Chapter 1

ALBANIAN PERSONAL NAMES

This online version was prepared by Professors Emeriti Edwin D. Lawson and Richard F. Sheil, State
University of New York, Fredonia. It is faithful to the original with some minimal editing except that
evaluations by experts in the field were added to aid the reader along with maps.

25 November 1966
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, D.C.
 The Onomastic Treasure of the CIA 1-2

This document represents one of a series of completed foreign names studies compiled by the Central
Intelligence Agency. There have been many contributors to this project, too numerous to mention, including
government linguists and language experts of the academic community.

The Agency is grateful for all the assistance it has received from individuals within and outside of the U. S.
Government since this unique undertaking would not have been possible without their professional
contributions.

●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
 Albanian Personal Names 1-3

Above: Albania (black) within Europe

Below: Current map of Albania (darker outline) and neighbors

Serbia and
Montene

• Shkodra
Adriatic
Sea
Tiranë Macedonia
Durrës • 

• Vlorë

Italy Ionian
Sea
Greece
Corfu

Foreword/Evaluation of Albanian Names

 The Onomastic Treasure of the CIA 1-4

The report Albanian Personal Names provides important and valuable information regarding Albanian
personal names used in Albania at the time the report was written. The information provided in the report is
quite accurate although not quite thorough and containing some errors that will be pointed out later.

Such a report is quite useful and helpful for acquiring first-hand knowledge on the history of Albania,
the Albanian language and most importantly Albanian personal names. Most of the information contained in the
report is relevant to the time the report was written in the 1960s. Some of the geographical, cultural and
linguistic facts do not apply to modern day Albania due to the tremendous changes occurring in the country in
the last 15 years since the fall of communism. It should also be noted that, in more recent years, there is a
tendency among Albanians to steer away from Albanian names and use foreign names which are transliterated
in Albanian.

The references used in the report for the time the report was produced are quite helpful. Due to the
recent changes in Albania, at the present time, there are a lot more available references and resources. This
results from the fact that government and public records as well as written materials on the subject are more
readily available. The internet as well is a vast resource for acquiring such references.

Some of the main strengths of the report have to do with the topics covered. The introduction gives a
very good summary of the geographical and historical data pertaining to Albania. It is concise and factual. Part
II of the report would not make much sense if Part I did not give a comprehensive overview of the Albanian
language. Especially important is the information on spelling, pronunciation and transliteration. Without a basic
knowledge of this triad, it would be hard to understand or make any sense of Albanian Personal Names. In Part
II we find a very good explanation of the origin and structure of Albanian personal names. The detailed
information given here is quite helpful in understanding and recognizing the structure and composition of
Albanian names. Without the inclusion of diminutives used in conversational Albanian, the report would not be
complete. And finally, the Appendixes are a quick and easy reference to Albanian surnames, given names and
titles. The variations of given names are a plus as well.

In spite of all the useful information found in this report, it is important to point out some of its
weaknesses, errors and inaccuracies. The historical facts mentioned in the introduction would be more easily
understood if they were depicted in a more chronological order. For example, in the third paragraph we have the
mention of Scanderbeg followed by a series of events that happened considerably before his period. The report
fails to point out all the efforts made by the communist government after World War II to stamp out “any
cultural separation between lowland and upland population”, between the Gegs and the Tosks, between men
and women and the working class and the more educated class. Even though the report emphasizes the impact
the Ottoman Turks had on the Albanian culture, it fails to point out that, at the time the report was written, the
communist government of Albania had taken several steps to suppress any kind of religious expression among
the Albanians. As a result, the following statement, “Today, divided mainly between Sunni and Bektashi sects,
almost 70 percent of the Albanians follow Islam.” is not accurate as many Albanians at the time were not
allowed to practice any kind of religion. Many churches and mosques were destroyed and several religious
institutions were closed down. It would have been most helpful to focus more on the events and situation
Albania was in at the time the report was written. Perhaps that reflects just how closed Albania was during that
time.

Some of the inaccuracies found in Part I mainly have to do with some spelling mistakes. There is
inconsistency in the use of the diacritical marks for the letter “ë” in Albanian along with a few other
misspellings. It is important to note as well that the following statement made in paragraph 1 of Part C, “There
is still no common literary Albanian language...” is not accurate. The report fails to mention that, due to the
efforts made by the communists to unify the country and the two dialects, several steps had been taken to have a
 Albanian Personal Names 1-5

unified common literary Albanian language. This resulted in the Standard Literary Albanian taught in all
schools, written in newspapers and used on TV, radio and all official government settings.

Appendix A has one major error regarding the letter “q”. The explanatory statement at the end which
says, “There is no true English equivalent for the sound in Tosk; it is somewhat like the sound of ky in
stockyard.” is inaccurate. The “ky” sound is found in Geg not in Tosk. The sound “q” in Tosk would be more
like the combination of “t” and “y” (ty) to English speakers.

As for Appendixes C through E, except for some spelling mistakes, especially in the use of the letter
“ë”, and some inaccuracies in defining female names, the rest of the information is quite accurate.

All in all, the report provides much useful and needed information for a topic that is rarely covered in
books or materials that focus primarily on the history of Albania or its language. This report serves as a very
important resource for anyone who wishes, not only to recognize and know Albanian Personal Names, but also
to know more about Albania and Albanians. There is a lot in a name. Just the name itself “Shqiptarët” (Sons of
the Eagle) speaks volumes when you get a glimpse of where they came from, why they are called by that name
and where they are today. And to understand where Albanians are today and why there are so many more
foreign names being used to name the younger generation, one needs to read and understand such information
as presented by this report on Albanian Personal Names.

Anila Mayhew
Albanian Language Services
Pasco, Washington
http://www.translatorscafe.com/cafe/profile/VoiceOverDscr.asp?LinguistID=6461
 The Onomastic Treasure of the CIA 1-6

Albanian Personal Names

CONTENTS

Introduction: Geographical and Historical Note

Historical Note

Part I. The Albanian Language

A. Scope
B. Description
C. Spelling, Pronunciation, and Transliteration

Part II. Albanian Personal Names

A. Carding
B. Structure
C. Given Names
D. Surnames
E. Titles

Appendixes
A. The Albanian Alphabet
B. Transliteration Table: Russian-Albanian, Greek, Italian, Rumanian, Turkish-English (B.G.N.)
C. Albanian Surnames
D. Albanian Given Names
 Albanian Personal Names 1-7

Introduction: Geographical and Historical Note

Albanians are considered to be the descendants of the ancient Illyrians. They call themselves Shqyptarë
or Shqiptarë (Sons of the Eagle) and their country Shqypni, Shqipni, or Shqipëri.

