Am I allowed to change my name in Sweden?
Yes — you apply for a name change with the Tax Agency, and you may change several times. A first-name change costs 250 kr, but simply changing which of your first names is your everyday name is free. Taking a spouse's, partner's or parent's surname is free. A newly created surname, or one not connected to your family, costs 1,800 kr. Common surnames — those borne by more than 2,000 people — are free to take, which few people know. A name can be refused if it risks offence or confusion, and protected names and trademarks cannot be taken freely. Processing takes a few weeks to a few months, and a child's name change needs both custodians' consent and, from age 12, the child's own.
📋 The rules
- First-name change: 250 kr (changing everyday name is free)
- Taking a family member's surname: free
- Newly created surname: 1,800 kr
- Common surnames (>2,000 bearers) are free to take
- You may change several times
🔓 Exceptions
- A name can be refused if it risks offence or confusion
- A child's name change needs both custodians' consent (and the child's from 12)
- Protected names and trademark names cannot be taken freely
⚠️ Penalties & fines
There is no penalty attached to changing your name — an application that does not meet the requirements is simply rejected. The cost lies in the fact that the application fee is generally non-refundable: pick a name that risks offence or confusion with a protected name or a trademark and you are refused, having paid anyway. Change several times and the fee is charged again with each application — 250 kr for a first name and 1,800 kr for a newly created surname. A child's change without both custodians' consent will not go through.
📎 Official sources
- Tax Agency · Changing your name →
- Personal Names Act (2016:1013) · Riksdagen →
- Tax Agency · Name fees →
❓ Frequently asked
What does it cost to change a first name?
250 kr at the Tax Agency. Simply changing which of your existing first names is your everyday name costs nothing, and the fee is charged again if you change a first name once more later on.
Does it cost to take my partner's surname?
No. Taking a spouse's, partner's or parent's surname is free at the Tax Agency. Common surnames, meaning those borne by more than 2,000 people, are also free to take without paying any fee.
What does a brand-new surname cost?
A newly created surname, or one not connected to your family, costs 1,800 kr. The application can be refused if the name risks offence, confusion, or sits too close to a protected name or a trademark.
How often can I change my name?
You may change several times, and there is no upper limit. Each application is assessed on its own, the fee is charged again with every change, and it is generally not refunded if you are rejected.
Can I change my child's name?
Yes, but it needs both custodians' consent, and from age 12 the child's own as well. Without consent the application will not go through, and processing takes a few weeks to a few months.
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