Turkmenistan Geoname Changes

See also Districts in Turkmenistan

Glossary

Please see Districts in Turkmenistan \ Glossary

Names as of 1992

The point of origin for names of provinces, districts and cities in independent Turkmenistan (i.e., Turkmenistan after 1991) is the appendix to Turkmenistan Supreme Soviet Resolution No. 686-XII of 17 April 1992. As of April 1992 the Russian terms for provinces and municipalities remained in use even in Turkmen-language official documents:  oblast for province, raýon for district, gorod for city, posýolok for town.  Over time, these Russian-origin loan words were supplanted by purely Turkmen vocabulary: welaýat, etrap, şäher, and şäherçe, respectively. A glossary of English, Russian, and Turkmen equivalents of municipal structures can be found here.

Table 1. Turkmenistan: Provinces, Districts, Cities as of 17 April 1992
Turkmen transcription	Russian version	Former name
Областлар (Oblasts)
Дашховуз	Дашховузская	Ташаузская
Чәрҗев	Чарджевская	Чарджоуская
Районлар (Districts)
Ашгабат	Ашгабатский	Ашхабадский
Бәхерден	Бахерденский	Бахарденский
Гөкдепе	Гёкдепинский	Геок-Тепинский
Кака	Какинский	Каахкинский
Сарахс	Серахсский	Серахский
Эсенгулы	Эсeнгулыйский	Гасан-Кулинский
Газанҗык	Газанджыкский	Казанджикский
Гаррыгала	Гаррыгалынский	Кара-Калинский
Гызыларбат	Гызыларбатский	Кизыл-Арватский
Гызылетрек	Гызылетрекский	Кизыл-Атрекский
Векилбазар	Векилбазарский	Векиль-Базарский
Гушгы	Гушгынский	вновь образованный
Ёлөтен	Ёлотенский	Иолотанский
Гарагум	Гарагумский	Каракумский
Байрамалы	Байрамалыйский	Байрам-Алийский
Мургап	Мургапский	Мургабский
Сакарчәге	Сакарчягинский	Сакар-Чагинский
Тагтабазар	Тагтабазарский	Тахта-Базарский
Түркменгала	Туркменгалынский	Туркмен-Калинский
Йыланлы	Йыланлыйский	Ильялинский
Көнеүргенч	Кёнеургенчский	Куня-Ургенчский
Тагта	Тагтынский	Тахтинский
Дашховуз	Дашховузский	Ташаузский
Дарганата	Дарганатынский	Дарган-Атинский
Дәнев	Дәневский	Дейнауский
Гарабекевүл	Гарабекевюлский	Карабекаульский
Фарап	Фарапский	Фарабский
Хоҗамбаз	Ходжамбазский	Ходжамбасский
Чәрҗев	Чарджевский	Чарджоуский
Чаршаңңы	Чаршангынский	Чаршангинский
Шәхерлер (Cities)
Ашгабат	Ашгабат	Ашхабад
Бүзмейин	Бюзмейин	Безмеин
Газанҗык	Газанджык	Казанджик
Гызыларбат	Гызыларбат	Кизыл-Арват
Небитдаг	Небитдаг	Небит-Даг
Гумдаг	Гумдаг	вновь образованный
Байрамалы	Байрамалы	Байрам-Али
Гушгы	Гушгы	Кушка
Ёлөтен	Ёлотен	Иолотань
Дашховуз	Дашховуз	Ташауз
Көнеүргенч	Кёнеургенч	Куня-Ургенч
Говурдак	Говурдак	Гаурдак
Чәрҗев	Чарджев	Чарджоу
Source: Turkmenistan Supreme Soviet Resolution No. 686-XII of 17 April 1992

New Alphabet and Transliteration

Beginning in 1999, Turkmenistan began a transition from the Cyrillic alphabet to a modified Latin alphabet for the Turkmen language.

Table 2. Romanization Table for Turkmen Cyrillic Script
Cyrillic	Latin	Cyrillic	Latin	Cyrillic	Latin
А а	A a	Җ җ	J j	С с	S s
Б б	B b	Ж ж	Ž ž	Ш ш	Ş ş
Ч ч	Ç ç	К к	K k	Т т	T t
Д д	D d	Л л	L l	У у	U u
initial Э э non-initial Е е	E e	М м	M m	Ү ү	Ü ü
initial Ё	Ýo ýo	Н н	N n	В в	W w
Ә ә	Ä ä	Ң ң	Ň ň	Ы ы	Y y
Ф ф	F f	О о	O o	Й й	Ý ý
Г г	G g	Ө ө	Ö ö	З з	Z z
Х х	H h	П п	P p	Я я	Ýa ýa
И и	I i	Р р	R r

Applying this orthographic conversion table yields the following Latin spellings of the 1992 Cyrillic spellings:

