1. A method for displaying localized names for elements stored in a computer's file system, comprising the following steps: storing an attribute with each localized file system element which indicates that the element is localized; upon access to each file system element, determining whether the element includes an attribute which indicates that the element is localized; retrieving and displaying a localized name for a preferred language if the file system element includes such an attribute; and displaying a non-localized name if the file system element does not include such an attribute.