Eukaryotic translation initiation factors and their corresponding genes have been characterized using biochemical and genetic methods from a variety of different organisms. The designations of the factors relate to their apparent roles in the biochemical process. Many gene names indicate genetic interactions with other genes or the functional attributes used to identify them. On the other hand, progress in systematic sequencing of the genomes of organisms like Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe has revealed many genes homologous to known translation initiation factor genes. The genes defined by the systematic sequencing approach are assigned numerical designations completely unrelated to their biological function. So far there have been publications on only three genes encoding translation initiation factors from Schizosaccharomyces pombe. We therefore see this an an ideal opportunity to propose a systematic and logical nomenclature for genes encoding translation initiation factor genes that can be applied to all further genes of this type that are characterized in this fission yeast.