diff --git a/scripts/geodata/geonames/db.py b/scripts/geodata/geonames/db.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e83c6de3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/geodata/geonames/db.py
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+import sqlite3
+from collections import defaultdict
+
+
+class GeoNamesDB(object):
+    names_query = '''
+    select iso_language, alternate_name,
+    is_preferred_name, is_short_name
+    from alternate_names
+    where geonames_id = ?
+    and is_historic != '1'
+    and is_colloquial != '1'
+    and iso_language != 'post'
+    order by iso_language, cast(is_preferred_name as integer) desc, cast(is_short_name as integer)
+    '''
+
+    def __init__(self, filename):
+        self.db = sqlite3.connect(filename)
+
+    def get_alternate_names(self, geonames_id):
+        cursor = self.db.execute(self.names_query, [geonames_id])
+        language_names = defaultdict(list)
+        for language, name, is_preferred, is_short in cursor:
+            language_names[language].append((name,
+                                             int(is_preferred or 0),
+                                             int(is_short or 0)))
+        return dict(language_names)