diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 06b99d3fc..f0e4d0cbc 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ The next release will require at least [Go 1.24].
   See the [migration documentation](./semconv/v1.36.0/MIGRATION.md) for information on how to upgrade from `go.opentelemetry.io/otel/semconv/v1.34.0.`(#7032)
 - Add experimental self-observability span and batch span processor metrics in `go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/trace`.
   Check the `go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/trace/internal/x` package documentation for more information. (#7027, #6393, #7209)
+- Add support for configuring Prometheus name translation using `WithTranslationStrategy` option in `go.opentelemetry.io/otel/exporters/prometheus`. The current default translation strategy when UTF-8 mode is enabled is `NoUTF8EscapingWithSuffixes`, but a future release will change the default strategy to `UnderscoreEscapingWithSuffixes` for compliance with the specification. (#7111)
 - Add native histogram exemplar support in `go.opentelemetry.io/otel/exporters/prometheus`. (#6772)
 - Add experimental self-observability log metrics in `go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/log`.
   Check the `go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/log/internal/x` package documentation for more information. (#7121)
@@ -71,10 +72,11 @@ The next release will require at least [Go 1.24].
 ### Deprecated
 
 - Deprecate support for `OTEL_GO_X_CARDINALITY_LIMIT` environment variable in `go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric`. Use `WithCardinalityLimit` option instead. (#7166)
+- Deprecate `WithoutUnits` and `WithoutCounterSuffixes` options, preferring `WithTranslationStrategy` instead. (#7111)
 
 ### Fixed
 
-- Fix `go.opentelemetry.io/otel/exporters/prometheus` to deduplicate suffixes if already present in metric name when UTF8 is enabled. (#7088)
+- Fix `go.opentelemetry.io/otel/exporters/prometheus` to not append a suffix if it's already present in metric name. (#7088)
 - `SetBody` method of `Record` in `go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/log` now deduplicates key-value collections (`log.Value` of `log.KindMap` from `go.opentelemetry.io/otel/log`). (#7002)
 - Fix the `go.opentelemetry.io/otel/exporters/stdout/stdouttrace` self-observability component type and name. (#7195)
 - Fix partial export count metric in `go.opentelemetry.io/otel/exporters/stdout/stdouttrace`. (#7199)
diff --git a/exporters/prometheus/config.go b/exporters/prometheus/config.go
index 4757b793d..dc3542637 100644
--- a/exporters/prometheus/config.go
+++ b/exporters/prometheus/config.go
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ import (
 	"sync"
 
 	"github.com/prometheus/client_golang/prometheus"
+	"github.com/prometheus/common/model"
+	"github.com/prometheus/otlptranslator"
 
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/attribute"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/internal/global"
@@ -17,6 +19,7 @@ import (
 type config struct {
 	registerer               prometheus.Registerer
 	disableTargetInfo        bool
+	translationStrategy      otlptranslator.TranslationStrategyOption
 	withoutUnits             bool
 	withoutCounterSuffixes   bool
 	readerOpts               []metric.ManualReaderOption
@@ -25,9 +28,9 @@ type config struct {
 	resourceAttributesFilter attribute.Filter
 }
 
-var logDeprecatedLegacyScheme = sync.OnceFunc(func() {
+var logTemporaryDefault = sync.OnceFunc(func() {
 	global.Warn(
-		"prometheus exporter legacy scheme deprecated: support for the legacy NameValidationScheme will be removed in a future release",
+		"The default Prometheus naming translation strategy is planned to be changed from otlptranslator.NoUTF8EscapingWithSuffixes to otlptranslator.UnderscoreEscapingWithSuffixes in a future release. Add prometheus.WithTranslationStrategy(otlptranslator.NoUTF8EscapingWithSuffixes) to preserve the existing behavior, or prometheus.WithTranslationStrategy(otlptranslator.UnderscoreEscapingWithSuffixes) to opt into the future default behavior.",
 	)
 })
 
@@ -38,6 +41,30 @@ func newConfig(opts ...Option) config {
 		cfg = opt.apply(cfg)
 	}
 
+	if cfg.translationStrategy == "" {
+		// If no translation strategy was specified, deduce one based on the global
+		// NameValidationScheme. NOTE: this logic will change in the future, always
+		// defaulting to UnderscoreEscapingWithSuffixes
+
+		//nolint:staticcheck // NameValidationScheme is deprecated but we still need it for now.
+		if model.NameValidationScheme == model.UTF8Validation {
+			logTemporaryDefault()
+			cfg.translationStrategy = otlptranslator.NoUTF8EscapingWithSuffixes
+		} else {
+			cfg.translationStrategy = otlptranslator.UnderscoreEscapingWithSuffixes
+		}
+	} else {
+		// Note, if the translation strategy implies that suffixes should be added,
+		// the user can still use WithoutUnits and WithoutCounterSuffixes to
+		// explicitly disable specific suffixes. We do not override their preference
+		// in this case. However if the chosen strategy disables suffixes, we should
+		// forcibly disable all of them.
+		if !cfg.translationStrategy.ShouldAddSuffixes() {
+			cfg.withoutCounterSuffixes = true
+			cfg.withoutUnits = true
+		}
+	}
+
 	if cfg.registerer == nil {
 		cfg.registerer = prometheus.DefaultRegisterer
 	}
@@ -95,6 +122,30 @@ func WithoutTargetInfo() Option {
 	})
 }
 
+// WithTranslationStrategy provides a standardized way to define how metric and
+// label names should be handled during translation to Prometheus format. See:
+// https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-specification/blob/v1.48.0/specification/metrics/sdk_exporters/prometheus.md#configuration.
+// The recommended approach is to use either
+// [otlptranslator.UnderscoreEscapingWithSuffixes] for full Prometheus-style
+// compatibility or [otlptranslator.NoTranslation] for OpenTelemetry-style names.
+//
+// By default, if the NameValidationScheme variable in
+// [github.com/prometheus/common/model] is "legacy", the default strategy is
+// [otlptranslator.UnderscoreEscapingWithSuffixes]. If the validation scheme is
+// "utf8", then currently the default Strategy is
+// [otlptranslator.NoUTF8EscapingWithSuffixes].
+//
+// Notice: It is planned that a future release of this SDK will change the
+// default to always be [otlptranslator.UnderscoreEscapingWithSuffixes] in all
+// circumstances. Users wanting a different translation strategy should specify
+// it explicitly.
+func WithTranslationStrategy(strategy otlptranslator.TranslationStrategyOption) Option {
+	return optionFunc(func(cfg config) config {
+		cfg.translationStrategy = strategy
+		return cfg
+	})
+}
+
 // WithoutUnits disables exporter's addition of unit suffixes to metric names,
 // and will also prevent unit comments from being added in OpenMetrics once
 // unit comments are supported.
@@ -103,6 +154,12 @@ func WithoutTargetInfo() Option {
 // conventions. For example, the counter metric request.duration, with unit
 // milliseconds would become request_duration_milliseconds_total.
 // With this option set, the name would instead be request_duration_total.
+//
+// Can be used in conjunction with [WithTranslationStrategy] to disable unit
+// suffixes in strategies that would otherwise add suffixes, but this behavior
+// is not recommended and may be removed in a future release.
+//
+// Deprecated: Use [WithTranslationStrategy] instead.
 func WithoutUnits() Option {
 	return optionFunc(func(cfg config) config {
 		cfg.withoutUnits = true
@@ -110,12 +167,19 @@ func WithoutUnits() Option {
 	})
 }
 
-// WithoutCounterSuffixes disables exporter's addition _total suffixes on counters.
+// WithoutCounterSuffixes disables exporter's addition _total suffixes on
+// counters.
 //
 // By default, metric names include a _total suffix to follow Prometheus naming
 // conventions. For example, the counter metric happy.people would become
 // happy_people_total. With this option set, the name would instead be
 // happy_people.
+//
+// Can be used in conjunction with [WithTranslationStrategy] to disable counter
+// suffixes in strategies that would otherwise add suffixes, but this behavior
+// is not recommended and may be removed in a future release.
+//
+// Deprecated: Use [WithTranslationStrategy] instead.
 func WithoutCounterSuffixes() Option {
 	return optionFunc(func(cfg config) config {
 		cfg.withoutCounterSuffixes = true
@@ -132,9 +196,11 @@ func WithoutScopeInfo() Option {
 	})
 }
 