Table 3.  Romanized Geographic Names from Table 1.
Welaýatlar (Provinces)
Дашховуз	Daşhowuz
Чәрҗев	Çärjew
Etraplar (Districts)
Ашгабат	Аşgаbat
Бәхерден	Bäherden
Гөкдепе	Gökdepe
Кака	Каka
Сарахс	Sarahs
Эсенгулы	Esenguly
Газанҗык	Gazanjyk
Гаррыгала	Garrygala
Гызыларбат	Gyzylarbat
Гызылетрек	Gyzyletrek
Векилбазар	Wekilbazar
Гушгы	Guşgy
Ёлөтен	Ýolöten
Гарагум	Garagum
Байрамалы	Baýramaly
Мургап	Murgap
Сакарчәге	Sakarçäge
Тагтабазар	Tagtabazar
Түркменгала	Türkmengala
Йыланлы	Ýylanly
Көнеүргенч	Köneurgenç
Тагта	Tagta
Дашховуз	Daşhowuz
Дарганата	Darganata
Дәнев	Dänew
Гарабекевүл	Garabekewül
Фарап	Farap
Хоҗамбаз	Hojambaz
Чәрҗев	Çärjew
Чаршаңңы	Çаrşаňňy
Şäherler (Cities)
Ашгабат	Aşgabat
Бүзмейин	Büzmeýin
Газанжык	Gazanjyk
Гызыларбат	Gyzylarbat
Небитдаг	Nebitdag
Гумдаг	Gumdag
Байрамалы	Baýramaly
Гушгы	Guşgy
Ёлөтен	Ýolöten
Дашховуз	Daşhowuz
Көнеүргенч	Köneurgenç
Говурдак	Gowurdak
Чәрҗев	Çärjew

On 18 May 1992, Parliamentary Resolution 692-XII listed the five provinces of Turkmenistan, as in the first column below. It introduced the term welaýat in lieu of oblast.  The second column uses the 1999 transliteration table to convert Cyrillic to Latin spelling.  This resolution changed the name of Çärjew oblasty to Lebap welaýaty.

Table 4. Turkmenistan: List of Provinces as of 18 May 1992
Original Turkmen Cyrillic	Romanized Transcription as of 1999
Ахал велаяты	Ahal welaýaty
Балкан велаяты	Balkan welaýaty
Дашховуз велаяты	Daşhowuz welaýaty
Лебап велаяты	Lebap welaýaty
Мары велаяты	Mary welaýaty
Source: Parliamentary Resolution 692-XII of 18 May 1992

Central Government Sole Authority for Geographic Names

On 14 December 1992, the People's Council (Turkmen: Halk Maslahaty) adopted Law No. 783-ХП, “On the Order of Deciding Issues of Administrative-Territorial Structure of Turkmenistan”, and Resolution XM-6.  These two statutes established the authority of the central government to name municipal structures, farms, and industrial facilities.  They changed the Russian word oblast' (область), rendered in Turkmen Cyrillic as област minus the terminal soft sign, to the Turkmen word welaýat in reference to provinces.  The resolution renamed Ashgabat oblasty (Russian: Ашгабатская область, Turkmen Сyrillic: Ашгабат областы) to Ahal welaýaty, and established an authoritative list of etraplar (districts) subordinate to the welaýatlar, as below. 

Turkmen text	Russian text	English translation
Ахал велаятында: Ашгабат, Бабадайхан, Бәхерден, Гөкдепе, Гәверс, Кака, Сарахс, Теҗен этраплары;	в Ахалском велаяте: Ашгабатский, Бабадайханский, Бахерденский, Гёкдепинский, Гяверсский, Какинский, Сарахский, Тедженский;	In Ahal welaýaty: Aşgabat, Babadaýhan, Bäherden, Gökdepe, Gäwers, Kaka, Sarahs, Tejen;
Балкан велаятында: Газанҗык, Гаррыгала, Гызыларбат, Гызылетрек, Красноводск, Эсенгулы этраплары;	в Балканском велаяте: Газанджыкский, Гаррыгалынский, Гызыларбатский, Гызылетрекский, Красноводский, Эсенгулыйский;	In Balkan welaýaty: Gazanjyk, Garrygala, Gyzylarbat, Gyzyletrek, Krasnowodsk, Esenguly;
Дашховуз велаятында: Дашховуз, Йыланлы, Калинин, Көнеүргенч, Леннн, Октябрь, Тагта, Тельман этраплары;	в Дашховузском велаяте: Дашховузский, Йыланлыйский, Калининский, Кенеургенчский, Ленинский, Октябрьский, Тагтынский, Тельманский;	In Daşhowuz welaýaty: Daşhowuz, Ýylanly, Kalinin, Köneurgenç, Lenin, Oktýabr, Tagta, Telman;
Лебап велаятында: Бойныузын, Гарабекевүл, Дарганата, Достлук, Дәнев, Керки, Сакар, Саят, Фарап, Халач, Хоҗамбаз, Чәрҗев, Чаршаңңы этраплары.	в Лебапском велаяте: Бойныузынский, Гарабекевюлский, Дарганатынский, Достлукский, Дяневский, Керкинский, Сакарский, Саятский, Фарапский, Халачский, Ходжамбазский, Чарджевский, Чаршангынский;	In Lebap welaýaty: Boýnyuzyn, Garabekewül, Darganata, Dostluk, Dänew, Kerki, Sakar, Saýat, Farap, Halaç, Hojambaz, Çarjew, Çarşaňňy;
Мары велаятында: Байрамалы, Векилбазар, Гарагум, Гушгы, Ёлөтен, Мары, Мургап, Парахат, Сакарчәге, Тагтабазар, Түркменгала этраплары.	в Марыйском велаяте: Байрамалыйский, Векилбазарский, Гарагумский, Гушгынский, Ёлотенский, Марыйский, Мургапский, Парахатский, Сакарчягинский, Тагтабазарский, Туркменгалынский;	In Mary welaýaty: Baýramaly, Wekilbazar, Garagum, Guşgy, Ýolöten, Mary, Murgap, Parahat, Sakarçäge, Tagtabazar, Türkmengala;
Ашгабат шәхеринде: Ленин, Совет, Пролетар этраплары.	в шахере Ашгабат: Ленинский, Советский, Пролетарский.	In the city of Aşgabat: Lenin, Sowet, Proletar

Subsequent Resolutions and Decrees

1990s

PDF file containing a series of geographic name changes ordered by the Halk Maslahaty (People's Council) of Turkmenistan on 14 December 1992 in Parliamentary Resolution XM-6, in the Turkmen language, using the Turkmen Cyrillic alphabet. File:19921214 XM-6.pdf ‎(1,276 × 1,650 pixels, file size: 85 KB, MIME type: PDF, 3 pages)

The following list of Turkmen legislative acts or executive decrees on geographic names is not necessarily exhaustive; additions are welcome. The original texts of decrees and resolutions found to date in either Russian or Turkmen can be seen here and in other documents with links embedded in the list below. These documents include changes of names of many villages and non-municipal structures (farms, factories, etc.) not listed above.

