• Sweden edition
Society

Court ruling paves way for flood of 'Princes'

Published: 25 May 10 08:58 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/26836/20100525/

A Swedish appeals court has cleared the path for parents to name their children Prince ("Prins") after rejecting a tax agency (Skatteverket) argument that the name was a professional title.

The agency had argued that the word "Prins", the Swedish word for Prince, is a professional title used by the Swedish royal family and that there was a risk that the name would lead to misunderstandings.

But the Jönköping court of appeal (Kammarrätten) has rejected the line of argument and allowed a couple in Västervik in southern Sweden to proceed with the naming of their son.

The court ruled that the title "Prins" "can not be equated with accepted professional titles within society."

The court based its decision on the fact that the tax agency had previously approved the name as an acceptable Christian name and despite the adoption of new guidelines regarding titles such as doctor, advocate, engineer and captain, the Västervik couple should also be allowed to give their son the name.

The tax agency retains the right of approval for the naming of children in Sweden and all parents are required to register the names of their new born with the agency within three months of birth.

According to the tax agency website: "A first name may not be such that it can be seen as offensive or cause discomfort to the child. Neither may it resemble a surname."

The Local has previously reported on disputes surrounding names such as Metallica, Google, Dark Knight and Elvis.

Peter Vinthagen Simpson
news@thelocal.se
+46 8 656 6513

What do you think? Leave your comment below.

Your comments about this article:

The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.

12:45 May 25, 2010 by Marc the Texan
I'm all for having the right to name your kid Prins or Prince, but they still sound tacky to me. I'd never do my child the disfavor of naming him Prins.
12:56 May 25, 2010 by calebian22
Apparently morons are allowed to breed in Sweden as well. Poor kid.
13:07 May 25, 2010 by bbeynch
This is wrong! Just because it's doable does not mean it's desirable. This laissez-faire approach to every aspect to Swedish life is not all for the better. Is there no class left anymore? Prins???? I think I'll name my next child "Murare". Murare Niklasson.
15:00 May 25, 2010 by Tall swede
Why not name the child "hunny bunny" or "mommys little baby" or something else that not make the kid get beaten up every day in school. Actually, i qould encourage beating a kid named "Prins". Then i could name my kid "The General" or Commander. Or Doctor. Or Statsminister. My kids would at least not be expected to be gay.
ADD YOUR COMMENT   (YOU MUST LOG IN OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT)
Today's headlines
Three shot in jewellery heist on busy street

Three shot in jewellery heist on busy street

Three people were wounded during an armed robbery on a jewellery store in Ängelholm, southern Sweden on Saturday, with the robbers escaping on a yellow moped. READ () »

County council admits to buying out 'bomb man'

County council admits to buying out 'bomb man'

The Sörmland County Council in central Sweden 'accidentally' hired a convicted criminal who had served a long prison sentence for threatening to blow up oil storage tanks and had to pay 1million kronor in severance pay to get rid of him. READ () »

Man wounded in schoolyard shooting

Panic broke out at a Gothenburg school on Friday evening as one man was wounded in a shooting which could be linked to a violent robbery that took place in the area on the same day. READ () »

Teen girl admits to Instagram 'slut-shaming'

Teen girl admits to Instagram 'slut-shaming'

A 15-year-old girl has admitted to setting up the Instagram account that caused hundreds of teenagers to riot in Gothenburg last year, but her 16-year-old friend has denied involvement. READ () »

Hockey World Championships
Fierce hockey rivals go head to head

Fierce hockey rivals go head to head

Ice hockey World Championships co-hosts Sweden and Finland continue their long-standing rivalry on Saturday with a place in the gold medal match at stake. READ () »

Scandal ousts Stockholm economics school head

Scandal ousts Stockholm economics school head

The president of the Stockholm School of Economics, one of Sweden's most prestigious universities, has been forced out in response to a scandal over his hiring of a high-ranking official who'd been convicted of insider trading. READ () »

'Sweden next in line for housing market crash'

'Sweden next in line for housing market crash'

Sweden tops a list of countries that risk suffering a housing market crash, Germany's Commerzbank has warned, citing the slackening off of Swedish property prices as a harbinger of a potential downswing. READ () »

Sweden's drug testing industry plummets

Sweden's drug testing industry plummets

Sweden's once flourishing pharmaceutical testing industry has been decimated in recent years, suffering an 85-percent drop according to new figures that industry experts describe as "deeply troubling". READ () »

More Society

 

RECEIVE OUR NEWSLETTER AND ALERTS
 

 

