Swedish Name Registration via Skatteverket

In Sweden, the registration of personal names is a civil administrative function handled by the Swedish Tax Authority (Skatteverket), not a judicial or religious institution. When a child is born, parents must notify Skatteverket of the child's name within three months. Skatteverket enters the name into the folkbokföring (population registration system) and may reject names that violate the 2016 Names Act.

Approval Process for Given Names

Skatteverket evaluates proposed given names against the criteria established in the Names Act. Names may be rejected if they could cause offence to others, are clearly unsuitable, or could cause administrative confusion (for example, a name that resembles a common surname and could be mistaken for one). Skatteverket maintains publicly available statistics on registered given names and publishes annual lists of the most popular names in Sweden. When a proposed name is uncertain, Skatteverket may consult the Institute for Language and Folklore (Institutet för språk och folkminnen) for expert guidance on name suitability.

Surname Registration and Changes

Skatteverket also processes applications to change surnames. Under the 2016 Act, Swedes may apply to take a surname already used by a relative, create a new surname (subject to conditions ensuring it does not conflict with an existing trademarked or organisational name), or revert to a previous surname. Name changes following marriage or divorce are processed automatically. All changes are recorded in the folkbokföring and reflected on tax records, driving licences, and passports. The system is highly digitalised — most name registrations and changes can be completed online.

• Three-month window to register a newborn's name
• Names reviewed against the 2016 Names Act criteria
• Consultations with Institutet för språk och folkminnen for uncertain cases