A book titled “A Study of the Name ‘Mongol’,” published by the Office of the President of Mongolia and the Secretariat of the National Security Council, was launched at the Chinggis Khaan National Museum on April 14, 2026.

Scholars at the launch noted that the work is significant in providing a foundation for further research and initiatives, with potential for continued expansion and development.

The study traces how the name “Mongol” has been recorded from its earliest appearance in historical sources through the 20th century, drawing on multilingual sources, archival documents, and maps. It compares references in Mongolian historical texts, including scripts such as traditional Mongolian, Todo, and ’Phags-pa, as well as inscriptions in Chinese characters, alongside sources in more than 10 languages, including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Persian, and Turkic languages from the East, and English, French, Russian, German, Czech, Italian, and Spanish from the Western.

The work does not aim to explain the origin of the name “Mongol,” but rather documents how it has been transmitted across historical sources. More than 20 scholars contributed to the research, which is based on primary materials including multilingual sources, archival records, and historical maps.

One of the key findings clarifies the form of the internationally used name “Mongolia.” According to the study, the form “Mongolia” emerged in Western languages between the 17th and 18th centuries, with the Latin suffix “-ia” denoting a place—meaning “land of the Mongols.”

Based on the consistent historical usage of the original form over roughly a millennium, scholars propose that the name “Mongol” be used in line with its original form when referring to Mongolia and its citizens.

At the launch, Advisor to the President Dr. Lodoiravsal Choimaa said that Mongolians have consistently referred to themselves as “Mongol” and “Mongols,” and emphasized the importance of studying how the country has been named by other nations and how those names have evolved over time. He noted that such research helps understand how Mongolia has been perceived internationally and provides a basis for determining appropriate usage of names.

President of the National University of Mongolia and Director of the Institute for Mongol Studies Dr. Zayabaatar Dalai said the study aimed to identify how the terms “Mongol” and “Mongolia” have appeared in historical sources. The findings show that “Mongol” appeared in earlier written records, while “Mongolia” became widespread later with the addition of the Western suffix “-ia.”

People’s Teacher of Mongolia Dulam Sendenjav highlighted that the research covers sources from the 13th to 18th centuries, including various forms of Mongolian script and archival materials in multiple Eastern and Western languages. He noted that one notable component of the study is its collection of historical maps, ranging from works by early European cartographer Abraham Ortelius in the 1570s to maps from 1794 and Asian maps from 1829. These maps illustrate how the name “Mongol” was recorded over time. As many of these materials are difficult to access today, compiling them in one volume provides valuable resources for future researchers.

He added that while the name “Mongol” has generally been recorded in forms close to its original pronunciation across many languages, slight variations have persisted. However, some countries have recently begun correcting earlier mispronunciations to align more closely with the original form, a development he welcomed.

Published Date:2026-04-15