Monarch names - do other countries do this?

[Stefu]

In Finland, there's an odd custom. Foreign monarchs aren't referred to by names their own countries use, but their names are sort of "Finlandized" - all those pesky foreign letters cleaned off and name made to look more like a Finnish name. Thus, in Finland, Swedish king is known as Kaarle XVI Kustaa instead of Carl Gustav XVI, English queen is Elisabeth II instead of Elizabeth II, and so on. Prince Charles is still Charles, since Lissie hasn't kicked the bucket yet, but when she does, he'll become King Kaarle the... well, I don't know how-manieth.

It's only applied to Western monarchs, of course, and presidents are spared (Although some early history books referred to George Washington as Yrjö Washington, Yrjö being the equivalent of George for some ungodly reason*) but it's an odd custom. Do other countries do that? (I'm starting to suspect it's just a devious way to put those Finnish double vocals in names of innocent royalty.)

*: Since 'yrjö' is also a slang term for puke, it could be worthwhile to reintroduce this custom with U.S. presidents, too, at least until the end of this presidency.

[finbar]

Australians call Queen Elizabeth II a cloth-eared bint - well, we republicans do - but that's probably something altogether different to what you're asking.

In general, Australians would use as close an approximation to the real name as possible. Not that too many Australians would know the names of too many foreign monarchs. Certainly, our media would use the real names.

I suspect what you're talking about is a Finnish conspiracy, Stefu. Yet another one. Now cut it out, will you?

[Stefu]

I just want to know if we're the only ones going about in our conspiratorial ways.

[Ecthy]

It is done, sometimes. We could adress to English kings as Karl VIXIXII but also the Charles version of it, it doesn't really matter. Nowadays, most people use the original name for it though, but sometiems names do still get transferred into German.

I know the Roman number thing is messed up, Iwas merely making fun of the amount of Charles' in England.

[Chris Wilkinson]

For former monarchs we seem to, but not current ones - for example kings Ferdinand and John of Aragon, while the current Spanish monarch is called Juan Carlos.

[Ecthy]

Ferdinand... isn't he called Ferdinand in just every language?

Does anyone else know pope Jan Pavel II?

[Chris Wilkinson]

Whoops, bad example

[Ecthy]

...apart from Portuguese, but I mean it as in real language, not some barbarian babble.

So hebrew doesn't count either

[Stefu]

In Finland, he's Johannes Paavali II...

Hm. "John" in old English king names was translated as "Juhana", but "John" in Pope's name is "Johannes". I wonder what moden King John of England would be.

Only one way to find out. Prince William (who would become King Vilhelm, presumably) must name his son 'John'.

[Sirotnikov]

Sometimes some books translate foreign names to hebrew, but it is mostly for laughs.

Like calling michael jackson - mihael yaakov or something.

[Ecthy]

Well, it's Johannes Paul to us, John Paul to the treacherous anglo-saxons, Jan Pavel to the Poles, Juan Pablo to the Spics etc etc. King names get translated less frequently than pope names, I'm certain.

As for Russians, the same. All of them get translated... but then, Ivans are still Ivans ot Johannesses, so that's not quite correct either.

Even more interesting question: what is the czar/tsar called in your country?

[Stefu]

'Tsaari'.

Individually, they're Iivanas and Paavalis and Pietaris.

Say, what about Biblical names? In Finland, there was Jeesus, who was given birth by Maaria, and whose disciples included people like Pietari and Juudas, whose doctrine was effectively spread by Paavali, and who had Gospels written about him by Matteus, Markus, Luukas and Johannes.

[Ecthy]

Jesus, Maria, Josef, Petrus (only in the bible though, later: Peter (Zaren and boys )), Judas, Paulus (later Paul), Gospels, Matthäus (later name: Matthias) , Lukas, Johannes.

It's odd how Johannes doesn't translate into Finnish. should be Jonni or something like that

[Stefu]

Johannes is a perfectly fine, if old-sounding, Finnish name.

[Ecthy]

LOL

It's German