-// WithNamespace configures the Exporter to prefix metric with the given namespace.
-// Metadata metrics such as target_info are not prefixed since these
-// have special behavior based on their name.
+// WithNamespace configures the Exporter to prefix metric with the given
+// namespace. Metadata metrics such as target_info are not prefixed since these
+// have special behavior based on their name. Namespaces will be prepended even
+// if [otlptranslator.NoTranslation] is set as a translation strategy. If the provided namespace
+// is empty, nothing will be prepended to metric names.
 func WithNamespace(ns string) Option {
 	return optionFunc(func(cfg config) config {
 		cfg.namespace = ns
diff --git a/exporters/prometheus/config_test.go b/exporters/prometheus/config_test.go
index 36a6acdad..80c1f367a 100644
--- a/exporters/prometheus/config_test.go
+++ b/exporters/prometheus/config_test.go
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/prometheus/client_golang/prometheus"
+	"github.com/prometheus/common/model"
+	"github.com/prometheus/otlptranslator"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/sdk/metric"
@@ -21,15 +23,17 @@ func TestNewConfig(t *testing.T) {
 	producer := &noopProducer{}
 
 	testCases := []struct {
-		name       string
-		options    []Option
-		wantConfig config
+		name             string
+		options          []Option
+		wantConfig       config
+		legacyValidation bool
 	}{
 		{
 			name:    "Default",
 			options: nil,
 			wantConfig: config{
-				registerer: prometheus.DefaultRegisterer,
+				translationStrategy: otlptranslator.NoUTF8EscapingWithSuffixes,
+				registerer:          prometheus.DefaultRegisterer,
 			},
 		},
 		{
@@ -38,7 +42,8 @@ func TestNewConfig(t *testing.T) {
 				WithRegisterer(registry),
 			},
 			wantConfig: config{
-				registerer: registry,
+				translationStrategy: otlptranslator.NoUTF8EscapingWithSuffixes,
+				registerer:          registry,
 			},
 		},
 		{
@@ -47,8 +52,9 @@ func TestNewConfig(t *testing.T) {
 				WithAggregationSelector(aggregationSelector),
 			},
 			wantConfig: config{
-				registerer: prometheus.DefaultRegisterer,
-				readerOpts: []metric.ManualReaderOption{metric.WithAggregationSelector(aggregationSelector)},
+				translationStrategy: otlptranslator.NoUTF8EscapingWithSuffixes,
+				registerer:          prometheus.DefaultRegisterer,
+				readerOpts:          []metric.ManualReaderOption{metric.WithAggregationSelector(aggregationSelector)},
 			},
 		},
 		{
@@ -57,8 +63,9 @@ func TestNewConfig(t *testing.T) {
 				WithProducer(producer),
 			},
 			wantConfig: config{
-				registerer: prometheus.DefaultRegisterer,
-				readerOpts: []metric.ManualReaderOption{metric.WithProducer(producer)},
+				translationStrategy: otlptranslator.NoUTF8EscapingWithSuffixes,
+				registerer:          prometheus.DefaultRegisterer,
+				readerOpts:          []metric.ManualReaderOption{metric.WithProducer(producer)},
 			},
 		},
 		{
@@ -70,7 +77,8 @@ func TestNewConfig(t *testing.T) {
 			},
 
 			wantConfig: config{
-				registerer: registry,
+				translationStrategy: otlptranslator.NoUTF8EscapingWithSuffixes,
+				registerer:          registry,
 				readerOpts: []metric.ManualReaderOption{
 					metric.WithAggregationSelector(aggregationSelector),
 					metric.WithProducer(producer),
@@ -83,7 +91,8 @@ func TestNewConfig(t *testing.T) {
 				WithRegisterer(nil),
 			},
 			wantConfig: config{
-				registerer: prometheus.DefaultRegisterer,
+				translationStrategy: otlptranslator.NoUTF8EscapingWithSuffixes,
+				registerer:          prometheus.DefaultRegisterer,
 			},
 		},
 		{
@@ -92,8 +101,42 @@ func TestNewConfig(t *testing.T) {
 				WithoutTargetInfo(),
 			},
 			wantConfig: config{
-				registerer:        prometheus.DefaultRegisterer,
-				disableTargetInfo: true,
+				translationStrategy: otlptranslator.NoUTF8EscapingWithSuffixes,
+				registerer:          prometheus.DefaultRegisterer,
+				disableTargetInfo:   true,
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name:             "legacy validation mode default",
+			options:          []Option{},
+			legacyValidation: true,
+			wantConfig: config{
+				translationStrategy: otlptranslator.UnderscoreEscapingWithSuffixes,
+				registerer:          prometheus.DefaultRegisterer,
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "legacy validation mode, unit suffixes disabled",
+			options: []Option{
+				WithoutUnits(),
+			},
+			legacyValidation: true,
+			wantConfig: config{
+				translationStrategy: otlptranslator.UnderscoreEscapingWithSuffixes,
+				registerer:          prometheus.DefaultRegisterer,
+				withoutUnits:        true,
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "legacy validation mode, counter suffixes disabled",
+			options: []Option{
+				WithoutCounterSuffixes(),
+			},
+			legacyValidation: true,
+			wantConfig: config{
+				translationStrategy:    otlptranslator.UnderscoreEscapingWithSuffixes,
+				registerer:             prometheus.DefaultRegisterer,
+				withoutCounterSuffixes: true,
 			},
 		},
 		{
@@ -102,8 +145,45 @@ func TestNewConfig(t *testing.T) {
 				WithoutUnits(),
 			},
 			wantConfig: config{
-				registerer:   prometheus.DefaultRegisterer,
-				withoutUnits: true,
+				translationStrategy: otlptranslator.NoUTF8EscapingWithSuffixes,
+				registerer:          prometheus.DefaultRegisterer,
+				withoutUnits:        true,
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "NoTranslation implies no suffixes",
+			options: []Option{
+				WithTranslationStrategy(otlptranslator.NoTranslation),
+			},
+			wantConfig: config{
+				translationStrategy:    otlptranslator.NoTranslation,
+				withoutUnits:           true,
+				withoutCounterSuffixes: true,
+				registerer:             prometheus.DefaultRegisterer,
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "translation strategy does not override unit suffixes disabled",
+			options: []Option{
+				WithTranslationStrategy(otlptranslator.UnderscoreEscapingWithSuffixes),
+				WithoutUnits(),
+			},
+			wantConfig: config{
+				translationStrategy: otlptranslator.UnderscoreEscapingWithSuffixes,
+				registerer:          prometheus.DefaultRegisterer,
+				withoutUnits:        true,
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "translation strategy does not override counter suffixes disabled",
+			options: []Option{
+				WithTranslationStrategy(otlptranslator.UnderscoreEscapingWithSuffixes),
+				WithoutCounterSuffixes(),
+			},
+			wantConfig: config{
+				translationStrategy:    otlptranslator.UnderscoreEscapingWithSuffixes,
+				registerer:             prometheus.DefaultRegisterer,
+				withoutCounterSuffixes: true,
 			},
 		},
 		{
@@ -112,8 +192,9 @@ func TestNewConfig(t *testing.T) {
 				WithNamespace("test"),
 			},
 			wantConfig: config{
-				registerer: prometheus.DefaultRegisterer,
-				namespace:  "test",
+				translationStrategy: otlptranslator.NoUTF8EscapingWithSuffixes,
+				registerer:          prometheus.DefaultRegisterer,
+				namespace:           "test",
 			},
 		},
 		{
@@ -122,8 +203,9 @@ func TestNewConfig(t *testing.T) {
 				WithNamespace("test"),
 			},
 			wantConfig: config{
-				registerer: prometheus.DefaultRegisterer,
-				namespace:  "test",
+				translationStrategy: otlptranslator.NoUTF8EscapingWithSuffixes,
+				registerer:          prometheus.DefaultRegisterer,
+				namespace:           "test",
 			},
 		},
 		{
@@ -132,13 +214,21 @@ func TestNewConfig(t *testing.T) {
 				WithNamespace("test/"),
 			},
 			wantConfig: config{
-				registerer: prometheus.DefaultRegisterer,
-				namespace:  "test/",
+				translationStrategy: otlptranslator.NoUTF8EscapingWithSuffixes,
+				registerer:          prometheus.DefaultRegisterer,
+				namespace:           "test/",
 			},
 		},
 	}
 	for _, tt := range testCases {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			if tt.legacyValidation {
+				//nolint:staticcheck
+				model.NameValidationScheme = model.LegacyValidation
+			} else {
+				//nolint:staticcheck
+				model.NameValidationScheme = model.UTF8Validation
+			}
 			cfg := newConfig(tt.options...)
 			// only check the length of readerOpts, since they are not comparable
 			assert.Len(t, cfg.readerOpts, len(tt.wantConfig.readerOpts))
diff --git a/exporters/prometheus/exporter.go b/exporters/prometheus/exporter.go
index 03f5d51c7..0f29c0abb 100644
--- a/exporters/prometheus/exporter.go
+++ b/exporters/prometheus/exporter.go
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/prometheus/client_golang/prometheus"
 	dto "github.com/prometheus/client_model/go"
-	"github.com/prometheus/common/model"
 	"github.com/prometheus/otlptranslator"
 	"google.golang.org/protobuf/proto"
 
@@ -104,12 +103,18 @@ func New(opts ...Option) (*Exporter, error) {
 	// TODO (#3244): Enable some way to configure the reader, but not change temporality.
 	reader := metric.NewManualReader(cfg.readerOpts...)
 
