In general, when translating names from a language that uses characters to one that uses the Latin alphabet (such as English), the translator will usually try to use letters that are as close as possible to the original characters. For example, if the name is written in Japanese, the translator might use "K" for "き" and "M" for "ま". However, there is no single standard for this, so the translator has some flexibility in how they choose to represent the name in English. Ultimately, it is up to the individual to decide what letters they prefer, as long as the result is still easily recognizable.
HallLife2302 t1_j9doe9e wrote
Reply to eli5 how do people with names that use non-english characters decide the spelling of their romanized name? by [deleted]
In general, when translating names from a language that uses characters to one that uses the Latin alphabet (such as English), the translator will usually try to use letters that are as close as possible to the original characters. For example, if the name is written in Japanese, the translator might use "K" for "き" and "M" for "ま". However, there is no single standard for this, so the translator has some flexibility in how they choose to represent the name in English. Ultimately, it is up to the individual to decide what letters they prefer, as long as the result is still easily recognizable.