Albania is situated on the east coast of the Adriatic between Yugoslavia and Greece. It is separated from
Italy by the Strait of Otranto (about 47 miles wide). Except for a narrow coast, Albania is a predominantly
mountainous country. In it there is a sharp cultural separation between lowland and upland population.

The geographic position of Albania has been important in the history of the country. The land was
accessible to the Greeks in early times. It was later used as a bridgehead for eastward expansion by strong
powers in the Italian peninsula. It was within the gambit of nomadic Slav tribes during the Dark and later
Middle Ages. It lay politically weak and within easy reach of the ambitious Ottoman Turk rulers. With the death
in 1468 of Skenderbeg, the "George Washington" of the Albanians, Turkish dominance was assured. In fact,
from that date, Albania has been dominated by great powers except for brief moments in her history. Prior to
communist rule (1944 to date), Islam, brought into the country by the Turks, was the one most powerful and
pervasive influence.

In the fourth century B.C., Philip of Macedonia occupied the land. Hellenistic civilization touched
mainly the lowland. The first Roman conquest was in A.D. 167. Roman civilization was spread throughout the
country, except in the most mountainous areas, by means of a great network of roads.

Pressures from the Slavs, which came in waves, began in 548-549. In the ninth century the Bulgarians
annexed a part of Albania and in the twelfth century the Serbians succeeded, where the South Slav Diocletians
had earlier failed, in occupying Montenegro and northern Albania.

By the eleventh century the city state of Venice was enjoying commercial privileges in Albanian towns
and, after the Fourth Crusade (1204), was nominally in control of most of Albania. In 1272, the Neapolitan
Angevin army entered Albania and Charles I of Anjou became the first king of the kingdom of Albania. This
Angevin Kingdom of Albania lasted one century.

Thereafter for a brief period Serbian influence was felt but, with the collapse of the reign of the
expansionist king Stefan Dušan (1331-55), Serbian influence waned and Albania fell under the domination of
local lords.

From 1385, but more decisively from 1468, the Ottoman Turks dominated Albania and gradually
brought the people under Islam. Today, divided mainly between Sunni and Bektashi sects, almost 70 percent of
the Albanians follow Islam. Introduced early into Albania by the Romans, Christianity has been divided, since
the schism of 1054, into two main groups: (1) Roman Catholics, roughly 10 percent of the population in 1946,
and living mainly in the north, and (2) Eastern Orthodox Catholics, whose church was later called the Albanian
Orthodox Church and, after 1929, the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania, roughly 20 percent of the
population, mainly in the south and center. Uniates, who recognize the supremacy of the Vatican, have never
been a force in Albania. In Albania, as elsewhere, the religion of a person, or his parents, is often reflected in a
person's name. Today in Albania, largely as a result of intermarriage, there is often more than one such clue in a
name; for example, a person may have a Muslim given name and a Christian surname.

Albania's independence was proclaimed on 28 November 1912. After World War I, the Allied Powers
occupied Albania, Italy holding a large part until 1920. Between 1920 and 1939 Albania was first a republic and
 The Onomastic Treasure of the CIA 1-8

then, after 1928, a monarchy. The country was overrun in 1939 by the Italian army. Part of southern Albania
was occupied in 1941 by the Greek army. This occupation came to an end at the time of the German conquest of
Greece. Since November 1944 Albania has been under communist domination and, in January 1946, was
proclaimed the Albanian People's Republic. In 1961 Albanian communist leaders switched allegiance from
Soviet to Chinese communism.

As this abbreviated outline suggests, the Albanian people, their language, and their names have been
influenced by Greeks, Romans, Slavs, Italians, and Turks and by two of the important religions of the world,
Catholicism and Islam.
 Albanian Personal Names 1-9

Part I. The Albanian Language

A. Scope

Albanian is the official language of the Albanian People's Republic (population about 1,800,000). It is a
minority language of Yugoslavia (nearly 1,000,000 speakers, mainly in Kosovo-Metohija, Macedonia,
Montenegro, and in a community of Northern Dalmatia), of Italy (about 350,000 speakers), and of immigrants
in the United States (about 50,000, mostly in Boston).

B. Description

Albanian is a unique member of the Indo-European family of languages. It is divided into two main
dialects, the Geg (Geg, Ghegë) in the north and the Tosk (Toskë) in the south. The Shkumbi river, which runs
across central Albania, is the dividing line; however, the Geg dialect is also spoken south of that river. According
to Stavro Skëndi and others in the book Albania1. Tosk is the dominant dialect in use in Albania today. A
quotation from p. 31 of that book follows:

“Geg and Tosk competed for supremacy in prewar Albania, the former [Geg] with Shkodër as a center and
the latter [Tosk] centering in Korçë and Gjirokastër. With the Communist advent to power, the Tosk
dialect got the upper hand. The Communist movement emerged in the south and most of the leaders of the
Albanian Worker's Party (Communist Party) came from southern Albania. Another reason for the
predominance of the Tosk dialect is the destruction of Catholic Shkodër as a cultural center and the
persecution and execution of the Catholic clergy (Y). A meeting of the Albanian Writers' Union, a
Communist front organization, held in Tirana in 1952, "resolved" that only the Tosk dialect be used in
publications.”

Presumably traditional differences will yet be found; however, the policy to which Skëndi refers appears
to favor the predominance of Tosk. Where differences have existed, northern and southern Albanians have been
able to understand each other. The dialect spoken in Albanian settlements of Greece and Italy is Tosk, but in
Borgo Erizzo (now Arbanasi), it is Geg; in fact, this is the only Albanian colony where Geg is spoken.

C. Spelling, Pronunciation, and Transliteration

1. The first records in Albanian are religious texts of the fifteenth century (or, according to some
historians, of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries). There is still no common literary Albanian language, and it
was only in 1908 that a common alphabet was. established. This alphabet is based on the roman alphabet and uses
the modified vowels, ë and í; the consonant ç in addition to plain c; and the following compound consonants: dh,
gi, ll, nj, rr, sh, th, xh, and zh.