-	utf8Allowed := model.NameValidationScheme == model.UTF8Validation // nolint:staticcheck // We need this check to keep supporting the legacy scheme.
-	if !utf8Allowed {
-		// Only sanitize if prometheus does not support UTF-8.
-		logDeprecatedLegacyScheme()
+	labelNamer := otlptranslator.LabelNamer{UTF8Allowed: !cfg.translationStrategy.ShouldEscape()}
+	escapedNamespace := cfg.namespace
+	if escapedNamespace != "" {
+		var err error
+		// If the namespace needs to be escaped, do that now when creating the new
+		// Collector object. The escaping is not persisted in the Config itself.
+		escapedNamespace, err = labelNamer.Build(escapedNamespace)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
 	}
-	labelNamer := otlptranslator.LabelNamer{UTF8Allowed: utf8Allowed}
+
 	collector := &collector{
 		reader:                   reader,
 		disableTargetInfo:        cfg.disableTargetInfo,
@@ -117,18 +122,11 @@ func New(opts ...Option) (*Exporter, error) {
 		withoutCounterSuffixes:   cfg.withoutCounterSuffixes,
 		disableScopeInfo:         cfg.disableScopeInfo,
 		metricFamilies:           make(map[string]*dto.MetricFamily),
-		namespace:                labelNamer.Build(cfg.namespace),
+		namespace:                escapedNamespace,
 		resourceAttributesFilter: cfg.resourceAttributesFilter,
-		metricNamer: otlptranslator.MetricNamer{
-			Namespace: cfg.namespace,
-			// We decide whether to pass type and unit to the netricNamer based
-			// on whether units or counter suffixes are enabled, and keep this
-			// always enabled.
-			WithMetricSuffixes: true,
-			UTF8Allowed:        utf8Allowed,
-		},
-		unitNamer:  otlptranslator.UnitNamer{UTF8Allowed: utf8Allowed},
-		labelNamer: labelNamer,
+		metricNamer:              otlptranslator.NewMetricNamer(escapedNamespace, cfg.translationStrategy),
+		unitNamer:                otlptranslator.UnitNamer{UTF8Allowed: !cfg.translationStrategy.ShouldEscape()},
+		labelNamer:               labelNamer,
 	}
 
 	if err := cfg.registerer.Register(collector); err != nil {
@@ -197,7 +195,11 @@ func (c *collector) Collect(ch chan<- prometheus.Metric) {
 	}
 
 	if c.resourceAttributesFilter != nil && len(c.resourceKeyVals.keys) == 0 {
-		c.createResourceAttributes(metrics.Resource)
+		err := c.createResourceAttributes(metrics.Resource)
+		if err != nil {
+			otel.Handle(err)
+			return
+		}
 	}
 
 	for _, scopeMetrics := range metrics.ScopeMetrics {
@@ -211,7 +213,11 @@ func (c *collector) Collect(ch chan<- prometheus.Metric) {
 			kv.keys = append(kv.keys, scopeNameLabel, scopeVersionLabel, scopeSchemaLabel)
 			kv.vals = append(kv.vals, scopeMetrics.Scope.Name, scopeMetrics.Scope.Version, scopeMetrics.Scope.SchemaURL)
 
-			attrKeys, attrVals := getAttrs(scopeMetrics.Scope.Attributes, c.labelNamer)
+			attrKeys, attrVals, err := getAttrs(scopeMetrics.Scope.Attributes, c.labelNamer)
+			if err != nil {
+				otel.Handle(err)
+				continue
+			}
 			for i := range attrKeys {
 				attrKeys[i] = scopeLabelPrefix + attrKeys[i]
 			}
@@ -227,7 +233,13 @@ func (c *collector) Collect(ch chan<- prometheus.Metric) {
 			if typ == nil {
 				continue
 			}
-			name := c.getName(m)
+			name, err := c.getName(m)
+			if err != nil {
+				// TODO(#7066): Handle this error better. It's not clear this can be
+				// reached, bad metric names should / will be caught at creation time.
+				otel.Handle(err)
+				continue
+			}
 
 			drop, help := c.validateMetrics(name, m.Description, typ)
 			if drop {
@@ -322,7 +334,11 @@ func addExponentialHistogramMetric[N int64 | float64](
 	labelNamer otlptranslator.LabelNamer,
 ) {
 	for _, dp := range histogram.DataPoints {
-		keys, values := getAttrs(dp.Attributes, labelNamer)
+		keys, values, err := getAttrs(dp.Attributes, labelNamer)
+		if err != nil {
+			otel.Handle(err)
+			continue
+		}
 		keys = append(keys, kv.keys...)
 		values = append(values, kv.vals...)
 
@@ -396,7 +412,11 @@ func addHistogramMetric[N int64 | float64](
 	labelNamer otlptranslator.LabelNamer,
 ) {
 	for _, dp := range histogram.DataPoints {
-		keys, values := getAttrs(dp.Attributes, labelNamer)
+		keys, values, err := getAttrs(dp.Attributes, labelNamer)
+		if err != nil {
+			otel.Handle(err)
+			continue
+		}
 		keys = append(keys, kv.keys...)
 		values = append(values, kv.vals...)
 
@@ -432,7 +452,11 @@ func addSumMetric[N int64 | float64](
 	}
 
 	for _, dp := range sum.DataPoints {
-		keys, values := getAttrs(dp.Attributes, labelNamer)
+		keys, values, err := getAttrs(dp.Attributes, labelNamer)
+		if err != nil {
+			otel.Handle(err)
+			continue
+		}
 		keys = append(keys, kv.keys...)
 		values = append(values, kv.vals...)
 
@@ -460,7 +484,11 @@ func addGaugeMetric[N int64 | float64](
 	labelNamer otlptranslator.LabelNamer,
 ) {
 	for _, dp := range gauge.DataPoints {
-		keys, values := getAttrs(dp.Attributes, labelNamer)
+		keys, values, err := getAttrs(dp.Attributes, labelNamer)
+		if err != nil {
+			otel.Handle(err)
+			continue
+		}
 		keys = append(keys, kv.keys...)
 		values = append(values, kv.vals...)
 
@@ -476,7 +504,7 @@ func addGaugeMetric[N int64 | float64](
 
 // getAttrs converts the attribute.Set to two lists of matching Prometheus-style
 // keys and values.
-func getAttrs(attrs attribute.Set, labelNamer otlptranslator.LabelNamer) ([]string, []string) {
+func getAttrs(attrs attribute.Set, labelNamer otlptranslator.LabelNamer) ([]string, []string, error) {
 	keys := make([]string, 0, attrs.Len())
 	values := make([]string, 0, attrs.Len())
 	itr := attrs.Iter()
@@ -494,7 +522,11 @@ func getAttrs(attrs attribute.Set, labelNamer otlptranslator.LabelNamer) ([]stri
 		keysMap := make(map[string][]string)
 		for itr.Next() {
 			kv := itr.Attribute()
-			key := labelNamer.Build(string(kv.Key))
+			key, err := labelNamer.Build(string(kv.Key))
+			if err != nil {
+				// TODO(#7066) Handle this error better.
+				return nil, nil, err
+			}
 			if _, ok := keysMap[key]; !ok {
 				keysMap[key] = []string{kv.Value.Emit()}
 			} else {
@@ -508,17 +540,21 @@ func getAttrs(attrs attribute.Set, labelNamer otlptranslator.LabelNamer) ([]stri
 			values = append(values, strings.Join(vals, ";"))
 		}
 	}
-	return keys, values
+	return keys, values, nil
 }
 
 func (c *collector) createInfoMetric(name, description string, res *resource.Resource) (prometheus.Metric, error) {
-	keys, values := getAttrs(*res.Set(), c.labelNamer)
+	keys, values, err := getAttrs(*res.Set(), c.labelNamer)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
 	desc := prometheus.NewDesc(name, description, keys, nil)
 	return prometheus.NewConstMetric(desc, prometheus.GaugeValue, float64(1), values...)
 }
 
-// getName returns the sanitized name, prefixed with the namespace and suffixed with unit.
-func (c *collector) getName(m metricdata.Metrics) string {
+// getName returns the sanitized name, translated according to the selected
+// TranslationStrategy and namespace option.
+func (c *collector) getName(m metricdata.Metrics) (string, error) {
 	translatorMetric := otlptranslator.Metric{
 		Name: m.Name,
 		Type: c.namingMetricType(m),
@@ -580,13 +616,18 @@ func (c *collector) namingMetricType(m metricdata.Metrics) otlptranslator.Metric
 	return otlptranslator.MetricTypeUnknown
 }
 
