communicating, and when filling out documents.

Summing up, we can say that the most the right way translation of the patronymic, and indeed the whole name - transliteration. You can use the first method in communication if your foreign friend does not quite understand what Sergeevna means. The second method is better not to use at all.

We examined the most common and competent translations of the surname, name and patronymic. Translation of names is much easier than it seems, the main thing in this matter is a responsible approach. Remember to stay tuned for updates to the rules and follow the translation structure. If you are already studying with an English teacher, you can ask him to review the topic of translation of names with you in class in order to become an ace in this field. If you have not started to practice yet and are in doubt, stop postponing it until tomorrow. Improve, develop and never stop!

We hope that this article has helped you sort things out and the translation of Russian names and surnames into English is no longer scary for you. With the right approach, there is nothing difficult in English. English is fun, interactive, educational and always up to date!

Big and friendly family EnglishDom

How to write a surname in English?

Now the time comes when we need to draw up documents, submit passports for a visa, conclude important contracts and even sign a notebook for a child’s school… But the hand freezes in a stupor, the brain begins to analyze the facts, the letters become re-registered, the pupils dilate in awareness of the pettiness of being , the criticality of the situation is growing and this universally significant question is born - how to write your last name in English correctly?

So, the Native English School team will help you figure this out!

To begin with, let's consider how this or that sound can be transmitted from Russian to English, by the way, all this is beautifully called transliteration(from English translate - translate).

14 rules for writing a surname in English that will help you:

1. Let's start with a soft and hard sign - b,Kommersant. In English spelling, they are not transmitted:

Baker Vladimir - Pekar Vladimir,

Overnikov Mikhail - Overnikov Mikhail.

2. Letters S and Y should be written as Y:

Kryshkin Konstantin - Kryshkin Konstantin,

Martynkina Vladislav - Martynkina Vladislava.

3. This also applies to endings - ii and - YY:

March Valentine - Martovsky Valentin,

Snub-nosed Stanislav - Kurnosy Stanislav.

4. Letters E and E will be transmitted in the same way - E:

Kemerova Elizaveta - Kemerova Elizaveta,

Emanuilov Karen - Emanuilov Karen.

5. But, E can transform into YE, if it is at the beginning of a word, after b or b signs:

Evdokia Astafyeva - Evdokiya Astafyeva.

6. Letter Yo broadcast as YE provided that it is placed at the beginning of a word, in other cases - E:

Demina Marina – Demina Marina,

Yershinkov Alexander - Yershunkov Aleksandr.

7. Letter AND when writing will be - ZH:

Mazhorov Pavel - Mazhorov Pavel,

Rozhzhov Ruslan - Rozhzhov Ruslan.

8. Letter X in English spelling will be KN:

David Kholmov - David Kholmov,

Oksana Volkhova - Oksana Volkhova.

9. Voiced consonant C will be written as TS:

Kuznetsov Igor - Kuznetsov Igor,

Nadezhda Tsarapina - Nadezhda Tsarapina.

10. Letter H will be sent as CH:

Chebotarny Konstantin - Chebotarny Konstantin,

Chaban Vladimir - Chaban Vladimir.

11. Consonant hissing W will be written as SH:

Shapovalova Oksana — Shapovalova Oksana

Sharko Dana - Sharko Dana.

12. But the letter SCH will be sent as SHCH:

Shemilova Alexandra - Shchemilova Aleksandra,

Shcheglov Marat - Shcheglov Marat.

13. Vowel YU will be written as YU:

Yulia Vladimirova - Yuliya Vladimirova,

Yuzhnov Artem - Yuzhnov Artem.

14. And the last vowel I will be sent as YA:

Yaroshenko Konstantin - Yaroshenko Konstantin,

Yagda Yadviga - Yagda Yadviga.

The NES team is always happy to help its students with the correct paperwork and suggest the correct spelling of the English text. Good luck to you, our dear students!


Very often, when filling out forms for a passport or visa, booking a hotel or making a purchase on the Internet, citizens are required to write their first and last name in Latin letters. This leads many to a stupor, because Latin alphabet different from English. To write a Russian surname or name in Latin, you need to use the transliteration method. It means replacing the Russian alphabet with English letters. But everything is not so simple here. For example, the name Anton will be translated as it is heard - Anton. But with the name Julia, everything is more complicated. Under the new system, it will be written as Iuliia. Unexpected, right? After all, many write Julia or Yuliya. Well, let's figure out how to write Russian words in English letters correctly.


Let's pay attention to important points. Let's start with consonants. Many of them are spelled the way they sound. But there are exceptions. The letter "zh" is written as "zh", the letter "y" has the same designation as the vowel "i". Here, many are confused, so you should carefully look at the table. The letter "x" has the designation "kh", "ts" is pronounced as "ts", "h" - as "ch". "Sch" when written in Latin generally has as many as four English letters "shch". If the last name contains the letters "j", then you need to translate them as "dg".

Now let's talk about vowels. They are also written as they are heard, but there are exceptions in any language. The Russian vowel "y" is written like the English "y". Russian "yu" is divided into two letters "ju". Exactly the same happens with last letter Russian alphabet. "I" will be denoted as "ia".

Write a surname in Latin letters online

If you are not sure about the correct spelling of your first and last name, you can use free online servers. Below are three links where you can easily check the spelling of your name in Latin. And you can safely draw up documents and not be afraid of anything!