This tag can be used when a street, river or any other feature has another common name but there is some other alternative form.
Note that some alternative names fit better for other tags:
Name used primarily locally, or by other names in local dialects (for which a language code is not enough selective) then
loc_name
=*
fits better
Shortened form of common name -
short_name
=*
is superior.
official name that is not a commonly used name -
official_name
=*
Regionally used name -
reg_name
=*
Historical names -
old_name
=*
Multilingual names
for names in a specific language
If none of that fits then
alt_name
=*
can be used.
It can be used when has several alternative orthographies (possibly in other scripts) and even the orthography of the preferred name is uncertain.
alt_name
=*
is sometimes used to store multiple semicolon-separated names, but if possible it should be avoided by using other name tags listed above.
Examples
Multiple alternative names
Use a semicolon to separate multiple values:
name
Jomotsangkha
and
alt_name
Jomotshangkha;Jomot Shangha;Jomot Sangkha;Jomotshangka
Alt name in a specific language
Sources of alternative names
USA
There are many names available under a public domain license :
Name Types are:
C = Conventional - English name in wide spread usage for a feature located in a area where English is not the official language;
N = BGN Standard - Official local name for a feature;
NS = BGN Standard in non-Roman script;
D = Not verified - Name could not be verified from a recent local official source;
DS = Not verified in non-Roman script;
H = Historic;
HS = Historic in non-Roman script;
P = Provisional;
PS = Provisional in non-Roman script;
V = Variant or alternate - Former name, name in local usage, or other spellings found on various sources;
VS = Variant or alternate in non-Roman script
Possible synonyms
name:alt
=*
‒ correct use of this tag is for a name in Southern Altai