Public figures

Generally speaking, do not translate the names of public figures. For example, royalty should be referred to in the original language.

Exemple no admissibleKing Philip VI
Exemple adequatKing Felipe VI


Exemple no admissibleKing Harold V
Exemple adequatKing Harald V


However, there are some exceptions. Popes should be referred to by the English equivalent of their papal names. Likewise, transliteration of names in non-Latin scripts can lead to multiple spellings of a single name (notable examples being Gaddafi and Zelenskyy).  In this case, choose one variant and maintain it throughout the text.

Universitat de Barcelona. Serveis Lingüístics
Darrera actualització: 4-9-2023
Recommended citation:
«Public figures» [en línia]. A: Llibre d’estil de la Universitat de Barcelona. Barcelona: Universitat de Barcelona. Serveis Lingüístics. <https://www.ub.edu/llibre-estil/criteri.php?id=2440> [consulta: 24 novembre 2024].