2. The stress generally, but not always, falls on the next to the last syllable (Vasíl is an exception); the
accent, however, is seldom written. Only in the Geg dialect is a circumflex used (to show that a vowel is strongly
nasalized). Markings are usually retained in these two instances: ë and ç; most others are usually omitted. The full
alphabet with approximate English pronunciation is presented in Appendix A.

1
New York: Fredrick A. Praeger for the Mid European Studies Center of the Free Europe Committee, Inc., 1956)
 The Onomastic Treasure of the CIA 1-10

3. Some of the differences between Tosk and Geg are:

Geg uses the nasal ( ̂) vowels, entirely lacking in Tosk.
Tosk stressed ë may correspond with Geg â, ê.

Tosk Geg
më (more) mâ
vënt (place) vênd

Tosk unstressed ë is found in Geg as i or is lacking.

Tosk Geg
një (a., one) nji
Shqipëri (Albania) Shqipni

Tosk diphthong ua becomes ue in Geg.

Tosk Geg
kaluar (past) kaluem

Tosk i is in a few instances the equivalent of Geg y, but sometimes Tosk y becomes i in Geg.

Tosk Geg
skiferi (hawk) skyferi
ay (he, that) ai

Tosk initial va- sometimes occurs as vo- in Geg.

Tosk Geg
vaj (oil) voj

Tosk o in stressed -tor and -or becomes ue in Geg.

Tosk Geg
Nentor (November) Nanduer

Tosk medial or final -r is often -n in Geg.

Tosk Geg
emër (name) emën
Gjirokastër Gjinokastër (a place name)
In some cases Tosk final -r occurs as -m in Geg.

Tosk Geg
dërguar (sent) dërguem

Tosk final unvoiced k t p q s th and f

become in Geg: g d b gj z dh and v.
 Albanian Personal Names 1-11

4. Albanian spelling has many different types of variations. Even in one dialect it has not crystallized in
one mold; for example, in Geg dialect, one finds SEREQI and SEREGGI (apparently an Italianized form) and
PRENDUSHI and PRENUSHI. Muslim names have many alternate spellings, as they did in Turkish and in the
Arabic and Persian writing systems on which Ottoman Turkish was based. There are other regional differences,
besides the two major ones (Geg and Tosk). See in Appendices C and D a number of examples of different
spellings of the same name.

5. Besides variant spellings by Albanians, there are, to add to the confusion, respellings by English or
French speaking people and, of course, by others. Some examples are:

Albanian English French

GAVOCI GAVOCHI GOVOTCHI
CAMAJ TSAMAY TSAMAY
GJELOSHI JELOSHI DJELOSHI

A. Carding

1. Word order for the carding of Albanian personal names is SURNAME (S), given name (x) and /title/
(T), if a title is used. (Titles are discussed in Appendix E.)

2. In an Albanian telephone directory, entry of a person's full name is under his given name, if he uses
no title. If he uses a title, entry is usually under the title; for example, under the letter D are the names of
persons who use the title Dr. (Doktor, and Doktoresha, f.) and under K are the names of persons with the title
Kapiten (Captain). There is an occasional listing that consists of a title and only one name (Dr. Kopliku), the
name presumably being a surname. In some listings, the full name and the title are written in all upper case
letters (see Bibliografi Shqipe [Albanian Bibliography], Tiranë [Tirana], 1959). In this paper, we are reserving
all upper case letters for the surname, or its equivalent.

3. As shown in Appendix A, the alphabetical order of Albanian writing differs in several ways from that
of English writing; in particular, the letters with diacritics and the digraphs are treated as separate letters so that,
as one example, a name beginning with the digraph Gj will follow a name beginning with the letters Gu.
English alphabetical order is to be used in the indexing of Albanian personal names by those using the English
language.

Order in an Albanian Order to be Used in Carding

Telephone Directory
Asllan Drishti DRISHTI, Asllan
Beqir Hamdi Zeneli ZENELI, Beqir Hamdi
Gjon Kakarriqi KAKARRIQI, Gjon
Pjeter Gjon Shllaku SHLLAKU, Pjeter Gjon
Telemak Goga GOGA, Telemak
Vasil Pjeter Jani JANI, Vasil Pjeter

B. Structure
 The Onomastic Treasure of the CIA 1-12

1. Pertinent portions of the Albanian law on personal names, 2 which has been in effect since 1
September 1948, are summarized below:

a. Every Albanian citizen ought to have a personal name, consisting of a given name and a surname.
b. A surname is usually a family name.
c. After a person's given name and before his surname, the given name of his father, or an initial
representing it, may be written.
d. A child born out of wedlock uses after his given name the given name of his mother, followed by the
surname of his mother. If the father recognizes the child, and if the mother consents, the child may use
his father's surname. Children whose parents are unknown are given a name by a designated official.
e. An Albanian woman who is married to a foreigner and has adopted his surname must use her maiden
surname preceding her husband's surname.
f. In other instances, an Albanian couple must decide, at marriage, whether the wife will adopt her
husband's surname or continue to use her own.
g. After a divorce or an annulment, a woman uses her maiden surname; however, if the husband were
adjudged the guilty party in the divorce action or if there were children born of the marriage, the woman
may continue to use the surname of the divorced husband. She naturally drops this name if she
subsequently marries another. A widow may resume her maiden surname.
h. An Albanian citizen may use abbreviated academic titles such as Dr., Ing., etc. (see Appendix E).
Academic titles gained in other countries may be used with the given name, only when these titles are
recognized in Albania.
i. Authors of literary and other artistic works, actors, etc., and persons who have taken part in the
national liberation war are permitted to use special names (pseudonyms, conspiratorial names,
nicknames), if not contrary to law.
j. Any other person using a false name is subject to a fine as high as 3,000 leks or imprisonment up to
two months.

