The Polish Commission for the Standardization of Geographical Names outside the Republic of Poland has issued a clear directive regarding the naming of the city known in Polish as Królewiec. In an official statement, the commission recommends using Królewiec rather than Kaliningrad when referring to the city in Polish.
“Only the Polish name Królewiec is recommended”
At its 125th meeting held on April 12, 2023, the Committee, operating under the Chief National Surveyor, concluded that for a city whose Russian name is Kaliningrad, the Polish form Królewiec should be used. The panel emphasized that the name Kaliningrad should not be employed in Polish referring to the city itself. This decision reflects a preference for traditional Polish naming within the language context.
The commission noted this change in a public statement and indicated that the amendment would become effective on May 9, 2023, the date of the announcement.
“The current Russian name of the city is an artificial baptism”
The release explained that the city currently known in Russia as Kaliningrad is historically recognized in Poland by its traditional name Königsberg. It was stated that the Russian designation for the city has no authentic connection to the local history or region. The commission also pointed out that naming a city near the Polish border after a political figure such as Mikhail Kalinin — tied to contentious historical actions including the Katyn massacre — carries emotional and negative overtones in Poland.
The statement also referenced recent events surrounding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the broader information environment, noting that these developments have intensified debates about renamed places and the strong national sensitivities involved in such choices.
The commission stressed that every nation retains the right to use traditional names that form part of its cultural heritage, but a country cannot be obliged to adopt names in another language if those names are deemed unacceptable domestically.
In summary, the commission underscored a policy preference: Polish usage should favor Królewiec for the city and Kaliningrad Oblast for the surrounding administrative region, while avoiding the use of the direct Polish form Kaliningrad for the city itself.