PDF file containing many decrees and resolutions on geographic name changes since 1991, File:1992-2018-TKM geoname changes TK-ocr.pdf. (1,285 × 1,650 pixels, file size: 11.97 MB, MIME type: PDF, 218 pages)

PDF file containing Presidential Decree No. 1327 of 5 May 1993, in Russian, on changes of geographic names, File:19930505 Decree1327 RU ocr.pdf. (721 × 1,189 pixels, file size: 1.55 MB, MIME type: PDF, 71 pages)

PDF file containing Presidential Decree No. 3204 of 10 November 2000, in Turkmen and Russian, File:2000-11-10-TKM-Pres-Decree-3204.pdf. (1,240 × 1,754 pixels, file size: 112 KB, MIME type: PDF, 4 pages)

PDF file containing Presidential Decree No. 3724 of 25 September 2002, in Turkmen, File:2002 Name change from Tagta to Gorogly.pdf (1,275 × 1,650 pixels, file size: 265 KB, MIME type: PDF, 1 page)

PDF file containing Presidential Decree No. 4066 of 4 June 2004, in Turkmen, File:2004-06-04-TKM-Pres-Decree-4066-ocr.pdf (987 × 1,471 pixels, file size: 69 KB, MIME type: PDF, 2 pages)

PDF file containing Parliamentary Decree (unnumbered) of 9 November 2022, in Russian and Turkmen, File:20221109 Turkmenistan parliamentary decree.pdf (1,275 × 1,650 pixels, file size: 263 KB, MIME type: PDF, 18 pages)

PDF file containing Parliamentary Decree (unnumbered) of 20 December 2022, in Russian and Turkmen, File:20221220 Arkadag city named RU TK.pdf ((1,275 × 1,650 pixels, file size: 149 KB, MIME type: PDF, 4 pages)

• 26 June 1992, Resolution No. 729-XII, Kirow etraby and town of Ahal welaýaty are renamed Babadaýhan (Бабадайхан).
• 14 December 1992, Parliamentary Resolution XM-6, the five welaýatlar (provinces) and capital city of Ashgabat are formally established, as are the etraplar (districts) within them, the cities with district status are listed, and types of municipalities are defined.
• 19 January 1993, Resolution No. 794-XII, Parahat etraby of Mary welaýaty is renamed Nyýazow etraby (Ныязов этрабы).
• 8 February 1993, Resolution No. 805-XII, Oktyabr etraby of Daşhowuz welaýaty is renamed Saparmyrat Türkmenbaşy etraby (Сапармырат Түркменбашы этрабы).
• 8 February 1993, Resolution No. 806-XII, the town of Täzebazar in Daşhowuz welaýaty is renamed town of Nyýazow (Ныязов посёлогы).  The Russian translation of this resolution calls the town "Niyazovsk" (Ниязовск).
• 16 February 1993, Presidential Decree No. 1177, Kalinin etraby (Калининский этрап) in Dashoguz welaýaty is renamed Boldumsaz etraby.
• 16 February 1993, Presidential Decree No. 1178, Lenin etraby (Ленинский этрап) of Dashoguz welaýat is renamed Akdepe etraby.
• 16 February 1993, Presidential Decree No. 1179, Telman etraby (Тельманский этрап) of Dashoguz welaýaty is renamed Gubadag etraby.
• 9 March 1993, Resolution No. 821-XII, inter alia the town and district (etrap) of Janga in Balkan welaýaty are renamed Türkmenbaşy, and Dostluk etraby and the town of Moskovsk in Boýnyuzyn etraby are renamed Saparmyrat Nyýazow and Nyýazow, respectively.  In addition, the town of Energetik, subordinate to the city of Mary, is renamed Saparmyrat Türkmenbaşy.
• 5 May 1993, Presidential Decree No. 1327, many municipalities across Turkmenistan are renamed: inter alia in Ahal welaýaty, Kalinin in Gäwers etraby to Bagabat, Tejenstroý in Tejen etraby to Gannaly; in Daşoguz welaýaty, Leninsk in Akdepe etraby to Akdepe, Kalinin in Boldumsaz etraby to Boldumsaz, Telman in Gubadag etraby to Gubadag, Oktýabrsk in Saparmyrat Türkmenbaşy adyndaky etrap to Saparmyrat Türkmenbaşy adyndaky säherçe; in Lebap welaýaty, Golownoýe in Kerki etraby to Başsaka; in Mary welaýaty, Çapaýew adyndaky şäherçe in Ýolöten etraby to S.A. Nyýazow adyndaky şäherçe. In addition, new towns are established: in Ahal welaýaty, town of Arzuw; in Balkan welaýaty, town of Belek; in Lebap welaýaty, towns of Dostluk in Dänew etraby, Zeid in Kerki etraby, Katretdin and Suwçyoba in Saýat etraby, Hojagala in Çärjew etraby based on town of Oktýabrsk; in Mary welaýaty Wekilbazar in Wekilbazar etraby, Peşanaly in Mary etraby, and Parahat in Nyýazow etraby based on the Garagumsowhozstroý village plus the Parahat rail station.This decree also lists all towns and village councils in Turkmenistan as of that date.
• 14 September 1993, Resolution No. 854-XII, Lenin etraby of Ashgabat is renamed Prezident Nyýazow adyndaky etrap ("district named for President Niyazov”).
• 14 September 1993, Presidential Decree No. 1490 (in Russian) (in Turkmen), Sowet etraby (Советский этрап) of Ashgabat city is renamed Azatlyk etraby.
• 14 September 1993, Presidential Decree No. 1491 (in Russian) (in Turkmen), Proletar etraby (Пролетарский этрап) of Ashgabat çity is renamed Köpetdag etraby.
• 8 October 1993, Resolution No. 904-XII, the city of Krasnowodsk (Soviet Russian spelling Красноводск) is renamed Türkmenbaşy.
• 11 June 1997, Resolution No. 220-I, Krasnovodsk Bay (Russian: Красноводский залив) is renamed from Krasnowodsk aýlagy to Türkmenbaşy aýlagy.
• 10 June 1999, Presidential Decree No. PP-2890, Daşhowuz (“stone reservoir”) city and district (etrap) are renamed Daşoguz (“stone” + “Oghuz”).
• 19 July 1999, Presidential Decree No. PP-2918, city of Çärjew is renamed Türkmenabat.
• 29 December 1999, Resolution XM-60, the city and district of Kerki are renamed Atamyrat (in honor of Atamyrat Nyýazow, father of Saparmurat Niyazov).
• 29 December 1999, Resolution XM-61, the city and district (etrap) of Çarşaňňy are renamed Köýtendag.
• 29 December 1999, Resolution XM-62, the city and district (etrap) of Gyzylarbat are renamed Serdar ("leader", in honor of Saparmurat Niyazov).
• 29 December 1999, Resolution XM-63, the city and district (etrap) of Gyzyletrek are renamed Etrek (gyzyl means “red” and is a reference to Communism).
• 29 December 1999, Resolution XM-64, the city of Çeleken is renamed Hazar (“Caspian”).
• 29 December 1999, Resolution XM-65, the city of Nebitdag ("oil mountain") is renamed Balkanabat ("Balkan city").
• 29 December 1999, Resolution XM-66, the city and district (etrap) of Gazanjyk are renamed Bereket (“abundance”).
• 29 December 1999, Resolution XM-67, the city and district (etrap) of Guşgy are renamed Serhetabat ("border city").