2. Traditionally every Albanian had one given name, sometimes more than one, but only a few people
had surnames. Regional and individual differences developed. In northern Albania, Roman Catholics, using
saints' names of their church, often added given names of father, grandfather, and possibly even great
grandfather. Among the followers of Greek Orthodoxy, saints' names as written in that church were used.
Followers of Islam used names popular in Islam. Some given names are common to all three of these religions.
Today as a result of intermarriage, a person may have a Muslim given name and a Christian surname (Haxhi
LLESHI, Selim NOKA), especially in parts of Diber, Luma, and Gjirokastër. In some names the given name
and the surname are the same name (Dr. Drago DRAGO and Dr. Pavllo PAVLLO). The fewest changes have
occurred in the very mountainous parts of Albania. In these regions, there are probably many people who do not
yet use hereditary surnames, or who have not used them long. The requirements of modern living, as well as the
need to comply with the law on names, would seem to assure future use of hereditary surnames.

3. Regardless of local customs, references abroad, at least in the West, to Albanian women are usually
cast in the western mold.
Nexhmije XHUGLINI
after marrying
Enver HOXHA,

2
This law is printed in Kodifikimi i Përgjithëshëm i Legjislacionit në fuqi të Republikës Popullore të Shqipërisë;
Aneks 1959-60 (Tiranë: Botim i Kryeministrisë, 1961), pp. 162-167 [General Codification of Legislation in
Force in the People's Republic of Albania, Annex 1959-60]
 Albanian Personal Names 1-13

was known in Albania as

Nexhmije HOXHA,

but in the West she was referred to as

Madame Enver HOXHA

Different usages require cross referencing.

C. Given Names

1. A list of Albanian given names is provided in Appendix C.

2. Albanian given names are of diverse origin, although the majority are Muslim names, many in
Turkish spellings. Of the non-Muslim names, many are Greek; some are Latin; some are Italian; some are
Slavic. Many are Biblical names or the names of saints of the Catholic church.

Muslim: Abdullah, Ahmet, Ali, Enver, Farudin, Hasan, Haxhi, Kadri, Mehmet, Mukamet, Mustafa,
Osman, Qazim, Rahman, Ramadam, and Sefredin
Greek: Andromaqi, Aristotel, Dhimitër, Perikli, Petraq, Sofokli, Sokrat, and Stavri
Latin and Italian: Piro, Spiro, Virgjil
Slavic: Drago, Milo, Vladimir
Biblical and Saints' Names: Gjon, Mark, Marija, Thoma

3. Given names ending in -a or -e are likely to be feminine. There are several exceptions (examples are
Musa (Moses) and Mustafa, both masculine Muslim names). Masculine given names have a variety of endings.

4. In conversational Albanian, diminutives are common for both masculine and feminine names. Most
diminutives represent a reduction of the basic name to one syllable or two syllables, as these examples show.

Given Name Diminutives

Hajrije Rije
Jolandë Ande, Landë
Kolec Lec
Ramadan Rama, Dan
Ramazan Rama, Zan
Rexhep Rexhe, Xhepë
Sefedin Sefe, Din
Sulejman Sulë, Man
Xheladin Xhelë, Din

5. Compound given names, two names usually written as one word, are common.

Anamarija (F) Hazhihasani Gurakuqi

Haxhiademi Haxhihyseni Gurazezi
Haxhihoxha Demali
Marijaluiza (F) (contraction of
Aliqemal Adem and Aliu)

D. Surnames
 The Onomastic Treasure of the CIA 1-14

1. A list of surnames is provided in Appendix D.

2. Almost every Albanian surname ends in A (JA), E, I, O, U, AJ, EJ. The majority end in A, I, U (or
IU). Those ending otherwise are atypical and often are of foreign origin; for example, FABER
(which is of German origin).

3. Like other nouns, Albanian surnames (and given names) are declined in five cases, singular and
plural, have grammatical gender, and are indefinite (preceded by një (a, an)) or definite in form (definite articles
are in the form of suffixes). Some of the endings used for the definite forms are:

Masculine (nom. sing.) Feminine (nom. sing.)

-i -a
-u -a

Sample declensions of a masculine given name, a feminine given name, and a surname follow:

Masculine Feminine Surname

(singular) (singular) (singular)
Nom. Stavri Karolina PRIFTI
Gen. and Dat. Stavrit Karolines PRIFTIT
Acc. Stavrin Karolinen PRIFTIN
Abl. [Prej] Stavrit [Prej] Karolines [Prej] PRIFTIT

Since there are at least three patterns for both masculine and feminine nouns, all names obviously do not
fall within the examples. The examples may, however, serve as a reminder of the possibilities (so that different
cases of a name will not be treated as different names).

4. Like given names, surnames also may be compound. A spelling change sometimes occurs because of
elision of for the sake of euphony (a variable concept) and sometimes two equally good spellings are in use for
one compound.

GJO(N)MARKAJ (Gjon + Markaj)

GJO(N)LEKA (Gjon + Leka)
GJOLULI (Gjon + Luli)
MAR(K)GJINAJ (Mark + Gjinaj)
MAR(K)GJINI (Mark + Gjini)
MAR(K)LASKAJ (Mark + Laskaj)

The letters in parentheses are sometimes used and sometimes omitted.

E. Titles

Titles of address and other terms that may be found in personal documents are listed in Appendix E.
 Albanian Personal Names 1-15

Appendix A. The Albanian Alphabet

The approximate English sounds of Albanian letters and combinations of letters are given below, without
reference to individual variations in speech, English or Albanian.

Albanian Approximate Albanian Approximate

Letter English Equivalent Letter English Equivalent
a star n name
b bone nj Albanian
c nets o order
ç chat p Peter
d dare q cheer (Geg);3
dh brother r profuse
e bet rr trilled
ë term s soup
f fire sh shine
g gain t tourist
gj George th thin
h Han u pull
i meet, is v vacuum
j young x adze
k car xh judge
l alien y tu (French); fünf (German)
ll little z zone
m man zh azure, pleasure

3
There is no true English equivalent for the sound in Tosk; it is somewhat like the sound of ky in stockyard.
 The Onomastic Treasure of the CIA 1-16

Appendix B. Transliteration Table

B.G.N4
Russian Albanian Greek Italian Rumanian Turkish
A a a Α α a a a a
Б б b Mκ4 b b b b
В в v B ß v v v(f)16 v
Г г g Γκ5 gh g(gh)10 g g
Д д d Nτ6 d d d d
E e e(je)1 Ε ε e,ie e, ie e(ye) e(ye)21
17