-func (c *collector) createResourceAttributes(res *resource.Resource) {
+func (c *collector) createResourceAttributes(res *resource.Resource) error {
 	c.mu.Lock()
 	defer c.mu.Unlock()
 
 	resourceAttrs, _ := res.Set().Filter(c.resourceAttributesFilter)
-	resourceKeys, resourceValues := getAttrs(resourceAttrs, c.labelNamer)
+	resourceKeys, resourceValues, err := getAttrs(resourceAttrs, c.labelNamer)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	c.resourceKeyVals = keyVals{keys: resourceKeys, vals: resourceValues}
+	return nil
 }
 
 func (c *collector) validateMetrics(name, description string, metricType *dto.MetricType) (drop bool, help string) {
@@ -637,7 +678,11 @@ func addExemplars[N int64 | float64](
 	}
 	promExemplars := make([]prometheus.Exemplar, len(exemplars))
 	for i, exemplar := range exemplars {
-		labels := attributesToLabels(exemplar.FilteredAttributes, labelNamer)
+		labels, err := attributesToLabels(exemplar.FilteredAttributes, labelNamer)
+		if err != nil {
+			otel.Handle(err)
+			return m
+		}
 		// Overwrite any existing trace ID or span ID attributes
 		labels[otlptranslator.ExemplarTraceIDKey] = hex.EncodeToString(exemplar.TraceID)
 		labels[otlptranslator.ExemplarSpanIDKey] = hex.EncodeToString(exemplar.SpanID)
@@ -657,10 +702,14 @@ func addExemplars[N int64 | float64](
 	return metricWithExemplar
 }
 
