Namnsättning

Namnsättning is the act of assigning a name to something, most commonly to a person, but the term is also used for naming places, institutions, products or ships. In Swedish usage, namnsättning is often discussed in the context of naming a newborn, where parents select one or more given names for the child.

Etymologically, the word combines namn (name) and sättning (placing or setting), indicating the act of putting a name to entities.

In personal naming, namnsättning typically occurs around birth. Parents propose one or more given names, and the chosen name is registered with the relevant authorities. In Sweden, the process is regulated by name law and administered by Skatteverket, the Swedish Tax Agency. Names must meet certain criteria to be accepted; they should be suitable, not cause confusion with a surname, and not be offensive. The law also governs how names can be changed later in life, and the official name records form part of a person’s legal identity documents.

Namnsättning is also a common term in other naming practices. For places, streets, geographical features, institutions, products, or ships, naming is typically guided by administrative procedures, historical tradition, linguistic norms, or marketing considerations. In many countries, official bodies or committees oversee the approval and standardization of names to ensure consistency and clarity.

Historically and culturally, naming ceremonies and rituals have played a role in many societies, and namnsättning can be used to describe these practices even when they are not part of modern legal processes.

See also Namnlagen, Skatteverket, toponymy, naming ceremony.