Turkish names in Bulgarian documents: what the law says
On a Bulgarian citizen's identity document the name is written in Bulgarian (Cyrillic) and in English transliteration, without abbreviations, as it appears in the supporting civil-status documents. None of the three laws we read sets out how Turkish letters are rendered into Cyrillic; this page only reports the provisions read.
Official documents and institutions · Last reviewed: 2026-10-08
This is not legal or financial advice
The name on an identity document
- Law on Bulgarian Identity Documents art. 19: names and place of birth of Bulgarian citizens are written in Bulgarian and in English transliteration under rules approved by the Council of Ministers.
- Order: surname, given name, patronymic (презиме).
- Names are written without abbreviations, as written in the supporting documents presented, except where the length exceeds the technical capacity.
What the transliteration law covers
Art. 1 para. 2 of the Law on Transliteration (Закон за транслитерацията) defines transliteration as rendering the letters of the Bulgarian Cyrillic alphabet with Latin letters, by a system of rules. The text we read governs Cyrillic to Latin; we did not see a rule there for writing a Turkish name in Cyrillic.
Patronymic, surname and changes
- Civil Registration Law (Закон за гражданската регистрация) art. 13 and 14: the patronymic and surname are normally formed from the father's name with the suffix -ов/-ев and a gender ending, unless the father's name does not allow it or it conflicts with the family's ethnic or religious traditions; then the parents' tradition applies.
- Art. 19 para. 1: a change of given name, patronymic or surname is allowed by a court when the name is ridiculing, disgracing or socially unacceptable, or when important circumstances require it.
- Art. 19 para. 2: a person who has acquired or regained Bulgarian citizenship may change the patronymic and surname with the -ов/-ев suffix and give the given name a Bulgarian form; it follows the 'establishing facts' chapter of the Code of Civil Procedure, and these proceedings are exempt from state fees.
What to do in practice
How the name is written in Cyrillic depends on the documents relied on and on the civil-status official's act. Make sure the spelling on your birth or marriage certificate matches your ID and passport; if you see a difference, ask the local civil-status (гражданско състояние) office.
This page is not legal advice
Frequently asked questions
How is my name written in Latin letters on the ID?
Under art. 19 of the ID law, next to the Bulgarian spelling there is an English transliteration made under rules approved by the Council of Ministers.
Must my surname end in -ов/-ев?
The law sets the -ов/-ев suffix as the normal rule but allows exceptions where the family's ethnic or religious tradition requires another form (art. 14 para. 1); for a personal case, ask the civil-status office.
Sources
The information on this page is based on the official sources listed below. Legislation changes — open the links and verify the current position.
- Закон за българските лични документи — чл. 19 (lex.bg, 8 Ekim 2026'da okunan birleştirilmiş metin) — https://lex.bg/laws/ldoc/2134424576 · 2026-10-08
- Закон за гражданската регистрация — чл. 13, 14 и 19 (lex.bg, 8 Ekim 2026'da okunan metin) — https://lex.bg/laws/ldoc/2134673409 · 2026-10-08
- Закон за транслитерацията — чл. 1 (lex.bg, 8 Ekim 2026'da okunan metin) — https://lex.bg/laws/ldoc/2135623667 · 2026-10-08
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