-func attributesToLabels(attrs []attribute.KeyValue, labelNamer otlptranslator.LabelNamer) prometheus.Labels {
+func attributesToLabels(attrs []attribute.KeyValue, labelNamer otlptranslator.LabelNamer) (prometheus.Labels, error) {
 	labels := make(map[string]string)
 	for _, attr := range attrs {
-		labels[labelNamer.Build(string(attr.Key))] = attr.Value.Emit()
+		name, err := labelNamer.Build(string(attr.Key))
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		labels[name] = attr.Value.Emit()
 	}
-	return labels
+	return labels, nil
 }
diff --git a/exporters/prometheus/exporter_test.go b/exporters/prometheus/exporter_test.go
index 241adf601..1a7a3f736 100644
--- a/exporters/prometheus/exporter_test.go
+++ b/exporters/prometheus/exporter_test.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ package prometheus
 import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
+	"fmt"
 	"math"
 	"os"
 	"sync"
@@ -15,7 +16,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/prometheus/client_golang/prometheus"
 	"github.com/prometheus/client_golang/prometheus/testutil"
 	dto "github.com/prometheus/client_model/go"
-	"github.com/prometheus/common/model"
 	"github.com/prometheus/otlptranslator"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
@@ -38,13 +38,13 @@ func TestPrometheusExporter(t *testing.T) {
 		recordMetrics       func(ctx context.Context, meter otelmetric.Meter)
 		options             []Option
 		expectedFile        string
-		disableUTF8         bool
+		strategy            otlptranslator.TranslationStrategyOption
 		checkMetricFamilies func(t testing.TB, dtos []*dto.MetricFamily)
 	}{
 		{
 			name:         "counter",
 			expectedFile: "testdata/counter.txt",
-			disableUTF8:  true,
+			strategy:     otlptranslator.UnderscoreEscapingWithSuffixes,
 			recordMetrics: func(ctx context.Context, meter otelmetric.Meter) {
 				opt := otelmetric.WithAttributes(
 					attribute.Key("A").String("B"),
@@ -70,11 +70,15 @@ func TestPrometheusExporter(t *testing.T) {
 				)
 				counter.Add(ctx, 5, otelmetric.WithAttributeSet(attrs2))
 			},
+			options: []Option{
+				WithNamespace("my.dotted.namespace"),
+				WithTranslationStrategy(otlptranslator.UnderscoreEscapingWithSuffixes),
+			},
 		},
 		{
 			name:         "counter that already has the unit suffix",
 			expectedFile: "testdata/counter_noutf8_with_unit_suffix.txt",
-			disableUTF8:  true,
+			strategy:     otlptranslator.UnderscoreEscapingWithSuffixes,
 			recordMetrics: func(ctx context.Context, meter otelmetric.Meter) {
 				opt := otelmetric.WithAttributes(
 					attribute.Key("A").String("B"),
@@ -112,7 +116,7 @@ func TestPrometheusExporter(t *testing.T) {
 					attribute.Key("F").Int(42),
 				)
 				counter, err := meter.Float64Counter(
-					"foo",
+					"foo.dotted",
 					otelmetric.WithDescription("a simple counter"),
 					otelmetric.WithUnit("madeup"),
 				)
@@ -162,7 +166,7 @@ func TestPrometheusExporter(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			name:         "counter that already has a total suffix",
 			expectedFile: "testdata/counter.txt",
-			disableUTF8:  true,
+			strategy:     otlptranslator.UnderscoreEscapingWithSuffixes,
 			recordMetrics: func(ctx context.Context, meter otelmetric.Meter) {
 				opt := otelmetric.WithAttributes(
 					attribute.Key("A").String("B"),
@@ -188,6 +192,10 @@ func TestPrometheusExporter(t *testing.T) {
 				)
 				counter.Add(ctx, 5, otelmetric.WithAttributeSet(attrs2))
 			},
+			options: []Option{
+				WithNamespace("my.dotted.namespace"),
+				WithTranslationStrategy(otlptranslator.UnderscoreEscapingWithSuffixes),
+			},
 		},
 		{
 			name:         "counter with suffixes disabled",
@@ -303,7 +311,7 @@ func TestPrometheusExporter(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			name:         "sanitized attributes to labels",
 			expectedFile: "testdata/sanitized_labels.txt",
-			disableUTF8:  true,
+			strategy:     otlptranslator.UnderscoreEscapingWithSuffixes,
 			options:      []Option{WithoutUnits()},
 			recordMetrics: func(ctx context.Context, meter otelmetric.Meter) {
 				opt := otelmetric.WithAttributes(
@@ -521,6 +529,43 @@ func TestPrometheusExporter(t *testing.T) {
 		{
 			name:         "counter utf-8",
 			expectedFile: "testdata/counter_utf8.txt",
+			options: []Option{
+				WithNamespace("my.dotted.namespace"),
+				WithTranslationStrategy(otlptranslator.NoUTF8EscapingWithSuffixes),
+			},
+			recordMetrics: func(ctx context.Context, meter otelmetric.Meter) {
+				opt := otelmetric.WithAttributes(
+					attribute.Key("A.G").String("B"),
+					attribute.Key("C.H").String("D"),
+					attribute.Key("E.I").Bool(true),
+					attribute.Key("F.J").Int(42),
+				)
+				counter, err := meter.Float64Counter(
+					"foo.things",
+					otelmetric.WithDescription("a simple counter"),
+					otelmetric.WithUnit("s"),
+				)
+				require.NoError(t, err)
+				counter.Add(ctx, 5, opt)
+				counter.Add(ctx, 10.3, opt)
+				counter.Add(ctx, 9, opt)
+
+				attrs2 := attribute.NewSet(
+					attribute.Key("A.G").String("D"),
+					attribute.Key("C.H").String("B"),
+					attribute.Key("E.I").Bool(true),
+					attribute.Key("F.J").Int(42),
+				)
+				counter.Add(ctx, 5, otelmetric.WithAttributeSet(attrs2))
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name:         "counter utf-8 notranslation",
+			expectedFile: "testdata/counter_utf8_notranslation.txt",
+			strategy:     otlptranslator.NoTranslation,
+			options: []Option{
+				WithNamespace("my.dotted.namespace"),
+			},
 			recordMetrics: func(ctx context.Context, meter otelmetric.Meter) {
 				opt := otelmetric.WithAttributes(
 					attribute.Key("A.G").String("B"),
@@ -587,16 +632,10 @@ func TestPrometheusExporter(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for _, tc := range testCases {
 		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			if tc.disableUTF8 {
-				model.NameValidationScheme = model.LegacyValidation // nolint:staticcheck // We need this check to keep supporting the legacy scheme.
-				defer func() {
-					// Reset to defaults
-					model.NameValidationScheme = model.UTF8Validation // nolint:staticcheck // We need this check to keep supporting the legacy scheme.
-				}()
-			}
 			ctx := context.Background()
 			registry := prometheus.NewRegistry()
-			exporter, err := New(append(tc.options, WithRegisterer(registry))...)
+			opts := append(tc.options, WithRegisterer(registry), WithTranslationStrategy(tc.strategy))
+			exporter, err := New(opts...)
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 
 			var res *resource.Resource
@@ -663,7 +702,10 @@ func TestPrometheusExporter(t *testing.T) {
 func TestMultiScopes(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx := context.Background()
 	registry := prometheus.NewRegistry()
-	exporter, err := New(WithRegisterer(registry))
+	exporter, err := New(
+		WithTranslationStrategy(otlptranslator.UnderscoreEscapingWithSuffixes),
+		WithRegisterer(registry),
+	)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	res, err := resource.New(ctx,
@@ -932,7 +974,15 @@ func TestDuplicateMetrics(t *testing.T) {
 			// initialize registry exporter
 			ctx := context.Background()
 			registry := prometheus.NewRegistry()
-			exporter, err := New(append(tc.options, WithRegisterer(registry))...)
+			// This test does not set the Translation Strategy, so it defaults to
+			// UnderscoreEscapingWithSuffixes.
+			opts := append(
+				[]Option{
+					WithTranslationStrategy(otlptranslator.UnderscoreEscapingWithSuffixes),
+				},
+				tc.options...,
+			)
+			exporter, err := New(append(opts, WithRegisterer(registry))...)
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 
 			// initialize resource
@@ -1062,8 +1112,7 @@ func TestExemplars(t *testing.T) {
 		recordMetrics         func(ctx context.Context, meter otelmetric.Meter)
 		expectedExemplarValue float64
 		expectedLabels        map[string]string
-		escapingScheme        model.EscapingScheme
-		validationScheme      model.ValidationScheme
+		strategy              otlptranslator.TranslationStrategyOption
 	}{
 		{
 			name: "escaped counter",
@@ -1074,8 +1123,7 @@ func TestExemplars(t *testing.T) {
 			},
 			expectedExemplarValue: 9,
 			expectedLabels:        expectedEscapedLabels,
-			escapingScheme:        model.UnderscoreEscaping,
-			validationScheme:      model.LegacyValidation,
+			strategy:              otlptranslator.UnderscoreEscapingWithSuffixes,
 		},
 		{
 			name: "escaped histogram",
@@ -1086,8 +1134,7 @@ func TestExemplars(t *testing.T) {
 			},
 			expectedExemplarValue: 9,
 			expectedLabels:        expectedEscapedLabels,
-			escapingScheme:        model.UnderscoreEscaping,
-			validationScheme:      model.LegacyValidation,
+			strategy:              otlptranslator.UnderscoreEscapingWithSuffixes,
 		},
 		{
 			name: "non-escaped counter",
@@ -1098,8 +1145,7 @@ func TestExemplars(t *testing.T) {
 			},
 			expectedExemplarValue: 9,
 			expectedLabels:        expectedNonEscapedLabels,
-			escapingScheme:        model.NoEscaping,
-			validationScheme:      model.UTF8Validation,
+			strategy:              otlptranslator.NoTranslation,
 		},
 		{
 			name: "non-escaped histogram",
@@ -1110,8 +1156,7 @@ func TestExemplars(t *testing.T) {
 			},
 			expectedExemplarValue: 9,
 			expectedLabels:        expectedNonEscapedLabels,
-			escapingScheme:        model.NoEscaping,
-			validationScheme:      model.UTF8Validation,
+			strategy:              otlptranslator.NoTranslation,
 		},
 		{
 			name: "exponential histogram",
@@ -1122,24 +1167,19 @@ func TestExemplars(t *testing.T) {
 			},
 			expectedExemplarValue: 9,
 			expectedLabels:        expectedNonEscapedLabels,
-			escapingScheme:        model.NoEscaping,
-			validationScheme:      model.UTF8Validation,
+			strategy:              otlptranslator.NoTranslation,
 		},
 	} {