2000s

• 10 November 2000, Presidential Decree No. 3204, the villages of Pöwrize (aka Firuza) and Wanowskiý are abolished and their territories incorporated as the city of Arçabil, and Çüli is renamed Gökdere.
• 18 February 2001, Resolution XM-69, the following districts and one town are renamed:  Çärjew etraby to Serdarabat etraby, Boýnyuzyn etraby to Garaşsyzlyk (“independence”) etraby, Dänew etraby to Galkynyş (“renaissance”) etraby, and the town of Dänew to Galkynyş.
• 9 August 2002, Resolution XM-74, two new districts (etraplar) are established in the city of Türkmenabat: Gahryman Atamyrat Nyýazow etraby and Gahryman Gurbansoltan Eje adyndaky etrap (in honor of the late father and mother of Saparmurad Niyazov, respectively).
• 9 August 2002, Resolution XM-76, town of Gowurdak ("roasted meat") is renamed Magdanly ("with ore").
• 9 August 2002, Resolution XM-77, town of Bekdaş is renamed Garabogaz and is upgraded to city equivalent to a district status.
• 25 September 2002, Presidential Decree PP-3724, district (etrap) of Tagta in Dashoguz welaýaty is renamed Görogly.
• 23 May 2003, Resolution No. 180-II, Saparmyrat Nyýazow adyndaky etrap in Lebap welaýat is renamed Beýik Türkmenbaşy adyndaky etrap ("Turkmenbashy the Great district").
• 23 October 2003, Presidential Decree 6435, the town and district (etrap) of Bäherden are renamed Baharly (“spring-like”).
• 4 June 2004, Presidential Decree No. 4066, Garrygala city and district are renamed Magtymguly city and district.
• 6 September 2004, Resolution 227-II, Ýylanly ("with snake") etraby of Daşoguz welaýaty is renamed Gurbansoltan Eje adyndaky etrap, and the town of Ýylanly is renamed Gurbansoltan Eje.
• 17 March 2007, Resolution 110-III, 27-nji Oktyabr geňeşligi of Mary welaýaty is renamed Altyn asyr ("golden age") geňeşligi and 19-njy Fewral daýhan birleşigi is renamed Altyn asyr daýhan birleşigi.
• 8 April 2009, Resolution No. 33-IV, Law on the Order of Resolving Issues of Administrative-Territorial Structure of Turkmenistan
• 15 August 2009 the government publishes a list of renamed villages as an appendix to Resolution 59-IV.  Inter alia, in Ahal welaýat, Abadan geňeşligi (village council of Abadan) in Ahal welaýat is renamed Garadaşaýak, Çüli is renamed Gökdere, Diňli is renamed Gargalaňdiňli.  The village of Çemenebit in Mary welaýat has the spelling of its name changed to Çemenabat, Çemenlik becomes Döwletli, Mirnyý (“peaceful”) becomes Parahat (“peace”), and Morgunowka becomes Serhetli.

