Can I give my child any name I want in Sweden?
Almost freely — but you must register the child's first and last name with the Tax Agency within 3 months of birth. The child must have at least one first name, and a name can be refused if it causes offence, may cause the child discomfort, or is obviously unsuitable as a first name — religiously offensive and insulting names are refused. The surname must be one a parent bears or has borne, a double surname, a -son/-dotter name or a sibling's surname. A protected surname (fewer than 2,000 bearers) is restricted, and a newly created or protected surname costs 1,800 kr, while a name a parent already bears is free. Miss the deadline and the Tax Agency assigns no name automatically — but it can issue a conditional fine.
📋 The rules
- Register first and last name with the Tax Agency within 3 months
- The child must have at least one first name
- A name is refused if it causes offence or is unsuitable
- Surname: a parent's name, a double name, -son/-dotter or a sibling's
- A protected/newly created surname costs 1,800 kr
🔓 Exceptions
- Religiously offensive or insulting names are refused
- A newly created surname is allowed if not previously used
- Taking a name a parent already bears is free
⚠️ Penalties & fines
There is no fine for a nameless child, and that is exactly the trap: the Tax Agency does not assign a name automatically once three months have passed. Instead comes first a reminder, then an injunction and finally a conditional-fine order, where the fine can reach several thousand kronor — and it only falls due if you still fail to register. The choice itself costs too: a newly created or protected surname costs 1,800 kr, while a name a parent already bears is free. If the name is refused, you have to file another one.
📎 Official sources
- Tax Agency · Name for a newborn →
- Personal Names Act (2016:1013) · Riksdagen →
- Tax Agency · Changing surname →
❓ Frequently asked
How quickly must I name the child?
Within three months of birth you must register both the first name and the surname with the Tax Agency. The child must have at least one first name, and the registration covers both parts at once.
Can a name be refused?
Yes, if it causes offence, may cause the child discomfort, or is obviously unsuitable as a first name. Religiously offensive and insulting names are refused, and you then have to register a different name.
What surname can the child have?
A name a parent bears or has borne, a double surname, a -son or -dotter name, or a sibling's surname. A protected surname with fewer than 2,000 bearers, by contrast, is restricted.
Does naming the child cost anything?
Taking a name a parent already bears is free. A newly created or protected surname costs 1,800 kr, and a newly created name is only allowed if it has not been used before — a protected surname has fewer than 2,000 bearers.
What happens if I do not register in time?
The Tax Agency assigns no name to the child automatically. Instead a reminder comes, then an injunction and finally a conditional-fine order, where the fine can reach several thousand kronor.
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