The Naming law in Sweden is a law in Sweden which require approval of the names given to Swedish children. The law was enacted in 1982, primarily in order to prevent non-noble families from giving their children the names of noble families. The Swedish Tax Agency administers the registration of names in Sweden. The law has been reformed since originally enacted. In 1983 it was made possible for men to adopt their wife or partner's name, as well as for women to adopt their husband's name.

The law states, in part: First names shall not be approved if they can cause offense or can be supposed to cause discomfort for the one using it, or names which for some obvious reason are not suitable as a first name. This law text is valid in the same way both when parents name their children and when an adult wants to change his own name. When changing a name at least one of the names given at birth must be kept, and such a change is only allowed once per person. The law states nothing about registering which name is used on a daily basis, but the tax authority registers that if requested.

There has been a fair amount of controversy surrounding Sweden's naming laws since they have been enacted. Aside from significant commentary in the press, many parents have attempted to give their children unusual names.

Brfxxccxxmnpcccclllmmnprxvclmnckssqlbb11116 was a name intended for a Swedish child who was born in 1991. Parents Elisabeth Hallin and Lasse Diding gave their child this name as a protest against the naming law in Sweden.

Because the parents failed to register a name by the boy's fifth birthday, a district court in Halmstad, southern Sweden, fined them 5,000 kronor (roughly €500 or US$600). Responding to the fine, the parents submitted the 43-character name in May 1996, claiming that it was "a pregnant, expressionistic development that we see as an artistic creation." The parents suggested the name be understood in the spirit of 'pataphysics. The court rejected the name and upheld the fine. The parents then tried to change the spelling of the name to A (also pronounced "albin"). Once again, the court refused to approve of the name, citing a prohibition on one-letter naming.

6/19/2010 4:00:20 PM

I thought this was about vuvuzelas or volcanos

6/19/2010 4:35:45 PM

Wtf is pataphysics

6/19/2010 4:39:49 PM

Why don't you change your own names to that to make your point instead of trying to screw up your kid's childhood.

Douchebag parents.

6/19/2010 4:45:05 PM

Those dicks didn't put any vowels in that name either.

6/19/2010 4:49:56 PM

This is what I'm naming my kid.

7/19/2010 8:22:23 PM

it's pronounced "get off the keyboard you fuckin cat"

7/19/2010 8:25:48 PM