- substr: documentation ( source)
- preg_replace: documentation ( source)
<?php
$fam = "Перегудов";
$s = array("/^./", "/./");
$r = array("", "*");
$f = substr($fam, 0, 1);
$fam = preg_replace($s, $r, $fam);
//$fam = preg_replace("@^.@e", "", $fam);
//$fam = preg_replace("@.@e", "-", $fam);
echo $fam;
//echo preg_replace($s, $r, $fam);