2010s

• 10 May 2010, Resolution No. 111-IV, the town of Jeýhun in Lebap welaýaty becomes Döwletli, and three villages are upgraded to towns plus have their names changed: In Lebap, Täzebaşsaka obasyna to town of Başsaka, Dänew rail station village to town of Bahar, and in Mary province, Täzezähmet obasyna to town of Zähmet.  An appendix to this resolution lists renamed villages, towns, cities, and districts.
• 10 May 2010, Resolution No. 112-IV, the Turkmen Mejlis (parliament) publishes a full list of municipalities in Turkmen Latin script, which becomes the new baseline for geographic names in Turkmenistan.
• 26 November 2010, Resolution No. 152-IV, the village of Garlyk is elevated to town status.
• 20 September 2012, Resolution No. 331-IV, the town of Üçajy in Mary welaýaty is renamed Bagtyýarlyk (“happiness”).
• 20 October 2012, Resolution No. 346-IV, the village of Babadurmaz in Ahal welaýat is renamed Berkarar (“steadfast”) and is elevated to town status.
• 24 May 2013, Resolution No. 405-IV, Ashgabat annexes much surrounding territory and absorbs several municipalities, which are abolished, including Abadan, Jülge, Bagyr, Garadaşaýak, Gypjak, Birleşik, Magaryf, Herrikgala, Ýalkym, Gurtly, Hellewler, and Köşi.  In Ashgabat, Prezident Nyýazow adyndaky etrap is renamed Bagtyýarlyk etraby, Azatlyk etraby is renamed Berkararlyk etraby. Ruhabat etraby of Ahal welaýat is renamed Derweze etraby, and Owadandepe (“beautiful hill”) geňeşligi is created, with its center in G. Orazow adyndaky oba.  Ashgabat gets two new boroughs (etraplar), Abadan and Ruhabat.
• 29 July 2013, Resolution No. 420-IV, the city of Turkmenbashy (Turkmen: Türkmenbaşy) is divided into two boroughs, called Awaza and Kenar.  Turkmenbashy city annexes the town of Kenar, which is abolished.
• 19 March 2014, Resolution No. 57-V, the village of Ýandaklyagyz in Ahal welaýaty is renamed Täze Eýýam ("new era").
• 22 July 2014, Resolution No. 99-V, the village of Täze Zaman (“new time”) is created and subordinated initially to Owadandepe geňeşligi.
• 8 November 2014, Resolution No. 156-V, the village of Aba Annaýew is created in Ahal welaýaty (Aba Annaýew was President Berdimuhamedov's great-uncle).
• 3 February 2015, Resolution No. 178-V, Arçabil and Çandybil boroughs (etraplar) are merged, with the new district named Arçabil.
• 4 June 2015, Law on the Order of Assigning Names of State Enterprises, Organizations, Establishments, Geographic and other Objects and Their Renaming.
• 21 July 2015, Resolution No. 225-V, two districts in Turkmenabat are abolished: Gahryman Atamyrat Nyýazow and Gahryman Gurbansoltan Eje (named for the father and mother of Niyazov, respectively).
• 28 April 2016, Resolution No. 397-V, subordination of several villages to village councils is established and listed.
• 19 May 2016, Resolution No. 403-V, the status of several villages is changed.  Inter alia in addition, equivalent-to-a-district city of Garabogaz is downgraded to city-in-district (etrap) status, and redundantly the town of Kenar is abolished.
• 27 July 2016, Resolution No. 425-V, among other things several towns are upgraded to cities: Dostluk in Beýik Türkmenbaşy adyndaky etraby, Birata (later Darganata), Farap, Galkynyş (later Dänew), Garabekewül, Halaç, Hojambaz, Köýtendag, Sakar, and Saýat; several villages are upgraded to towns: Astanababa in Kerki etraby, Yslam in Garabekewül etraby, Jeýhun in Garaşsyzlyk etraby (later transferred to Dänew etraby), Çohpetde, Beşir, Çaltut, and Kiştiwan; and the newly upgraded town of Jeýhun is renamed Asuda.
• 28 September 2016, Resolution No. 452-V, the town of Bereketli Zaman in Ahal welaýaty is established.
• 25 November 2017, Resolution No. 679-V, Certain districts (etraplar) are abolished and their territories transferred to other districts: Beýik Türkmenbaşy adyndaky etrap to Döwletli etrap, Garaşsyzlyk etraby to Galkynyş etrap, Garabekewül etraby to Halaç etraby, Sakar etraby to Saýat etraby; in addition, several names of districts and towns are changed, Atamyrat to Kerki, Birata to Darganata, Galkynyş to Dänew, Serdarabat etraby to Çärjew etraby, town of Guşçular to Çärjew, and town of Nyýazow in Dänew etraby to Garaşsyzlyk.
• 5 January 2018, Resolution No. 686-V, inter alia Baharly city and district (etrap) have their old name of Bäherden restored.  In addition, Altyn Asyr etraby is abolished and its territory apportioned to other districts, plus Kaka city is downgraded from city-with-district-status to city in a district.
• 5 January 2018, Parliamentary Resolution No. 687-V, Abadan and Ruhabat boroughs of Ashgabat city are abolished.  Arçabil etraby is renamed Büzmeýin etraby, and Ashgabat city is defined as containing four boroughs:  Bagtyýarlyk (“happiness”), Berkararlyk (“steadfastness”), Büzmeýin, and Köpetdag.  The boundaries of the city are expanded to include both Täze Zaman villages, which become neighborhoods of Ashgabat city, Bagtyýarlyk etraby.

