1. A system for filename lookup that supports multiple character encodings, comprising: a computer-readable data store that stores an indexed data structure comprising a plurality of data elements, wherein a data element is associated with a first key based on a standard character encoding, wherein the data element comprises an encoding tag identifying a first character encoding, the byte values of a name in the first character encoding, and address data for locating file data associated with the name; and a computing device in communication with the data store and that is operative to: receive a request to retrieve the data element, the request comprising the name in a second character encoding; convert the name in the second character encoding into a second key, the second key based on the standard character encoding; and retrieve at least the address data of the data element from the indexed data structure using the second key.