I know the problem of the correct spelling of the name has already been long discussed, but i've noted that russian sites spell it ORTINO, with a N not a P.
I don't want to rise the question again, just stating it out because it could be interesting to know.
Take a look here, if you understand Russian: http://www.liveinternet.ru/users/tatasoz/post144624543/ (Thanks BlessOTMA to have segnalized me the site!)
Near the end you can read:
Татьяна и Анастасия Романовы с бульдогом Ортино
Tat'jana and Anastasija Romanov with bulldog ORTINO.
True, but note that the text
above the photograph has this parenthetical comment:
(в другой транскрипции Ортипо)
"In another transcription Ortipo"
I realize that this has been discussed exhaustively here and on the Imperial pets thread, but, having read so many letters from captivity, I have to vote in favor of "Orti
po" as the dog's name.
1) In the Empress' letter to A. A. Vyrubova of December 8, 1917, she writes "Ortipo". And A. A. Vyrubova read it as such, and reproduced it as "Ortipo" in both the original Russian and in the English translation of that letter in both editions of her published memoirs.
2) In her letter of January 6, 1917 to Lili Dehn, Grand Duchess Olga Nicholaevna definitely wrote "Ortipo", with a "p".
3) Grand Duchess Tatiana Nicholaevna herself wrote "Ortipo" in her letter of January 11, 1918, to Catherine Zborovskaya.
She wrote:"...Please convey our very warmest regards to everyone. – Ortipo is well, but is turning into such a lazy-bones. She spends the whole day lying near the stove or else on the divans..."
In Russian: "Передайте пожалуйтса всѢмъ самый сердечный привѢтъ. – Ортипо здорова, но становится страшной лѢнтяйкой. ЦѢлый день лежитъ у печи или на диванахъ."
Here is the handwritten Russian text: [It's a photocopy of a photocopy of a photograph, so enlarge it for reading.]
Note that when writiing "Ortipo" [see No. 1 on the photocopy], Grand Duchess Tatiana lifted her pen after the "и" (i) in order to start the curving top loop at the beginning of the "п" (p).
Compare that with the "п" in the word "пожалуйста" two lines
above (No. 2 on the photocopy), and with the "п" in "печи" three lines
below.
By the way, Grand Duchess Tatiana often drew the concluding loop of a final "o" as a straight line, as she did here in the word "Ortipo".
From another letter written by Grand Duchess Tatiana on the same day (this time to M. S. Khitrovo):
"My Darling Rita,
Thank you so much for the sweet letter and postcard. I was very glad to hear from you at last. Luba [L. S. Khitrovo] occasionally writes to Anastasia..."
In Russian:"Рита моя милая, Спасибо большое за милое письмо и открытку. Рада была наконецъ отъ Васъ услышать. Люба иногда пишетъ Анастасіи..."
The handwritten Russian text:Look at the "п" in the word "письмо" (No. 1 on the photocopy), and at the "п" in the word "пишетъ" two lines
below.
Note also how the "н" in the word "наконецъ" (second word at No. 2 on photocopy) is formed differently.
When writing "н" or "и" in Russian, Grand Duchess Tatiana would begin with a nearly vertical upward stroke from the line.
When forming "п", she would begin that letter higher up, making a rising, then descending, loop.
From all of the above, I think that we can conclude that the dog's name was indeed "Ortipo".