2020s

• 23 October 2022, the Milli Geňeş (National Council) discusses a series of name changes, mergers of municipalities, and abolition of districts and rural councils, which are published the next day in the Turkmen-language Türkmenistan and Russian-language Neytral'nyy Turkmenistan newspapers.
• 9 November 2022, the Milli Geňeş (National Council) adopts several name changes of cities, towns, and villages; upgrades and downgrades municipalities; merges municipalities; abolishes districts, rural councils, towns, and villages; and publishes the changes in the national press in Russian and Turkmen. Inter alia the city of Serdar is renamed Gyzylarbat, Gurbansoltan Eje is renamed Andalyp, and Nyýazow is renamed Şabat; Kenar Borough of the city of Türkmenbaşy, and the districts of Gubadag, Gurbansoltan eje adyndaky, Farap, Döwletli, Serhetabat, and Oguzhan are abolished.
• 20 December 2022, the Milli Geňeş (National Council) passes a decree (Turkmen text, Russian text) assigning the name Arkadag to the new administrative center (capital) of Ahal Province, and assigning it the status of a city equal to a district (etrap). The decree further transfers the seat of government of Ahal Province from Änew to Arkadag, orders the village of Aba Annayew to be annexed by Arkadag and deleted from the list of municipalities, and transfers 2,370 hectares of land from Gokdepe District to the city of Arkadag.

List of Current Names of Municipalities and Their Former Names

Variants of previous names in both cyrillic and latin scripts are provided as found in various documents in order to assist cartographers and other researchers in associating municipalities with materials about them (including Soviet-era materials such as General Staff maps of the Soviet Union and NATO aeronautical charts).

Capital City

paýtagt - capital city - столица
current name	previous names and latinized variants
	Russian cyrillic script	latin script
Aşgabat	Ашхабад, Полторацк, Асхабадъ	Ashkhabad, Poltoratsk, Askhabad

Cities with District Status

etrap hukukly şäherler / cities equivalent to a district / города с правами этрапа
current name	previous names and latinized variants
	Russian cyrillic script	latin script
Ahal welaýaty
Arkadag şäheri
Balkan welaýaty
Balkanabat şäheri	Небитдаг	Nebitdag
Türkmenbaşy şäheri	Красноводск, Кызыл-Сув, Шагадам	Krasnowodsk, Krasnovodsk, Gyzyl Suw, Kyzyl Suw, Şagadam
Daşoguz welaýaty
Daşoguz şäheri	Дашховуз, Ташауз	Daşhowuz, Taşauz, Dashhowuz, Tashauz
Lebap welaýaty
Türkmenabat şäheri	Чарджев, Чарджоу	Çarjew, Çarjou, Charjew, Chardzhou
Mary welaýaty
Baýramaly şäheri	Байрамали	Bayram Ali
Mary şäheri

Cities Subordinate to a District

etrapdaky şäherler cities subordinate to a district города в районе
current name of city		previous names and latinized variants
Ahal welaýaty	district where located	cyrillic script	latin script
Altyn asyr şäheri	Tejen etraby	Берекет, совхоз "Теджен", Теҗен совхоз	Bereket, sovkhoz "Tedzhen", sowhoz Tejen
Änew şäheri	Ak bugdaý etraby	Аннау	Annau, Anau
Babadaýhan şäheri	Babadaýhan etraby	Кировск	Kirovsk, Kirowsk
Bäherden şäheri	Bäherden etraby	Бахарли	Baharly
Gökdepe şäheri	Gökdepe etraby	Геокдепе	Geokdepe, Goek-Tepe
Kaka şäheri	Kaka etraby	Каахка, Гинцберг	Kaakhka, Ginzberg
Sarahs şäheri	Sarahs etraby	Серахс	Serakhs
Tejen şäheri	Tejen etraby	Теджен	Tedzhen
Balkan welaýaty
Bereket şäheri	Bereket etraby	Газанджык, Казанджик	Gazandzhik, Gazanjyk, Kazandzhik, Kazanjik
Esenguly şäheri	Esenguly etraby	Гасан-Кули	Gasan-Kuli, Hasan-Kuli, Hasan Kuli
Etrek şäheri	Etrek etraby	Гызылетрек, Кизыл-Атрек	Gyzyletrek, Kizyl-Atrek
Garabogaz şäheri	Türkmenbaşy etraby	Бекдаш	Bekdaş, Bekdash
Gyzylarbat şäheri	Gyzylarbat etraby	Сердар, Гызыларбат, Кизыл-Арват	Serdar, Gyzylarbat, Kyzyl-Arwat, Kyzyl-Arvat
Magtymguly şäheri	Magtymguly etraby	Гаррыгала, Кара-Кала	Garrygala, Kara-Kala
Daşoguz welaýaty
Akdepe şäheri	Akdepe etraby	Ленинск	Leninsk
Andalyp şäheri	Akdepe etraby	Гурбансолтан едже, Йыланлы, Ильялы	Gurbansoltan eje, Yylanly, Ýylanly, Ilyaly
Boldumsaz şäheri	Boldumsaz etraby	Калинин	Kalinin
Görogly şäheri	Görogly etraby	Тагта	Tagta
Gubadag şäheri	Boldumsaz etraby	Тельманск, посёлок имени Тельмана, Таза-Кала, Тезе-Кала	Telmansk, posёlok imeni Tel'mana, Täzä-Gala
Köneürgenç şäheri	Köneürgenç etraby	Куняургенч	Konyeurgench
Şabat şäheri	Şabat etraby	Ниязовск, Тэзебазар, Тязебазар, Андреевский	Nyýazow şäheri, Tazebazar, Täzebazar, Andreyevskiy
Saparmyrat Türkmenbaşy adyndaky	Saparmyrat Türkmenbaşy adyndaky etrap	Октябрьск	Oktyabrsk, Oktýabrsk
Lebap welaýaty
Dänew şäheri	Dänew etraby	Галкыныш, Дянев, Дейнау	Galkynyş, Deynau, Dyanev
Darganata şäheri	Darganata etraby	Бирата, Дарган-Ата	Birata, Dargan-Ata
Dostluk şäheri	Köýtendag etraby	Достлук, Южный	Yuzhnyy
Farap şäheri	Çärjew etraby	Фараб	Farab
Garabekewül şäheri	Saýat etraby	Карабекаул	Karabekaul
Gazojak şäheri	Darganata etraby	Газачак, Газ-Ачак	Gazachak, Gaz-Achak, Gazaçak, Gaz-Açak
Halaç şäheri	Halaç etraby	Халач	Khalach, Halach
Hojambaz şäheri	Hojambaz etraby	Ходжамбас	Khodzhambas, Khodjambaz
Kerki şäheri	Kerki etraby	Атамырат	Atamyrat
Köýtendag şäheri	Köýtendag etraby	Чаршанга	Çarşaňňy, Charshanga
Magdanly şäheri	Köýtendag etraby	Говурдак	Govurdak, Gowurdak
Sakar şäheri	Saýat etraby	Сакар
Saýat şäheri	Saýat etraby	Саят
Seýdi şäheri	Dänew etraby	Нефтезаводск	Neftezavodsk, Neftezawodsk
Mary welaýaty
Murgap şäheri	Murgap etraby	Мургаб, Сталино, Московский	Murgab, Murghab, Stalino, Moskovskiy
Sakarçäge şäheri	Sakarçäge etraby	Сакар-Чага	Sakar-Chaga
Şatlyk şäheri	Oguzhan Sakarçäge etraby	Шехитли	Şehitli
Serhetabat şäheri	Serhetabat Tagtabazar etraby	Гушгы, Кушка	Gushgy, Kushka, Guşgy, Kuşka
Türkmengala şäheri	Türkmengala etraby	Туркмен-Кала	Turkmen-Kala
Ýolöten şäheri	Ýolöten etraby	Иолотань, Ёлотен	Iolotan, Ioloten

