Compound names (see glossary) are names that consist of more than one elements, one of which usually is a generic one. The issue here, about which a decision or rule should be formulated, is whether to translate generic elements of geographical names, or leave them as they are in their endonymic form?

To systematize this kind of decisions, it is advisable for atlas editors to compose their own internal toponymic guidelines, organized per country.

For an exercise on this topic see issue 2 of exercise "Some editorial issues to solve"