Ё ë jo Γιο, Ιο iò io yo ë(yë)22
Ж ж zh Z ζ sh j(g,ge,gi)11 j(c) 18
zh
З з z Z ζ z z z z
И и i I,H ι,η i i i i
Й й j I ι -- i y y
К к k K κ k k,c(ch)12 k k
Л л ll Λ λ l l l l
М м m M μ m m m m
Н н n N ν n n n n
О о o O ο o o o o
П п p Π π p p p p
Р р r P ρ r r r r
С с s Σ σ7 s s s s
Т, Ш т, ш t T τ t t t t
У у u Ο υ u u u u
Ф ф f Φ φ f f f f
X x h, kh2 X χ kh h h kh
Ц ц c Tς τσ ts t ts ts
Ч ч ç Tς τσ ci (c,ci,ce)13 ç ch
Ш ш sh Σ σ,ζ8 sh s s sh
Щ щ shç Σ σ,ζ9 shci (sc,sci,sce)14 ç shch
Ъ ъ "
19
Ь ь i I ι i i i y
Ы ы j3 i15 '
Э э e E,Aι è e,ä e e
Ю ю ju Γιου,Ιου iu iu yu(ü)20 yu
Я я ja Για,Iα ia ia,ea ya ya

Adjectival Endings
singular ый ij ιι ii iy yy
ий ij ιι,ηι ii iy iy
plural ые ije ιε iie iye yye
ие ije ιε,ηε iie iye iye

EXPLANATORY NOTES

4
United States Board on Geographic Names
 Albanian Personal Names 1-17

EXPLANATORY NOTES
1
“je” used initially, after vowels (а, е, ё, и, о, у, ы, э, ю, я) and after ъ and ъ; elsewhere “e.”
2
“h” normally used, although “kh” is occasionally used
3
Sometimes omitted entirely.
4
When used initially.
5
When used initially.
6
When used initially.
7
“ ζ” used in final position; “σ ” used elsewhere.
8
“ ζ” used in final position; “ σ” used elsewhere.
9
“ ζ” used in final position; “ σ” used elsewhere.
10
“gh” used before “e” or “i”; “g” used elsewhere.
11
“g” used for the Russian digraph “dj” before “e” or “i”; “ge” and “gi” used for the digraph before “a”, “o”
and “u”.
12
“ch” used before “e” or “i”; “k” or “c” used elsewhere.
13
“c” used before “e” or “i”; “ci” and “ce” before “a”, “o” and “u”; “ci” in the final position.
14
“ c” used before “e” or “i”; “ ci” before “a”, “o” and “u”.
15
“i” used after consonants and in the final position; sometimes omitted entirely.
16
“v” and “f” normally used interchangeably, although “f” used in final position in place names of non-
Russian origin.
17
“ye” used initially, after vowels (а, е, ё, и, о, у, ы, э, ю, я) and after ъ and ъ; elsewhere “e.”
18
“c” used for the Russian digraph “дж”.
19
Turkish undotted letter “i”.
20
“ü” used in place names of non-Russian origin, particularly German and Turkish names; “yu” used
elsewhere.
21
“ye” used initially, after and after the vowels а, е, ё, и, о, у, ы, э, ю, я) and after ъ and ъ; elsewhere “e”.
22
“yë” used initially, after and after the vowels а, е, ё, и, о, у, ы, э, ю, я) and after ъ and ъ; elsewhere “ë”.

GENERAL: This table and other tables to be issued in the future are designed to facilitate the
direct conversion to the B.G.N.5 system of such Russian place names as appear in transliterated form in
other languages. In order to achieve uniformity, it is of utmost importance that foreign transliterations from
the Russian be converted to the B.G.N. system, even though the original transliteration uses the Roman
alphabet. This table gives foreign language transliterations of the Russian, which can then be directly
equated to the B.G.N. system.

Appendix C. Albanian Surnames

5
United States Board on Geographic Names
 The Onomastic Treasure of the CIA 1-18

ABAZI BOGDO DERSHA GJOKA

ABDIA BOSHNJAKU DERVISHI GJOLIKU
ABDIU BOZO DEVEJA GJOMDEDA
ABULE BRAHIMI DHIMO GJONDEJ
ADAMI BROJA DHOSKA GJONI
ADEMI BUKURESHI DHROSO GJONLEKAJ
AFEZOLLI BULKA DIBRA GJOSHI
AGALLIU BUSHATI DILAVERI GJYLBEGU
AGOLLI BUTKA DILO GLIOZHENI
AJAZI BUXHELI DINGU GODE
ALIAJ BYLYKU DINO GODO
ALIBALI DISHA GOLEMI
ALIKO CABELI DISHNICA GONXHI
ALIU ÇARÇANI DOBI GORICA
ANADOLLI ÇACI DOÇI GOSTNISHTI
ANDONI CACI DODBIBA GOXOLLI
ANGJELI CAJA DOMI GOZHITA
ANGONI ÇAKO DRAGO GRADECI
ANTONIU ÇALI DRISHTI GRAMATIKU
ARAPI ÇAMI DUARI GRECKA
ARGJENTARI CANI DUKA GRILLO
ASTATHI ÇAPELI DUMA GURA
ÇARÇANI GURAKUQI
BABANI ÇARO EMIRI GURI
BABI ÇASLLI ESKI GUSHO
BABOÇI ÇELA
BAÇI ÇELAJ FABER HADËRI
BAFTJARI CELI FAGU HADO
BAJRAMI ÇELKUPA FAIKU HAKANI
BAKAJ CENKO FEJZO HAKIU
BAKLLAINAJA CICANI FERIKU HAMZARAJ
BAKIRI CILKO FESKO HANKU
BALA CIKULI FILAJ HASANAJ
BANÇI ÇIPI FICO HASANI
BARDHI CIU FORTUZI HALEBI
BARDHOSHI ÇOBA FRASHËRI HALILI
BASHA ÇOBANI HARIZAJ
BASHARI ÇOÇOLI GABRANI HARXHI
BEBETI CUBERI GALANXHI HATIBI
BEÇI ÇUÇI GANAJ HAVERI
BEGEJA CUKALIA GAQI HAXHI
BEKTESHI GERCALLIU HYSENI
BENDO DAÇE GERBAJ HITA
BERBERI DACI GERMENJI HOBDARI
BERIOLLI DAIJA GERXALLIU HOTI
BERZOLLI DAJA GJASHTA HOXHA
BEZHANI DAJLANI GJATA HYSENI
BIBA DAKLI GJEBERO HYSI
BIÇOKU DALANI GJEÇI
BILIBASHI DAMA GJELILI IBRAHIMI
BIMBLI DANO GJEMNICA ILJAZI
BIMI DARDHA GJERGJI IMAMI
BINO DAUTI GJIKA ISLAMI
BISHA DEDE GJIKONDI
BITRI DEDJA GJINI JAHO
BOBRATI DEMI GJIRITI JAKUPI
BOÇKA DEMIRAJ GJOÇA JANO
BOCKA DEMIRI GJOGOREÇI JASA
 Albanian Personal Names 1-19

