Changing Names from Russian to Traditional in Central Asia; When a Caterpillar Becomes a Butterfly

Norlanbek Turgunbekovich Shakiev, a journalist turned politician, has been a familiar name in Kyrgyzstan for over two decades. He, who has been the head of the parliament for the past two and a half years, recently announced that he has legally changed his last name to Turgunbek oglu, abandoning his Russianized surname and paternal name. In a Facebook post, he wrote, "I did not make this decision overnight. I have long wished for it." Turgunbek oglu emphasized the importance of national identity, language, religion, and traditions in this post. On February 7, the Kyrgyz parliament passed a bill aimed at promoting traditional Kyrgyz surnames and "expanding surname options in accordance with the customs and cultural characteristics of Kyrgyz people." The trend towards traditional names has become common in Kyrgyzstan and other Central Asian countries since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. However, this enthusiasm has faded over time as widespread poverty in the region forced millions to migrate to Russia for work. Some migrant workers who spoke to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty stated that having a Russianized surname makes life easier in Russia. However, this trend is returning, and some experts attribute it to the changing political atmosphere following Russia's extensive invasion of Ukraine in 2022, an attack that many in the region oppose. In the early 2000s, tens of thousands of Kyrgyz changed their surnames by removing the Russian suffixes ov/ev and ova/eva, opting instead for the Kyrgyz suffixes oglu (for men) and kizi (for women). The new Kyrgyz bill offers several options for surnames according to national traditions, including the suffix Tegi, which is suitable for both genders, and the suffixes Din and Den, which are used for men and women, respectively. This law also stipulates that Kyrgyz citizens can choose Russianized surnames if they wish, and members of various ethnic groups are free to adjust their names according to their national traditions. Tajikistan is the only Central Asian country that officially banned Russianized surnames in 2016. The Dushanbe government has also mandated that its citizens choose "authentic" Tajik names for their children. The government has published a list of suggested names for newborns as an effort to counter the rising popularity of Arabic and Islamic names. Tajikistan's President Emomali Rahmon changed his Russianized surname in 2007, making him the only Central Asian leader to take such action. Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan also passed new laws in the mid-1990s allowing their citizens to choose surnames according to national traditions. However, most Uzbeks have retained their Russianized surnames, while traditional surnames have gained popularity in Kazakhstan, especially among cultural elites and younger generations. Turkmenistan, which has a highly controlled government, has largely retained Russianized surnames. In Central Asia, new efforts have begun to change the names of cities, villages, streets, and schools that have remained from the Soviet era. Kazakhstan has approved a "roadmap" for 2022-2025 aimed at replacing those geographical names that are "ideologically obsolete." Such changes have faced opposition from Moscow, as Russia still holds significant influence in the region. In November 2022, Russian lawmakers strongly condemned an initiative in Kyrgyzstan aimed at changing the names of four Bishkek districts that still retain their communist-era names. The names of the four administrative districts of Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, are as follows: Lenin, Sverdlov (named after a Soviet politician), Birinchi Mai (First of May), and October (for the October Revolution). Kyrgyz politicians have proposed that these districts receive Kyrgyz names, but Russian politicians and media have described this action as an "attempt to de-Russify Bishkek" and have called for its immediate cessation. Alisher Ilhamov, an expert at the London-based Central Asia Due Diligence Institute, says the new wave of "return to authentic names" in Central Asia has been influenced by Russia's attack on Ukraine in recent years. Aziza Ozak, a Kazakh journalist who removed the Russian suffix ova from her surname, states, "This movement symbolizes our deep desire to restore our national identity that has been under pressure for years." Despite all this, not everyone is inclined to follow this trend. A Tajik student in Kazan, Russia, told Radio Liberty, "My first name is Parvona, but according to Tajikistan's regulations, it is written with the suffix i in my passport and has become Parvonai. In Russia, my professors call me Parvonai, and I have to explain to everyone that my name is actually Parvona. To make my life easier in Russia, I will change my name." According to official statistics, in 2024, 323 Kyrgyz citizens have abandoned their Russianized surnames and chosen traditional Kyrgyz names. During the same period, more than three thousand people have replaced their traditional Kyrgyz surnames with Russianized versions.