 		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			originalEscapingScheme := model.NameEscapingScheme
-			originalValidationScheme := model.NameValidationScheme // nolint:staticcheck // We need this check to keep supporting the legacy scheme.
-			model.NameEscapingScheme = tc.escapingScheme
-			model.NameValidationScheme = tc.validationScheme // nolint:staticcheck // We need this check to keep supporting the legacy scheme.
-			// Restore original value after the test is complete
-			defer func() {
-				model.NameEscapingScheme = originalEscapingScheme
-				model.NameValidationScheme = originalValidationScheme // nolint:staticcheck // We need this check to keep supporting the legacy scheme.
-			}()
 			// initialize registry exporter
 			ctx := context.Background()
 			registry := prometheus.NewRegistry()
-			exporter, err := New(WithRegisterer(registry), WithoutTargetInfo(), WithoutScopeInfo())
+			exporter, err := New(
+				WithRegisterer(registry),
+				WithoutTargetInfo(),
+				WithoutScopeInfo(),
+				WithTranslationStrategy(tc.strategy),
+			)
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 
 			// initialize resource
@@ -1704,3 +1744,154 @@ func TestDownscaleExponentialBucketEdgeCases(t *testing.T) {
 		assert.Equal(t, expected, result)
 	})
 }
+
+// TestEscapingErrorHandling increases test coverage by exercising some error
+// conditions.
+func TestEscapingErrorHandling(t *testing.T) {
+	testCases := []struct {
+		name                string
+		namespace           string
+		counterName         string
+		customScopeAttrs    []attribute.KeyValue
+		customResourceAttrs []attribute.KeyValue
+		labelName           string
+		expectNewErr        string
+		expectMetricErr     string
+		checkMetricFamilies func(t testing.TB, dtos []*dto.MetricFamily)
+	}{
+		{
+			name:        "simple happy path",
+			counterName: "foo",
+			checkMetricFamilies: func(t testing.TB, mfs []*dto.MetricFamily) {
+				require.Len(t, mfs, 2)
+				for _, mf := range mfs {
+					if mf.GetName() == "target_info" {
+						continue
+					}
+					require.Equal(t, "foo_seconds_total", mf.GetName())
+				}
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name:         "bad namespace",
+			namespace:    "$%^&",
+			counterName:  "foo",
+			expectNewErr: `normalization for label name "$%^&" resulted in invalid name "____"`,
+		},
+		{
+			name:        "good namespace, names should be escaped",
+			namespace:   "my-strange-namespace",
+			counterName: "foo",
+			labelName:   "bar",
+			checkMetricFamilies: func(t testing.TB, mfs []*dto.MetricFamily) {
+				for _, mf := range mfs {
+					if mf.GetName() == "target_info" {
+						continue
+					}
+					require.Contains(t, mf.GetName(), "my_strange_namespace")
+					require.NotContains(t, mf.GetName(), "my-strange-namespace")
+				}
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name:        "bad resource attribute",
+			counterName: "foo",
+			customResourceAttrs: []attribute.KeyValue{
+				attribute.Key("$%^&").String("B"),
+			},
+			checkMetricFamilies: func(t testing.TB, mfs []*dto.MetricFamily) {
+				require.Empty(t, mfs)
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name:        "bad scope metric attribute",
+			counterName: "foo",
+			customScopeAttrs: []attribute.KeyValue{
+				attribute.Key("$%^&").String("B"),
+			},
+			checkMetricFamilies: func(t testing.TB, mfs []*dto.MetricFamily) {
+				require.Len(t, mfs, 1)
+				require.Equal(t, "target_info", mfs[0].GetName())
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name:            "bad translated metric name",
+			counterName:     "$%^&",
+			expectMetricErr: `invalid instrument name: $%^&: must start with a letter`,
+		},
+		{
+			// label names are not translated and therefore not checked until
+			// collection time, and there is no place to catch and return this error.
+			// Instead we drop the metric.
+			name:        "bad translated label name",
+			counterName: "foo",
+			labelName:   "$%^&",
+			checkMetricFamilies: func(t testing.TB, mfs []*dto.MetricFamily) {
+				require.Len(t, mfs, 1)
+				require.Equal(t, "target_info", mfs[0].GetName())
+			},
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range testCases {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			ctx := context.Background()
+			registry := prometheus.NewRegistry()
+
+			sc := trace.NewSpanContext(trace.SpanContextConfig{
+				SpanID:     trace.SpanID{0o1},
+				TraceID:    trace.TraceID{0o1},
+				TraceFlags: trace.FlagsSampled,
+			})
+			ctx = trace.ContextWithSpanContext(ctx, sc)
+
+			exporter, err := New(
+				WithRegisterer(registry),
+				WithTranslationStrategy(otlptranslator.UnderscoreEscapingWithSuffixes),
+				WithNamespace(tc.namespace),
+				WithResourceAsConstantLabels(attribute.NewDenyKeysFilter()),
+			)
+			if tc.expectNewErr != "" {
+				require.ErrorContains(t, err, tc.expectNewErr)
+				return
+			}
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+
+			res, err := resource.New(ctx,
+				resource.WithAttributes(semconv.ServiceName("prometheus_test")),
+				resource.WithAttributes(semconv.TelemetrySDKVersion("latest")),
+				resource.WithAttributes(tc.customResourceAttrs...),
+			)
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			provider := metric.NewMeterProvider(
+				metric.WithReader(exporter),
+				metric.WithResource(res),
+			)
+
+			fooCounter, err := provider.Meter(
+				"meterfoo",
+				otelmetric.WithInstrumentationVersion("v0.1.0"),
+				otelmetric.WithInstrumentationAttributes(tc.customScopeAttrs...),
+			).
+				Int64Counter(
+					tc.counterName,
+					otelmetric.WithUnit("s"),
+					otelmetric.WithDescription(fmt.Sprintf(`meter %q counter`, tc.counterName)))
+			if tc.expectMetricErr != "" {
+				require.ErrorContains(t, err, tc.expectMetricErr)
+				return
+			}
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			var opts []otelmetric.AddOption
+			if tc.labelName != "" {
+				opts = append(opts, otelmetric.WithAttributes(attribute.String(tc.labelName, "foo")))
+			}
+			fooCounter.Add(ctx, 100, opts...)
+			got, err := registry.Gather()
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			if tc.checkMetricFamilies != nil {
+				tc.checkMetricFamilies(t, got)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
diff --git a/exporters/prometheus/go.mod b/exporters/prometheus/go.mod
index 07c3fed23..b337908ef 100644
--- a/exporters/prometheus/go.mod
+++ b/exporters/prometheus/go.mod
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ require (
 	github.com/prometheus/client_golang v1.23.0
 	github.com/prometheus/client_model v0.6.2
 	github.com/prometheus/common v0.65.0
-	github.com/prometheus/otlptranslator v0.0.1
+	github.com/prometheus/otlptranslator v0.0.2
 	github.com/stretchr/testify v1.11.0
 	go.opentelemetry.io/otel v1.37.0
 	go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric v1.37.0
diff --git a/exporters/prometheus/go.sum b/exporters/prometheus/go.sum
index 97941bb5e..a6c8a6e76 100644
--- a/exporters/prometheus/go.sum
+++ b/exporters/prometheus/go.sum
@@ -31,8 +31,8 @@ github.com/prometheus/client_model v0.6.2 h1:oBsgwpGs7iVziMvrGhE53c/GrLUsZdHnqNw
 github.com/prometheus/client_model v0.6.2/go.mod h1:y3m2F6Gdpfy6Ut/GBsUqTWZqCUvMVzSfMLjcu6wAwpE=
 github.com/prometheus/common v0.65.0 h1:QDwzd+G1twt//Kwj/Ww6E9FQq1iVMmODnILtW1t2VzE=
 github.com/prometheus/common v0.65.0/go.mod h1:0gZns+BLRQ3V6NdaerOhMbwwRbNh9hkGINtQAsP5GS8=
-github.com/prometheus/otlptranslator v0.0.1 h1:C4HDe7bEfM6O/+9cz7l5Y12sWL9BN/QsMb9Le4/WHmA=
-github.com/prometheus/otlptranslator v0.0.1/go.mod h1:P8AwMgdD7XEr6QRUJ2QWLpiAZTgTE2UYgjlu3svompI=
+github.com/prometheus/otlptranslator v0.0.2 h1:+1CdeLVrRQ6Psmhnobldo0kTp96Rj80DRXRd5OSnMEQ=
+github.com/prometheus/otlptranslator v0.0.2/go.mod h1:P8AwMgdD7XEr6QRUJ2QWLpiAZTgTE2UYgjlu3svompI=
 github.com/prometheus/procfs v0.17.0 h1:FuLQ+05u4ZI+SS/w9+BWEM2TXiHKsUQ9TADiRH7DuK0=
 github.com/prometheus/procfs v0.17.0/go.mod h1:oPQLaDAMRbA+u8H5Pbfq+dl3VDAvHxMUOVhe0wYB2zw=
 github.com/rogpeppe/go-internal v1.13.1 h1:KvO1DLK/DRN07sQ1LQKScxyZJuNnedQ5/wKSR38lUII=
diff --git a/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_help_two_counters_1.txt b/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_help_two_counters_1.txt
index 94cf1a89e..bfc629ed6 100644
--- a/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_help_two_counters_1.txt
+++ b/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_help_two_counters_1.txt
@@ -4,4 +4,4 @@ bar_bytes_total{otel_scope_name="ma",otel_scope_schema_url="",otel_scope_version
 bar_bytes_total{otel_scope_name="mb",otel_scope_schema_url="",otel_scope_version="v0.1.0",type="bar"} 100
 # HELP target_info Target metadata
 # TYPE target_info gauge
-target_info{"service.name"="prometheus_test","telemetry.sdk.language"="go","telemetry.sdk.name"="opentelemetry","telemetry.sdk.version"="latest"} 1
+target_info{service_name="prometheus_test",telemetry_sdk_language="go",telemetry_sdk_name="opentelemetry",telemetry_sdk_version="latest"} 1
diff --git a/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_help_two_counters_2.txt b/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_help_two_counters_2.txt
index 984e9b366..431f66ac9 100644
--- a/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_help_two_counters_2.txt
+++ b/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_help_two_counters_2.txt
@@ -4,4 +4,4 @@ bar_bytes_total{otel_scope_name="ma",otel_scope_schema_url="",otel_scope_version
 bar_bytes_total{otel_scope_name="mb",otel_scope_schema_url="",otel_scope_version="v0.1.0",type="bar"} 100
 # HELP target_info Target metadata
 # TYPE target_info gauge
-target_info{"service.name"="prometheus_test","telemetry.sdk.language"="go","telemetry.sdk.name"="opentelemetry","telemetry.sdk.version"="latest"} 1
+target_info{service_name="prometheus_test",telemetry_sdk_language="go",telemetry_sdk_name="opentelemetry",telemetry_sdk_version="latest"} 1