JAUPI KOVAÇI MEÇI PALLOZI

KOZELI MEÇULE PALLUQI
KABA KRANTE MEKSI PANAVIJA
KAÇONOLLI KRASNIQI MELUSHI PANDO
KADIU KRIPA MEMA PANDUKU
KALAPODHI KRISTIDHI MENGA PANGO
KALECI KRISTO MERO PANI
KALIMANI KRISTULLI MIÇOLLI PANIDHA
KALLAMATA KRUJA MIFTIU PANO
KALLTANI KUKA MIHO PAPA
KALMARI KUKUMI MILO PAPADHOPULLI
KALO KULLA MILOTI PAPAGJINI
KAMBA KULLAI MINERALLI PAPAJANI
KANINA KUMBARO MINEROLLI PAPAJORGJI
KAPO KUME MIRASHI PAPARISTO
KARAFILI KURT MIRI PAPATHANASI
KARAGUNI KURTI MISJA PAPAVASILI
KARAULLI KUSHE MITRO PAPUÇIU
KARKALIO KUSHI MITROJORGJI PAPULI
KASAPI MEZINI PARRUCA
KASËMI LAKO MIHO PASKALI
KASIMATI LAKRORI MINELLA PASKO
KASNECI LALO MINXOLLI PAVLLO
KATI LAMAJ MISA PEÇANI
KATUNDI LAMÇE MISHA PELINGU
KAVAJA LAMI MORCA PËLLUMBI
KAZADEJA LAPERI MUÇO PEPA
KICO LASKA MUKA PËRMETI
KËLLËÇI LASKU MULLAI PETANI
KËLLIÇI LAZRI MURATI PETI
KERÇIKU LECI MURZAKU PETRELA
KERENXHI LEKA MUSABELLI PEZA
KETA LESKOVIKU MUSARAJ PILKU
KEXHALLIU LEVENDI MUSAJ PIKATI
KITA LEZHA MUSHI PILKATI
KLOSI LIKA MUZRAKU PIPA
KOÇA LIMANI MYDERIZI MYFTIU PISHTARI
KOÇANI LIPIVANI MYLYSHI PITULLARI
KOJA LITI MYRTEZAI PLAKA
KOKALARI LITO MYSLIMI PLANI
KOKOBOBO LLAZANI PLUMBI
KOKONA LLAZARI NANO POJANI
KOLANECI LLOI NDINI POROÇI
KOLE LUARASI NDOCAJ POSTOLI
KONÇI LUBONJA NDOJA PREGJA
KONDRA LUÇI NDRECKO PRIFTI
KONGOLI LUNDRA NDROQI PROGRI
KONOMI NEPRAVISHTA PROKO
KOPLIKU MAÇI NIKOLLA PUKA
KORÇA MAMAQI NISHKU PULO
KORITA MAME NISHOVA PUSTINA
KORVAFA MANÇE NOÇKA PUTO
KOSOVA MANDI NOSI
KOSOVIASTI MANDIA NOVA QAFZEZI
KOSTAQI MANDRO QATIPI
KOTHERJA MANE OSMANAGAJ QERIBASHI
KOTINI MANI QERIMI
KOTORI MARA PALLOSHI QIFTA
 The Onomastic Treasure of the CIA 1-20

QILIMI SHAKA VELESHNJA

QIRKO SHALA TABAKU VERCANI
QOSJA SHALLO TAFAJ VERZIVOLLI
QYQJA SHANI TAFARUÇI VESELI
QYSMALLARI SHAPLLO TAKA VESHO
SHAQIRI TAKO VISOKA
RAÇA SHATKU TARAJ VLADI
RADOVICKA SHEHU TARE VOGLI
RAKO SHEQI TARTARI VORPSI
RAMA SHERI TASHKO VOSHTINA
RANXHI SHIJAKU TERPO VRAPI
REKA SHKËMBI THAÇI
REMOÇKA SHKURTI THANASI XHAÇKA
REPISHTI SHOMO THANATI XHAFA
RESO SHORI TIKO XHAFERAS
RESULI SHTEPANI TIRANA XHAJ
REXHA SHTYLLA TITKA XHARA
REXHEPI SHUKE TOÇI XHARI
REXHO SHYTERIQI TOLA XHARO
RISTANI SHYTI TONA XHEKA
RIZA SILIQI TONINI XHEMALAJ
RROKAJ SIMAKU TOPI XHEZO
RUKA SIMIXHIU TOPULLI XHIXHO
RULI SINOIMERI TOQJA XHUGLINI
RUSHEKU SKELA TOSKA XOXA
RUSI SKËNDI TOTE
SKOROVOTI TOTOZANI YMERI
SAHAJ SNEHO TRAKO
SAKIQI SOKOLI TREBICKA ZAHO
SALIAJ SPAHIU TRESKA ZAIMI
SALLABANDA SPASE TRESOVA ZARAÇIU
SAMIMI SPIRO TRIMÇEV ZAVALANI
SAMSURI STAMATI TROSHANI ZEKTHI
SARAÇI STAMO TULI ZELAZ
SEFERI STARJA ZENGO
SEITI STEFANI UÇI ZEPISHTA
SEJDO STILLO ZEQO
SEJKO STRAKASHA VAKËFLLIU ZERALIU
SELENICA STRAZIMIRI VALIERI ZHEGLA
SELITA STRUGA VARFI ZIÇISHTI
SERJANI SULA VASILI ZOTO
SEVRANI SULÇEBEGU VATHI ZYMA
SHABANI SULI VEHIBI ZYRBO
 Albanian Personal Names 1-21

Appendix D. Albanian Given Names

In the list below, many names are written in alternate spellings, which are cross referenced unless the
second entry would appear next in sequence. As available, diminutives have also been added but these are not
cross referenced, unless they are known to be used also as independent names. All names in the list are
masculine, unless identified as feminine (F.).

