(edit title) Surname change question Double surname at Skatteverket? Options

[elizabeth_ire]

Apologies if this has been covered here...I didn't see it in my search.

I would like to change my name in the Skatteverket registry from my maiden name to my maiden name + married name (no hyphen). However after a visit earlier today I was told that this is not possible and that one of my desired surnames would have to be listed as a middle name, while my middle name would become part of my first name. Is this correct? Is there any way around it?

I have two concerns. First, I recently received EU citizenship (Ireland) and my name on that passport is listed as I desired: first name + middle name + maiden name + married name. In this sense, my Skatteverket registry will not match my Irish passport. Second, my first nationality is American. In order to change my American passport I have to supply proof of my name change with Skatteverket. If the Skatteverket won't take both surnames, then my American passport may not be correct either.

Is this an issue where anyone else has had experience? Any insights would be greatly appreciated!

[StephenR]

My wife did a good bit of investigating on this recently and agrees with what SV told you. If you want a double surname, you'll need to have one name as your Mellannamn. Only a single real surname is permitted. Hyphenation will have no impact either.

[Yorkshireman]

It is correct, You cannot use hyphens, and You can only have 1 surname (family name). The basic rule in Sweden is that there are 3 types of names: First ; Middle ; Surname.

I hope SV also told You that only 1 of the partners can take the others surname also. eg. If John Smith was to marry Mary Jones, only 1 partner could call themselves either Jones Smith, or, Smith Jones. The other retains the surname they already had. Unless You take one or the others family name only ie both change to Smith, or Jones.

[bobalong]

How can SV just change your name. If you come here with a particular name whether hyphenated or not, that is your name. They should not have the right to actually change what your name is.

What happens if you have 2/3 middle names? My son will be coming here next year and he has multiple middle names and a double barrelled surname too. What is he going to get as a name then? That is what his name is, if they change it he will look like he has some kind of double identity!

Took me 2 years to get SV just to put my name the right way around, so goodness knows what is going to happen now.

[Willy]

Note that "mellannamn" in Swedish name law doesn't mean what you (and probably the majority of Swedes) think it does. It is there exactly for the purpose of having an additional surname before your proper one, e.g., your maiden name. You cannot have given names as mellannamn.

What you would call middle names in English (and everyday Swedish) are legally considered additional first names.

So if you are called:

"Olivia Anna Estelle Smith Svensson"

"Oliva Anna Estelle" would be your förnamn (plural),
"Smith" your mellannamn, and
"Svensson" your efternamn

[Snood]

So is it possible, for example if Anna Sara Svenson and John Adam Smith get married they could become

Anna Sara Svenson Smith and
John Adam Svenson Smith

Where for Anna Sara (förnamn) moves her maiden name to be her mellannamn and takes Smith as her surname, and where John Adam (förnamn) keeps his surname but gains Svenson as his mellannamn?

[Yorkshireman]

No. According to the rules only 1 partner can take the others surname to be the mellannamn.

In addition to that there is a rule that states that the surname can only be taken as a mellannamn if it isn't from a previous marriage or registered partnership.

[delfinita]

I dont think it's an issue.

In my peruvian documents, they state my name and add my "new" surname at the end anna - maria lopez martinez de svensson (notice the "de". He owns me lol).

On my spanish documents i keep my regular names because spanish law doesnt allow women to change their surnames UNLESS they become citizens of another country, in which case they would have to re-register (would have to do it if i ever get a Swedish citizenship)

On my Swedish documents i am Anna-maria Lopez Svensson

No big deal. You wont need your swedish documents in the US, you wont need your US documents in Sweden and if you do, they have notification that it was changed when married.

No big deal in any case i was told. So...

[byke]

What I find amusing is that certain names are also disallowed, especially if they are associated to a prominent family. Sort of makes you question the Swedish model as such.

UK citizens can change their name for less than 30 quid.
I would love to see someone change their name to :

Carl Gustaf Folke Hubertus

And watch the Swedish tax office try to reject it.

[Willy]

As long as you don't try to change your surname to Bernadotte they won't care the slightest. First names aren't protected, only family names.

[Bender B Rodriquez]

What I find amusing is that certain names are also disallowed, especially if they are associated to a prominent family.

Any name that already exists is protected. Names are handled by the Patent and Registration Office, so there are quite strict rules.

[Bender B Rodriquez]

As long as you don't try to change your surname to Bernadotte they won't care the slightest. First names aren't protected, only family names.

Unless Hubertus is already taken.

[Willy]

Ah, didn't realize that he wanted to use it as a surname.