diff --git a/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_help_two_histograms_1.txt b/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_help_two_histograms_1.txt
index 780b59749..51af03299 100644
--- a/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_help_two_histograms_1.txt
+++ b/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_help_two_histograms_1.txt
@@ -38,4 +38,4 @@ bar_bytes_sum{A="B",otel_scope_name="mb",otel_scope_schema_url="",otel_scope_ver
 bar_bytes_count{A="B",otel_scope_name="mb",otel_scope_schema_url="",otel_scope_version="v0.1.0"} 1
 # HELP target_info Target metadata
 # TYPE target_info gauge
-target_info{"service.name"="prometheus_test","telemetry.sdk.language"="go","telemetry.sdk.name"="opentelemetry","telemetry.sdk.version"="latest"} 1
+target_info{service_name="prometheus_test",telemetry_sdk_language="go",telemetry_sdk_name="opentelemetry",telemetry_sdk_version="latest"} 1
diff --git a/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_help_two_histograms_2.txt b/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_help_two_histograms_2.txt
index b6280e1fd..4d496a69f 100644
--- a/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_help_two_histograms_2.txt
+++ b/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_help_two_histograms_2.txt
@@ -38,4 +38,4 @@ bar_bytes_sum{A="B",otel_scope_name="mb",otel_scope_schema_url="",otel_scope_ver
 bar_bytes_count{A="B",otel_scope_name="mb",otel_scope_schema_url="",otel_scope_version="v0.1.0"} 1
 # HELP target_info Target metadata
 # TYPE target_info gauge
-target_info{"service.name"="prometheus_test","telemetry.sdk.language"="go","telemetry.sdk.name"="opentelemetry","telemetry.sdk.version"="latest"} 1
+target_info{service_name="prometheus_test",telemetry_sdk_language="go",telemetry_sdk_name="opentelemetry",telemetry_sdk_version="latest"} 1
diff --git a/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_help_two_updowncounters_1.txt b/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_help_two_updowncounters_1.txt
index 77552f17b..2e28fe3a9 100644
--- a/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_help_two_updowncounters_1.txt
+++ b/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_help_two_updowncounters_1.txt
@@ -4,4 +4,4 @@ bar_bytes{otel_scope_name="ma",otel_scope_schema_url="",otel_scope_version="v0.1
 bar_bytes{otel_scope_name="mb",otel_scope_schema_url="",otel_scope_version="v0.1.0",type="bar"} 100
 # HELP target_info Target metadata
 # TYPE target_info gauge
-target_info{"service.name"="prometheus_test","telemetry.sdk.language"="go","telemetry.sdk.name"="opentelemetry","telemetry.sdk.version"="latest"} 1
+target_info{service_name="prometheus_test",telemetry_sdk_language="go",telemetry_sdk_name="opentelemetry",telemetry_sdk_version="latest"} 1
diff --git a/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_help_two_updowncounters_2.txt b/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_help_two_updowncounters_2.txt
index 29177cac0..928039d12 100644
--- a/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_help_two_updowncounters_2.txt
+++ b/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_help_two_updowncounters_2.txt
@@ -4,4 +4,4 @@ bar_bytes{otel_scope_name="ma",otel_scope_schema_url="",otel_scope_version="v0.1
 bar_bytes{otel_scope_name="mb",otel_scope_schema_url="",otel_scope_version="v0.1.0",type="bar"} 100
 # HELP target_info Target metadata
 # TYPE target_info gauge
-target_info{"service.name"="prometheus_test","telemetry.sdk.language"="go","telemetry.sdk.name"="opentelemetry","telemetry.sdk.version"="latest"} 1
+target_info{service_name="prometheus_test",telemetry_sdk_language="go",telemetry_sdk_name="opentelemetry",telemetry_sdk_version="latest"} 1
diff --git a/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_type_counter_and_updowncounter_1.txt b/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_type_counter_and_updowncounter_1.txt
index 62faeacea..9984a1824 100644
--- a/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_type_counter_and_updowncounter_1.txt
+++ b/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_type_counter_and_updowncounter_1.txt
@@ -3,4 +3,4 @@
 foo_total{otel_scope_name="ma",otel_scope_schema_url="",otel_scope_version="v0.1.0",type="foo"} 100
 # HELP target_info Target metadata
 # TYPE target_info gauge
-target_info{"service.name"="prometheus_test","telemetry.sdk.language"="go","telemetry.sdk.name"="opentelemetry","telemetry.sdk.version"="latest"} 1
+target_info{service_name="prometheus_test",telemetry_sdk_language="go",telemetry_sdk_name="opentelemetry",telemetry_sdk_version="latest"} 1
diff --git a/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_type_counter_and_updowncounter_2.txt b/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_type_counter_and_updowncounter_2.txt
index abf56f473..56552dfe9 100644
--- a/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_type_counter_and_updowncounter_2.txt
+++ b/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_type_counter_and_updowncounter_2.txt
@@ -3,4 +3,4 @@
 foo_total{otel_scope_name="ma",otel_scope_schema_url="",otel_scope_version="v0.1.0",type="foo"} 100
 # HELP target_info Target metadata
 # TYPE target_info gauge
-target_info{"service.name"="prometheus_test","telemetry.sdk.language"="go","telemetry.sdk.name"="opentelemetry","telemetry.sdk.version"="latest"} 1
+target_info{service_name="prometheus_test",telemetry_sdk_language="go",telemetry_sdk_name="opentelemetry",telemetry_sdk_version="latest"} 1
diff --git a/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_type_histogram_and_updowncounter_1.txt b/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_type_histogram_and_updowncounter_1.txt
index f6b4074d2..e7fda2286 100644
--- a/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_type_histogram_and_updowncounter_1.txt
+++ b/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_type_histogram_and_updowncounter_1.txt
@@ -3,4 +3,4 @@
 foo_bytes{A="B",otel_scope_name="ma",otel_scope_schema_url="",otel_scope_version="v0.1.0"} 100
 # HELP target_info Target metadata
 # TYPE target_info gauge
-target_info{"service.name"="prometheus_test","telemetry.sdk.language"="go","telemetry.sdk.name"="opentelemetry","telemetry.sdk.version"="latest"} 1
+target_info{service_name="prometheus_test",telemetry_sdk_language="go",telemetry_sdk_name="opentelemetry",telemetry_sdk_version="latest"} 1
diff --git a/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_type_histogram_and_updowncounter_2.txt b/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_type_histogram_and_updowncounter_2.txt
index 31b685c5b..ee8916ff8 100644
--- a/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_type_histogram_and_updowncounter_2.txt
+++ b/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_type_histogram_and_updowncounter_2.txt
@@ -20,4 +20,4 @@ foo_bytes_sum{A="B",otel_scope_name="ma",otel_scope_schema_url="",otel_scope_ver
 foo_bytes_count{A="B",otel_scope_name="ma",otel_scope_schema_url="",otel_scope_version="v0.1.0"} 1
 # HELP target_info Target metadata
 # TYPE target_info gauge
-target_info{"service.name"="prometheus_test","telemetry.sdk.language"="go","telemetry.sdk.name"="opentelemetry","telemetry.sdk.version"="latest"} 1
+target_info{service_name="prometheus_test",telemetry_sdk_language="go",telemetry_sdk_name="opentelemetry",telemetry_sdk_version="latest"} 1
diff --git a/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_unit_two_counters.txt b/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_unit_two_counters.txt
index cb44b5572..81a1938ea 100644
--- a/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_unit_two_counters.txt
+++ b/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_unit_two_counters.txt
@@ -4,4 +4,4 @@ bar_total{otel_scope_name="ma",otel_scope_schema_url="",otel_scope_version="v0.1
 bar_total{otel_scope_name="mb",otel_scope_schema_url="",otel_scope_version="v0.1.0",type="bar"} 100
 # HELP target_info Target metadata
 # TYPE target_info gauge
-target_info{"service.name"="prometheus_test","telemetry.sdk.language"="go","telemetry.sdk.name"="opentelemetry","telemetry.sdk.version"="latest"} 1
+target_info{service_name="prometheus_test",telemetry_sdk_language="go",telemetry_sdk_name="opentelemetry",telemetry_sdk_version="latest"} 1
diff --git a/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_unit_two_histograms.txt b/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_unit_two_histograms.txt
index 900469cd7..57d894934 100644
--- a/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_unit_two_histograms.txt
+++ b/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_unit_two_histograms.txt
@@ -38,4 +38,4 @@ bar_sum{A="B",otel_scope_name="mb",otel_scope_schema_url="",otel_scope_version="
 bar_count{A="B",otel_scope_name="mb",otel_scope_schema_url="",otel_scope_version="v0.1.0"} 1
 # HELP target_info Target metadata
 # TYPE target_info gauge
-target_info{"service.name"="prometheus_test","telemetry.sdk.language"="go","telemetry.sdk.name"="opentelemetry","telemetry.sdk.version"="latest"} 1
+target_info{service_name="prometheus_test",telemetry_sdk_language="go",telemetry_sdk_name="opentelemetry",telemetry_sdk_version="latest"} 1
diff --git a/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_unit_two_updowncounters.txt b/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_unit_two_updowncounters.txt
index 643e21cea..60ba48d23 100644
--- a/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_unit_two_updowncounters.txt
+++ b/exporters/prometheus/testdata/conflict_unit_two_updowncounters.txt
@@ -4,4 +4,4 @@ bar{otel_scope_name="ma",otel_scope_schema_url="",otel_scope_version="v0.1.0",ty
 bar{otel_scope_name="mb",otel_scope_schema_url="",otel_scope_version="v0.1.0",type="bar"} 100