Towns

şäherçeler - towns - посёлки
current name of town	district to which subordinate	obsolete previous names and latinized variants
locations of towns in red are unknown красный цвет обозначает посёлки, которые отсутствуют на карте gyzyl reňk kartada bolmadyk şäherçeleri görkezýär		cyrillic script	latin script
Ahal welaýaty
Altyn asyr şäherçesi	Tejen etraby
Arçman şäherçesi	Bäherden etraby	колхоз Арчман	kolkhoz Archman, kolhoz Arçman
Babadaýhan şäherçesi	Tejen etraby	Кировск	Kirovsk, Kirowsk
Bagabat şäherçesi	Ak bugdaý etraby	Калининский	Kalininskiy, Kalininskiý
Bagtyýarlyk şäherçesi	Tejen etraby	unknown
Bereketli zaman şäherçesi	Ak bugdaý etraby	new construction	new construction
Berkarar şäherçesi	Ak bugdaý etraby	Бабадурмаз	Babadurmaz
Bokurdak şäherçesi	Ak bugdaý etraby	Бахардок	Bakhardok
Duşak şäherçesi	Kaka etraby	Душак
Gaňňaly şäherçesi	Sarahs etraby	Тедженстрой, Теҗенстрой	Tedzhenstroy, Tejenstroý
Kaka şäherçesi	Kaka etraby	Каахка	Kaakhka
Sarahs şäherçesi	Sarahs etraby	Серахс	Serakhs
Ýaşlyk şäherçesi	Ak bugdaý etraby	ж/д разъезд Яшлык	Ýaslyk bekedi, Yashlyk
Yzgant şäherçesi	Gökdepe etraby	Ызгант
Balkan welaýaty
Akdaş şäherçesi	Türkmenbaşy etraby	Акдаш
Belek şäherçesi	Türkmenbaşy etraby	Белек
Ekerem şäherçesi	Esenguly etraby	Окарем	Okarem
Esenguly şäherçesi	Esenguly etraby	Гасан-Кули	Gasan-Kuli
Etrek şäherçesi	Etrek etraby	Гызылетрек, Кизыл-Атрек, Кызыл-Этрек	Gyzyletrek, Kyzyl-Atrek
Garadepe şäherçesi	Esenguly etraby	Карадепе	Karadepe
Garagöl şäherçesi	Hazar şäheri	Карагель	Karagel
Gumdag şäherçesi	Balkanabat şäheri	Кум-Даг	Kum-Dag
Guwlymaýak şäherçesi	Türkmenbaşy etraby	Куули-Маяк	Kulli-Mayak
Gyzylgaýa şäherçesi	Türkmenbaşy etraby	Кызыл-Кая	Kyzyl-Kaya
Gyzylsuw şäherçesi	Türkmenbaşy etraby	Кизыл-Су	Kizyl-Su
Hazar şäherçesi	Balkanabat şäheri	Челекен	Çeleken, Cheleken
Janahyr şäherçesi	Serdar etraby	Джанахыр, Җанахыр
Jebel şäherçesi	Balkanabat şäheri	Джебел, Җебел	Dzhebel
Magtymguly şäherçesi	Magtymguly etraby	Гаррыгала, Кара-Кала, Каракалинск	Garrygala, Kara-Kala, Karakalinsk
Oglanly şäherçesi	Balkanabat şäheri	Огланлы
Türkmenbaşy şäherçesi	Türkmenbaşy etraby	Джанга, Җаңңа	Dzhanga, Janga
Uzboý şäherçesi	Balkanabat şäheri	имени 26-ти Бакинских комиссаров	imeni 26-ti Bakinskikh komissarov
Daşoguz welaýaty
Orazgeldi Ärsaryýew adyndaky şäherçe	Akdepe etraby	Атаяп	Ataýap
Bereket şäherçesi	Köneurgenç etraby
Gökçäge şäherçesi	Boldumsaz etraby
Rejepguly Ataýew adyndaky şäherçe	Akdepe etraby	Пякизе	Päkize
Ruhubelent şäherçesi	Ruhubelent etraby
Sadylla Rozmetow adyndaky şäherçesi	S.A. Nyýazow adyndaky etrap	село Гулустан	Gülüstan obasy
Lebap welaýaty
Amyderýa şäherçesi	Köýtendag etraby	Аму-Дарья	Amu-Darya
Astanababa şäherçesi	Kerki etraby	Астанабаба
