Tax agency rejects Swedes' Michael Jackson naming tribute
Published: 29 Jul 09 07:28 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/20966/20090729/
A Swedish family’s bid to honour late pop star Michael Jackson by naming their daughter Michael has been scuttled by the country’s tax agency.
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But the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket), which oversees the approval and registration of names in the country’s national population registry, rejected the couple’s request.
According to the agency, it is inappropriate to give a girl a name which has been well-established as a name for boys.
The rejection comes despite the parents’ wishes to have Michael be one of their daughter’s middle names, rather than her first name.
“It seems ridiculous and we’ve spoken with a friend in the United States who sadi that Michael is a unisex name,” the mother told TV4.
According to the database of names maintained by Statistics Sweden (SCB), there are currently 38 women in Sweden with the name Michael, two of whom have Michael as their first name.
The family said they are considering launching an appeal against the Tax Agency’s ruling.
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2. The government should have no involvement in the naming of a family's child. Are you free, or are you slaves?
@ Richard Corke - exactly.
@ dickdong - That's only the same as the old-fashioned way of referring to the wife of John Smith as "Mrs. John Smith", it's stupid and out-dated - just like the British royal family.
I have friends in US, Thailand, Australia and can name their kids how they like it and it is harmless to their children.
However until that time - the Tax authority which is also responsible for maintaining the register of births, marriages and deaths will have to follow the law - there is a general ban on any name that is "offensive or can cause discomfort to the bearer or is for other reasons unsuitable as a first name" (paragraph 34)
If people think that the wrong decision has been made by the tax authority - then they are free to appeal to the County Court
The B'stards still take way to much income tax though :(
I wonder if we will see a time when a list of swedish acceptable names are allowed based per sex?
The thin line between this and Hitlers human stud farms to help produce acceptable master race offspring doesnt seem that far off, does it? -----
If there are already other women (I'm assuming born in Sweden) named Michael and it was accepted then, why is it not accepted now? Do their list of acceptable names change over time? I'm speechless at how much the Swedish authorities treat their citizens like young children and yet still claim to be a democratic country of the free world.
On the other hand, if Sweden continues to enforce strict guidelines in what it terms as unacceptable. Does this help widen the gap and enforce the right to larger forms of discrimination?
I am on the fence on this one, but I do think the way it is setup at present is far from impartial and because of that I object to "Skatteverket" handling the names of new births when the law is not clear enough in how it the law should operate and step in.
The name was legally walid in N.Z.
Im sure they where not to happy about there names.
'I would rather meet a girl with the name Michael than with some of the other stupid names like Gun, Gull, Botvid, Gunborg, Wiveca or Majborg'
You may think they are stupid but others do not! They are part of the culture, personally I think naming children after places is a bit silly, such as Chelsea, for example but that was someone's choice. Anyway Michell is a femin form of Michael much nicer but that's just my opinion!
I am agree with Davidiand: Michell or Michelle (I have a niece whit that name) is a feminine version of this name.
Michaela is a well established female form of Michael
Just one more double standard within the Swedish system.
Don't get me wrong, I love living in Sweden but I think sometimes that the swedes need to take a look at themselves from the outside now and again and get some perspective.