 # HELP target_info Target metadata
 # TYPE target_info gauge
-target_info{"service.name"="prometheus_test","telemetry.sdk.language"="go","telemetry.sdk.name"="opentelemetry","telemetry.sdk.version"="latest"} 1
+target_info{service_name="prometheus_test",telemetry_sdk_language="go",telemetry_sdk_name="opentelemetry",telemetry_sdk_version="latest"} 1
diff --git a/exporters/prometheus/testdata/counter.txt b/exporters/prometheus/testdata/counter.txt
index 878231f4b..7b2507799 100755
--- a/exporters/prometheus/testdata/counter.txt
+++ b/exporters/prometheus/testdata/counter.txt
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
-# HELP foo_seconds_total a simple counter
-# TYPE foo_seconds_total counter
-foo_seconds_total{A="B",C="D",E="true",F="42",otel_scope_fizz="buzz",otel_scope_name="testmeter",otel_scope_schema_url="",otel_scope_version="v0.1.0"} 24.3
-foo_seconds_total{A="D",C="B",E="true",F="42",otel_scope_fizz="buzz",otel_scope_name="testmeter",otel_scope_schema_url="",otel_scope_version="v0.1.0"} 5
+# HELP my_dotted_namespace_foo_seconds_total a simple counter
+# TYPE my_dotted_namespace_foo_seconds_total counter
+my_dotted_namespace_foo_seconds_total{A="B",C="D",E="true",F="42",otel_scope_fizz="buzz",otel_scope_name="testmeter",otel_scope_schema_url="",otel_scope_version="v0.1.0"} 24.3
+my_dotted_namespace_foo_seconds_total{A="D",C="B",E="true",F="42",otel_scope_fizz="buzz",otel_scope_name="testmeter",otel_scope_schema_url="",otel_scope_version="v0.1.0"} 5
 # HELP target_info Target metadata
 # TYPE target_info gauge
 target_info{service_name="prometheus_test",telemetry_sdk_language="go",telemetry_sdk_name="opentelemetry",telemetry_sdk_version="latest"} 1
diff --git a/exporters/prometheus/testdata/counter_utf8.txt b/exporters/prometheus/testdata/counter_utf8.txt
index 4496bab93..8d5eb0118 100755
--- a/exporters/prometheus/testdata/counter_utf8.txt
+++ b/exporters/prometheus/testdata/counter_utf8.txt
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
-# HELP "foo.things_seconds_total" a simple counter
-# TYPE "foo.things_seconds_total" counter
-{"foo.things_seconds_total","A.G"="B","C.H"="D","E.I"="true","F.J"="42",otel_scope_fizz="buzz",otel_scope_name="testmeter",otel_scope_schema_url="",otel_scope_version="v0.1.0"} 24.3
-{"foo.things_seconds_total","A.G"="D","C.H"="B","E.I"="true","F.J"="42",otel_scope_fizz="buzz",otel_scope_name="testmeter",otel_scope_schema_url="",otel_scope_version="v0.1.0"} 5
+# HELP "my.dotted.namespace_foo.things_seconds_total" a simple counter
+# TYPE "my.dotted.namespace_foo.things_seconds_total" counter
+{"my.dotted.namespace_foo.things_seconds_total","A.G"="B","C.H"="D","E.I"="true","F.J"="42",otel_scope_fizz="buzz",otel_scope_name="testmeter",otel_scope_schema_url="",otel_scope_version="v0.1.0"} 24.3
+{"my.dotted.namespace_foo.things_seconds_total","A.G"="D","C.H"="B","E.I"="true","F.J"="42",otel_scope_fizz="buzz",otel_scope_name="testmeter",otel_scope_schema_url="",otel_scope_version="v0.1.0"} 5
 # HELP target_info Target metadata
 # TYPE target_info gauge
 target_info{"service.name"="prometheus_test","telemetry.sdk.language"="go","telemetry.sdk.name"="opentelemetry","telemetry.sdk.version"="latest"} 1
diff --git a/exporters/prometheus/testdata/counter_utf8_notranslation.txt b/exporters/prometheus/testdata/counter_utf8_notranslation.txt
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..2a36062ba
--- /dev/null
+++ b/exporters/prometheus/testdata/counter_utf8_notranslation.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+# HELP "my.dotted.namespace_foo.things" a simple counter
+# TYPE "my.dotted.namespace_foo.things" counter
+{"my.dotted.namespace_foo.things","A.G"="B","C.H"="D","E.I"="true","F.J"="42",otel_scope_fizz="buzz",otel_scope_name="testmeter",otel_scope_schema_url="",otel_scope_version="v0.1.0"} 24.3
+{"my.dotted.namespace_foo.things","A.G"="D","C.H"="B","E.I"="true","F.J"="42",otel_scope_fizz="buzz",otel_scope_name="testmeter",otel_scope_schema_url="",otel_scope_version="v0.1.0"} 5
+# HELP target_info Target metadata
+# TYPE target_info gauge
+target_info{"service.name"="prometheus_test","telemetry.sdk.language"="go","telemetry.sdk.name"="opentelemetry","telemetry.sdk.version"="latest"} 1
diff --git a/exporters/prometheus/testdata/counter_with_custom_unit_suffix.txt b/exporters/prometheus/testdata/counter_with_custom_unit_suffix.txt
index 75facd31f..ce62f1dfe 100644
--- a/exporters/prometheus/testdata/counter_with_custom_unit_suffix.txt
+++ b/exporters/prometheus/testdata/counter_with_custom_unit_suffix.txt
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
-# HELP "foo_madeup_total" a simple counter
-# TYPE "foo_madeup_total" counter
-{"foo_madeup_total",A="B",C="D",E="true",F="42",otel_scope_fizz="buzz",otel_scope_name="testmeter",otel_scope_schema_url="",otel_scope_version="v0.1.0"} 24.3
-{"foo_madeup_total",A="D",C="B",E="true",F="42",otel_scope_fizz="buzz",otel_scope_name="testmeter",otel_scope_schema_url="",otel_scope_version="v0.1.0"} 5
+# HELP "foo.dotted_madeup_total" a simple counter
+# TYPE "foo.dotted_madeup_total" counter
+{"foo.dotted_madeup_total",A="B",C="D",E="true",F="42",otel_scope_fizz="buzz",otel_scope_name="testmeter",otel_scope_schema_url="",otel_scope_version="v0.1.0"} 24.3
+{"foo.dotted_madeup_total",A="D",C="B",E="true",F="42",otel_scope_fizz="buzz",otel_scope_name="testmeter",otel_scope_schema_url="",otel_scope_version="v0.1.0"} 5
 # HELP target_info Target metadata
 # TYPE target_info gauge
 target_info{"service.name"="prometheus_test","telemetry.sdk.language"="go","telemetry.sdk.name"="opentelemetry","telemetry.sdk.version"="latest"} 1
diff --git a/exporters/prometheus/testdata/counter_with_unit_suffix.txt b/exporters/prometheus/testdata/counter_with_unit_suffix.txt
index 5ee732197..2ecb6a0cc 100755
--- a/exporters/prometheus/testdata/counter_with_unit_suffix.txt
+++ b/exporters/prometheus/testdata/counter_with_unit_suffix.txt
@@ -4,4 +4,4 @@
 {"foo.seconds_total",A="D",C="B",E="true",F="42",otel_scope_fizz="buzz",otel_scope_name="testmeter",otel_scope_schema_url="",otel_scope_version="v0.1.0"} 5
 # HELP target_info Target metadata
 # TYPE target_info gauge
-target_info{"service.name"="prometheus_test","telemetry.sdk.language"="go","telemetry.sdk.name"="opentelemetry","telemetry.sdk.version"="latest"} 1
+target_info{service_name="prometheus_test",telemetry_sdk_language="go",telemetry_sdk_name="opentelemetry",telemetry_sdk_version="latest"} 1
diff --git a/exporters/prometheus/testdata/multi_scopes.txt b/exporters/prometheus/testdata/multi_scopes.txt
index 023aab8b7..b78af9c70 100644
--- a/exporters/prometheus/testdata/multi_scopes.txt
+++ b/exporters/prometheus/testdata/multi_scopes.txt
@@ -6,4 +6,4 @@ bar_seconds_total{otel_scope_name="meterbar",otel_scope_schema_url="",otel_scope
 foo_seconds_total{otel_scope_name="meterfoo",otel_scope_schema_url="",otel_scope_version="v0.1.0",type="foo"} 100
 # HELP target_info Target metadata
 # TYPE target_info gauge
-target_info{"service.name"="prometheus_test","telemetry.sdk.language"="go","telemetry.sdk.name"="opentelemetry","telemetry.sdk.version"="latest"} 1
+target_info{service_name="prometheus_test",telemetry_sdk_language="go",telemetry_sdk_name="opentelemetry",telemetry_sdk_version="latest"} 1
diff --git a/exporters/prometheus/testdata/no_conflict_two_counters.txt b/exporters/prometheus/testdata/no_conflict_two_counters.txt
index 602bce8f3..f77339a7a 100644
--- a/exporters/prometheus/testdata/no_conflict_two_counters.txt
+++ b/exporters/prometheus/testdata/no_conflict_two_counters.txt
@@ -4,4 +4,4 @@ foo_bytes_total{A="B",otel_scope_name="ma",otel_scope_schema_url="",otel_scope_v
 foo_bytes_total{A="B",otel_scope_name="mb",otel_scope_schema_url="",otel_scope_version="v0.1.0"} 100
 # HELP target_info Target metadata
 # TYPE target_info gauge
-target_info{"service.name"="prometheus_test","telemetry.sdk.language"="go","telemetry.sdk.name"="opentelemetry","telemetry.sdk.version"="latest"} 1
+target_info{service_name="prometheus_test",telemetry_sdk_language="go",telemetry_sdk_name="opentelemetry",telemetry_sdk_version="latest"} 1
diff --git a/exporters/prometheus/testdata/no_conflict_two_histograms.txt b/exporters/prometheus/testdata/no_conflict_two_histograms.txt
index 52ba5d328..67ce3fce5 100644
--- a/exporters/prometheus/testdata/no_conflict_two_histograms.txt
+++ b/exporters/prometheus/testdata/no_conflict_two_histograms.txt
@@ -38,4 +38,4 @@ foo_bytes_sum{A="B",otel_scope_name="mb",otel_scope_schema_url="",otel_scope_ver
 foo_bytes_count{A="B",otel_scope_name="mb",otel_scope_schema_url="",otel_scope_version="v0.1.0"} 1
 # HELP target_info Target metadata
 # TYPE target_info gauge
-target_info{"service.name"="prometheus_test","telemetry.sdk.language"="go","telemetry.sdk.name"="opentelemetry","telemetry.sdk.version"="latest"} 1
+target_info{service_name="prometheus_test",telemetry_sdk_language="go",telemetry_sdk_name="opentelemetry",telemetry_sdk_version="latest"} 1
diff --git a/exporters/prometheus/testdata/no_conflict_two_updowncounters.txt b/exporters/prometheus/testdata/no_conflict_two_updowncounters.txt
index e1ebcc0d9..4268d6fa7 100644
--- a/exporters/prometheus/testdata/no_conflict_two_updowncounters.txt
+++ b/exporters/prometheus/testdata/no_conflict_two_updowncounters.txt
@@ -4,4 +4,4 @@ foo_bytes{A="B",otel_scope_name="ma",otel_scope_schema_url="",otel_scope_version
 foo_bytes{A="B",otel_scope_name="mb",otel_scope_schema_url="",otel_scope_version="v0.1.0"} 100
 # HELP target_info Target metadata
 # TYPE target_info gauge
-target_info{"service.name"="prometheus_test","telemetry.sdk.language"="go","telemetry.sdk.name"="opentelemetry","telemetry.sdk.version"="latest"} 1
+target_info{service_name="prometheus_test",telemetry_sdk_language="go",telemetry_sdk_name="opentelemetry",telemetry_sdk_version="latest"} 1