Asuda şäherçesi	Dänew etraby	Джейхун, Җейхун, Фараб-Пристань	Jeýhun, Dzheyhun, Farab-Pristan
Bahar şäherçesi	Dänew etraby	ж/д станция Дянев, Дәнев нокады	Danew rail station
Başsaka şäherçesi	Kerki etraby	Тязебашсака, Тәзебашсака, Гунешоба, Головное	Tazebashsaka, Guneshoba, Golovnoye
Beşir şäherçesi	Hojambaz etraby	Бешир
Çaltut şäherçesi	Saýat etraby	Чалтут
Çärjew şäherçesi	Çärjew etraby	Гушчулар, Птицесовхоз	Gushchular, Guşçular, Ptisesowhoz, Ptitsesovkhoz
Çohpetde şäherçesi	Halaç etraby	Чохпетде	Chokhpetde
Döwletli şäherçesi	Köýtendag etraby	Джейхун, Җейхун	Jeýhun, Dzheyhun
Garamätnyýaz şäherçesi	Hojambaz etraby	Карамет-Нияз	Karamet-Niyaz
Garaşsyzlygyň 15 ýyllygy adyndaky şäherçe	Hojambaz etraby	Зеид	Zeid
Garaşsyzlyk şäherçesi	Dänew etraby	Московск, Ниязов	Moskovsk, Moskowsk, Nyýazow, Niyazov
Garlyk şäherçesi	Köýtendag etraby	Гарлык, Карлюк	Karlyuk
Gurşun magdan käni şäherçesi	Köýtendag etraby	Свинцовый рудник	Svintsovyy rudnik
Hojagala şäherçesi	Çärjew etraby	Ходжагала, Хоҗагала, Октябрск	Oktyabrsk, Oktýabrsk
Kelif şäherçesi	Köýtendag etraby	Келиф
Kerkiçi şäherçesi	Köýtendag etraby	Керкичи
Kiştiwan şäherçesi	Çärjew etraby	Киштиван, Максим Горький	Maksim Gorkiy
Mukry şäherçesi	Köýtendag etraby	Мукры
Suwçyoba şäherçesi	Saýat etraby	Сувчиоба
Yslam şäherçesi	Saýat etraby	unknown
Lebap şäherçesi	Darganata etraby
Mary welaýaty
Berkarar şäherçesi	Baýramaly etraby	Чыкаджы, Чыкаҗы	Çygajy
Bagtyýarlyk şäherçesi	Baýramaly etraby	Учаджы, Үчаҗы	Ücajy
Deňizhan şäherçesi	Murgap etraby	Ханховуз	Hanhowuz
Döwletli zaman şäherçesi	Sakarçäge etraby	new construction	new construction
Mekan şäherçesi	Baýramaly etraby	Мекан
Mollanepes adyndaky şäherçe	Wekilbazar etraby	имени Полторацкого	imeni Poltoratskogo
Murgap şäherçesi	Murgap etraby	Мургаб	Murgab, Murghab
Oguzhan şäherçesi	Murgap etraby	Гуланлы, Куланлы	Gulanly, Kulanly
Parahat şäherçesi	Sakarçäge etraby	Джоджуклы, Җоҗуклы, Джу-Джу-Клу	Dzhodzhukly, Jojukly, Dzhu-Dzhu-Klu, Altyn Sähra
Peşanaly şäherçesi	Mary etraby	Пешанали
Sakarçäge şäherçesi	Sakarçäge etraby	Сакар-Чага	Sakar-Chaga, Sakar-Çaga
Saparmyrat Türkmenbaşy şäherçesi	Mary şäheri	Энергетик	Energetik
Tagtabazar şäherçesi	Tagtabazar etraby	Тахта-Базар	Takhta-Bazar, Tahta-Bazar, Panjdeh, Pendi
Türkmengala şäherçesi	Türkmengala etraby	Туркмен-Кала	Turkmen-Kala
Wekilbazar şäherçesi	Wekilbazar etraby	Векиль-Базар	Vekil-Bazar, Wekil-Bazar
Ýagtyýol şäherçesi	Garagum etraby	Ягтыёл
Zähmet şäherçesi	Türkmengala etraby	Тязе Захмет, Тәзе Зәхмет, Новый Захмет	Taze Zahmet, Novyy Zahmet, Täze Zähmet

Resources

• От перемены мест. Села и этрапы в Туркменистане переименовывали по пять раз за 30 лет (From changing places. Villages and districts in Turkmenistan changed names five times apiece over 30 years). 27 October 2022, in Russian. Turkmen.News