Abdul Andoni Bexhet Enver

Abdyl Antoni Bilal Eqrem
Dul(e) Ndoc Bujar Esat
Dyl(e) Ndoj Bukurije F. Et'hem
Abdullah Ndoni Burhan Et-hem
Dullë Ndue
Adem Nuja Dalip Fadil
Demush Apostol Dane Fahri
Adevije Aqif Daut Faik
Advije Arben Deko Faiko
Adnan Arif Demir Faredin
Advije Aristidh Dervish Farudin
(see Adevije) Aristotel Dhimitër Fatbardh
Afërdita F. Arshi Dimiter Fatmir
Agim Arzen Dhimo Fatmire F.
Ago Aspasi F. Dhori Fatos
Agron Astrit Dhionis Fehmi
Ahmet Athanas Dimitër Fejzi
Ajaz Atanas (see Dhimitër) Fejzo
Ajet Thanas Dodona F. Ferdinand
Akile Atli Dora F. Ferik
Albert Augustin Drago Ferit
Aleko Avni Dritëro Filip
Aleksander Azbi Duk Fiqiri
Aleks Azbie F. Fiairi
Lek Azem Edip Fiqrije F.
Leka Ela F. Fitim
Sander Babë Elami Foni
Alfred Babaçe Eleonora F. Foti
Ali Bajram Leonora Foto
Alqi Barjam Nora Françesk
Ana F. Baki Elizabeth F. Çesk
Anastas Banush Beta
Andon Barjam Liza Gani
Andrea (see Bajram) Lizeta Gaqo
Andromaqi F. Bedri Eljaz Gasper
Anesti Bedrije F. Iljaz Gac
Angji Behar Elmas Gacalin
Anthim F. Beqir Elza F. Lin
Anthime F. Besim Enrik Gëzim
Anton Besnik (see Henryk) Gjergj
 The Onomastic Treasure of the CIA 1-22

Gjorgj Irakli Kristian Hilush

Gjilek Irfan Kristofor Kel
Gjon Islam Kristo Lush
Gjovalin Ismail Miho
Jan Ismet Lame Miko
Lin Ismini F. Latif Mehmet
Gligor Isuf Laze Met(e)
Guljelm Izet Lefter Meto
Lem Leka (see Alexander) Mentor
Jaçe Ligor Mesut
Hajredin Jahja Lili Mexhit
Hajro Jaho Lirí F. Miçenko
Haki Jakë Llambi Miço
Halit Jakin Llazar Miftar
Hamdi Kin Llazi Mihal
Hamit Jakov Lola F. Mihallaq
Harilla Janaq Lorenc Milo
Harun Jani Loro Milto
Hasan Janko Luan Mina
Haxhi Janulla F. Ludovik Minella
Hazbije F. Jonuz Luigji Mirdash
Hektor Jorgo Lumo Mirteza
Hekuran Jorgji Mirush
Hëna F. Josif Mahir Mitat
Henrik (see Jozef) Mahmut Miti
Enrik Jovan Maksut Mitro
Hidajet Jozef Maliq Misto
Idajet Josif Malo Mrika F.
Hiqmet Bep Mane (see Marika)
Hito Zef Maqo Muamer
Hulusi Jusuf Margerita F. Mufit
Hysen Margerit Muhamet
Hyse Kadri Marije F. Muhar(r)em
Cen Karoline F. Mare Muhedin
Hysni Lina Mari Mujo
Ibrahim Kasëm Mëri Musa
Brahim Katrine F. Mark Mustafa
Brahs Trina Marika F. Myfit
Idajet Tringa Mrika Mynyr
(see Hidajet) Kiço Masar Mynir
Idriz Kleanth Mateo Myrteza
Ikbal Koci Maxhun Myzafer
Ikball F. Koço Medar Myzafere F.
Ilia Kolë Mehdi Myzejen F.
Iljaz (see Nikolla) Mëhill
(see Eljaz) Kostandin Mihajl Naim
Ilo Kosta Mikel Namik
Imer Kozma Mikelin Nasho
Injac Kristaq Hilë Nasi
 Albanian Personal Names 1-23

Naun Pertef Sabri

Naxhi Petraq Sadik Tafil
Nazmi Petrit Safet Tahir
Ndoj Petro Sali Talat
(see Anton) Pipi Sami Taqi
Neço Piro Sanda Taqo
Nedim Pjeter Sander Teki
Nedret Pjerin (see Aleksander) Telat
Neim Polikron Sanko Teodor
Neki Sarandi Tereze F.
Nesim Qani Savo Terezinë
Nesti Qamil Selahedin Zina
Nexhat Qazim Selahudin Zinë
Nexmi Qemal Selim Teufik
Nexhmije F. Qibrie F. Selman Tefik
Niazi Qimo Serafin Tofik
Nigjar Qirjáko Sevo Thanas
Nigjare F. Sezai (see Athanas)
Nikolla Rahman Shaban Thoma
Nikollaq Rahmi Shahin Timo
Nikollë Rakip Shamil Todi
Nikolin Ramadan Shaqir Trifon
Niko Ramazan Shefqet Trim
Kol Ramiz Shemsedin Turhan
Kolë Rapi Shemsi
Kolec Raqi Sherif Vangjel
Lec Rasim Shero Vangjo
Nimet Refat Shyqri Vasfi
Nimete F. Refik Shyqrie F. Vasilika F.
Nonda Reshat Shyqrete F. Vasillaq
Nuja Rëxhep Silva F. Vaskë
(see Anton) Rëxhë Simon Vaso
Nuredin Rexho Sinan Vedat
Nuri Xhëp Sirri Vehap
Nusret Ristan Sitki Veli
Risto Skënder Veis
Odhise Riza Skëndo Vera F.
Odise Rrok Sofokli Viktor
Ollga F. Ruhi Sokrat Vil
Omer Rushan Sotir Vilhelm
Osman Rushit Spiro Vilson
Rustem Spiridon Violeta F.
Pandeli Ruzhdi Stathi Virgjil
Pandi Stavri Vito
Pano Sabah Stefan Vitore
Paskal Sabaha F. Sterjo Vladimir
Paulin Sabahudin Sul Vullnet
Pëllumb Sabaudin Sulo
Perikli Sabit Surja Xhafer
 The Onomastic Treasure of the CIA 1-24

Xhavit Xhemil Zisa F.