Highlights
Paul Hansen/World Press Photo
SOCIETY »
Award-winning Swedish photographer cleared of manipulation
DoToday
LIFESTYLE »
What's On:The Local's guide to upcoming attractions and events in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö
Scanpix
NATIONAL »
A Congolese-Swedish pastor explains the roots to recent cases of parents exorcising demons from their children in Sweden
File photo: AP
NATIONAL »
H&M backs Bangladesh building safety accord
Scanpix
GALLERY »
Eurovision: second semi-final entries
Finest.se
GALLERY »
People-watching: Scenes from the Arctic Council meeting, Eurovision demonstrations, and Stockholm nightlife
Screenshot: American Apparel
SOCIETY »
Swedes slam American Apparel over 'sexist' ads
Hasse Holmberg/Scanpix (File)
BUSINESS & MONEY »
Housing crunch forces more young Swedes to live with mum and dad
Janerik Henriksson/Scanpix
LIFESTYLE »
Eurovision - Centre State: 'It won't be easy to win again': Robin Stjernberg
Asif Akbar/sxc.hu (File)
OPINION »
'Not all discrimination in Sweden is racism'
Lana Wimmer
GALLERY »
Hidden Stockholm Gems: Ulriksdal's Palace
Sex in Sweden: condoms optional - study
SOCIETY »
Sex in Sweden: condoms optional - study
AP (File)
POLITICS »
Russia 'lacks capacity' to attack Sweden: Reinfeldt
AP
SCIENCE & TECH »
Swedish friction experts unravel curling mystery
fastighetsbyrån.se
GALLERY »
Property of the Week: This week, we're looking inside a home from the 1700s just west of Stockholm. Complete with two cannons.
Scanpix (File)
OPINION »
JobTalk: Top ten tips for earning a higher salary in Sweden
Juanma Perez Rabasco
SOCIETY »
Swedish kids start daycare earlier: report
Finest.se scanpix.se
GALLERY »
People-watching: Check out some snaps from Stockholm's bustling nightlife, and scenes from the Squvalp water carnival
Screenshot: Robinson's
SOCIETY »
Iron Maiden beer stopped over skull label concerns
David Shankbone/WikiCommons
NATIONAL »
US comedy star Amy Poehler to make Swedish TV series with her brother
WikiCommons
LIFESTYLE »
The Local Quiz: It's elementary: Water, water, all around
Facebook
SOCIETY »
'Sex scandal' minister bathes in viral toilet puppy love
Photo: Private
OPINION »
Swede of the Week Catta Neuding: 'Politics has no place on my theatre stage'
Flikr
SOCIETY »
Love columnist Emilia Millicent wonders if cyber stalking has become socially acceptable, because it's just too easy to do
Scanpix
NATIONAL »
Illegal apartment rentals thrive in Stockholm flat crunch
Ben Grey/Flickr
SCIENCE & TECH »
Sweden 'second best' place to become a mum
YouTube
LIFESTYLE »
Video: Watch The Local's Oliver Gee get the Swedes to sing Abba music
Scanpix
GALLERY »
Abba museum opening ceremonies
fastighetsbyrån.se
GALLERY »
Property of the Week: This week, we're heading to Stockholm's Lidingö to see inside a four-bedroom home
Eddie Gee
LIFESTYLE »
Check out the back catalogue of all The Local's Swedes of the Week
Photo: The Local
SPONSORED ARTICLE
Stockholm International School - what’s in IT for students?
Dixie Thomas Hughes
SPONSORED ARTICLE
US expat David V. Hughes on determination and discovery by design

 

Latest news from The Local in Germany

More news from Germany at thelocal.de

Latest news from The Local in France

More news from France at thelocal.fr

Latest news from The Local in Norway

More news from Norway at thelocal.no

Latest news from The Local in Switzerland

More news from Switzerland at thelocal.ch

Search News


Register

Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss

REGISTER FOR FREE »


Blog Update: Brits Mean Business

16 May 08:32

Be British, be sincere and be bold »

"Sweden is a veritable smorgåsbord for UK business. I see our work as a bit like a kind of dragon’s den for both for larger and smaller British companies. It is about matching the UK companies, not with cash, but with Swedish market opportunities." READ »

Therapy in English
Expat counsellor & talk therapist offers counselling for stress, relationship issues, sexuality, culture adjustment & life coaching. Private & confidential. Stockholm or Skype. Contact me today! 08-559 22 636 or
CLICK HERE
Holiday Luxury Villa in Portugal
Casa Birgitta in Algarve, Portugal. Reduced price in best location. Private estate on white sand beach. All amenities included. Book here today! edward_george1@hotmail.com
The Local's new Marketplace
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS
Counseling in English
Individuals & Couples - Stockholm Beth Rogerson PhD - Clinical, Marriage & Family Therapist
Click or call 08-5580 1266 now
Trade binary options
Create an account with Banc De Binary, the world’s most reputable binary options firm, and start cashing in today! You can start by practicing with our free $50,000 demo account.
www.bbinary.com