Michael
Both options are correct, they simply answer different questions. Michael conveys the sound of the English name and is suitable for documents, signatures, and letters. Mikhail has the same origin, only in its Russian form, and is appropriate for everyday family use.
Does every name have a Russian equivalent?
No. Cognate pairs exist for names that entered European languages through a common path via Greek, Latin, and ecclesiastical tradition, such as John, Mary, Peter, or Catherine. For names of Germanic origin, like Emma or Liam, there is no such paired term, and transcription based on sound remains for them.
Why is my name spelled differently in my international passport than I'm used to?
Since 2014, the spelling has followed ICAO standards, where «я» is transliterated as IA, «ю» as IU, and «й» as I. This is why Yulia becomes Iuliia instead of the familiar Yulia. The previous spelling can be retained by submitting an application to the Ministry of Internal Affairs division and attaching a document where it is already present.