Xheladin Xhorxhi Zenepe F. Zyber
Xhelal Xhoxho Zeqir Zylfije F.
Xhelo Ziza F.
Xhemal Ymer Zeqir
 Albanian Personal Names 1-25

Appendix E. Albanian Titles

1. In present day Albania, the most frequently used "title" is

Shok (m.) Shoqe (f.) comrade

The following terms are now used only for foreigners:

Zoteri (Z. or Zot.) (Tosk) } Mr.

Zotni (Z. or Zot.) (Geg)  }

Zonja (Tosk) } Mrs.

Zoja (Geg) }

Zonjusha (Z-sha.) (Tosk) } Miss

Zojusha (Z-sha.) (Geg) }

Each of these terms precedes the individual's surname or any professional title he or she may use.

Zotni Profesor DAJTI (formal address)

(Mr.) (professor) (surname)

Zotni Profesor (personal address)

Zot. Prof. Qemal DAJTI (address on an envelope)

(full name)

Zonja Profesoresha DAJTI (formal address for Mrs.

(Mrs.) (professor) Dajti, who is a professor)

2. There are listed below some professional, academic, and military terms used as titles and some other
words that are found in personal documents. Where the style of writing is not identified (as Tosk or Geg), it is
Tosk.

Term Meaning

Avokat lawyer
Antari i kuvendit popullor member of National Assembly
(Ant. Kuv. Pop.)
Ati father
Barnatar registered pharmacist
Bija; Biri daughter; son
Brigadier gjeneral brigadier general
(Brig. Gjen.)
Burri husband, man
 The Onomastic Treasure of the CIA 1-26

Doktor (Dr.) (m.) } doctor (medical, academic)

Doktoreshë (Dr.) (f.) }

Doktor doktor (Dr. Dr.) doctor doctor (holder of two academic degrees)
Drejtor (Drejt.) director
Ëma mother

Emni i parë (Geg) } given name

Emri i parë (Tosk)  }
Emni i parë i panjohun (Geg)} FNU (first name unknown)
Emri i parë i panjohun (Tosk)}

Emni i ngjitun (Geg) } nickname

Emri i ngjitur (Tosk) }

Gazetar journalist, newspaperman

Gjeneral (Gjen.) general
Grue shtëpijake housewife

Infermier (m.) } nurse

Infermiere (f.) }

Ingjinjer }
Inxhinjer } engineer
Inxhenjer }

Ipeshkev (Ip.) bishop (Catholic)

Ish formerly (née)

Këngëtor operash (m.) } opera singer

Këngëtore operash (f.) }

Kapiten (Kapt.) captain (navy, army, air force, merchant marine)

Këshilltar ambasade counselor of embassy
(Kesh. Amb.)
Këshilltar legate counselor of legation
(Kesh. Leg.)
Kolonel (Kol.) colonel
Kombësi nationality
Konsul (Kon.) consul
Kryeminister prime minister
Kryetar chairman
Kryetar i komitetit ekzekutiv chairman of the executive
(Kr. Kom. Ekz.) committee
Lindje birth (also east)
Major (Maj.) major
Major gjeneral major general
(Maj. Gjen.)
 Albanian Personal Names 1-27

i or e6 martuar (Tosk, m., f.)} married

i or e6 martuem (Geg, m., f.)}

Mashkull male

Mbiemri (Tosk)} surname

Mbiemni (Geg)}

Examples:

djalë i ri vajzë e re Djali dhe vajza janë të fejuar

(boy young) (girl young) (boy and girl are betrothed)
young boy young girl The boy and girl are betrothed.

Mësonjës (Tosk, m.) }

Mësonjëse (Tosk, f.) } teacher
Mësues (Geg, m.) }
Mësuese (Geg. f.)  }

Motra sister

i or e7 ndarë (Tosk, m., f.)} divorced

i or e7 ndame (Geg, m., f.)}

Nënkolonel (N/Kol.) lieutenant colonel

Nënkryetar vice chairman, vice president

Nëpunës (m.) employee

Nënpunëse (f.) 

Nëpunës qeveritar civil servant

Nëntoger (N/Tog.) second lieutenant

i or e8* pamartuar (Tosk) } unmarried

i or e9 pamartuem (Geg) }

Përfaqësonjës (Tosk) } representative

Përfaqësuës (Geg) }

6
When modifying a masculine noun, an adjective (which follows the noun and agrees with it in gender, number,
and case) is preceded by the particle i (pl. të). When modifying a feminine noun, an adjective is preceded by the
particle e (pl. të).
7
See footnote, 6.
8
See footnote, 6.
9
See footnote, 6.
 The Onomastic Treasure of the CIA 1-28


Peshkop bishop (Orthodox)

Profesor (m.) } professor

Profesoreshë (f.)  }

Profesor universiteti university instructor

(Prof. Un.)

i or e10 quajtur (Tosk)} called (indicating an alias)

i or e11 quejtun (Geg)}

Redakrot ekonomik economic editor

Rojë guard

Sekretar (Sekr.) secretary

Shefi i policisë chief of police

Shkrimtar (modern) } writer

Shkronjës (archaic) }

Shoqi12 (i shoqi)} husband (her husband)

Shoqja13 (e shoqja)} wife (his wife)

Shqiptar }
Shqyptar } Albanian
Shqipëtar }

Shtetas subject, citizen

Toger (Tog.) first lieutenant

Tregtar } business man, merchant

Tregëtar }

Ushtar soldier

i or e14 veje (m., f.) widowed

Vëllai brother

10
See footnote, 6.
11
See footnote, 6.
12
See footnote, 6.
13
See footnote, 6.
14
See footnote, 6.
 Albanian Personal Names 1-29

Zëvendës profesor } substitute professor

(Tosk) (Zv. Prof.) }

Zavendës professor }
(Geg) (Zav. Prof.) }

Zyrtar official