1. How many names are there?
2. What is the most common name?
3. Why isn't my name in the Name Search?
4. Why aren't there any tables on the most unusual names?
5. What is a "name normally used"?
6. How does one come up with Name Statistics?
7. Why are there no statistics on full names?
8. How do I find out about all the spelling variations of a name?
9. Does Statistics Sweden have the address of the people who have the same name as me?
10. How do I get more information on names?

1. How many names are there?

There are approximately 759 000 last names if every spelling variation is counted as a name in its own right. The number of given names for women and men add up to about 238 000 and 203 000, respectively, if every spelling variation is counted as a name in its own right.

2. What is the most common name?

Statistics Sweden's website presents the most common names via tables on given names for women, given names for men and last names.

• Names for women
• Names for men
• Last names

3. Why isn’t my name in the Name Search?

The database is updated once a year in February, and is then based on the Total Population Register as of 31 December the year before. If you don’t find your name in the Name Search this could be because you applied for a name change or because your application for a name change hasn’t been processed yet. You may also have been given a new identity for protection or your name is spelled differently in the official registers.

4. Why aren’t there any tables on the most unusual names?

That is because there are so many unusual names. Roughly 186 000 persons have unique ‘names normally used’, or unique spellings of their names.

5. What is "a name normally used"?

More than 80 per cent of all people have more than one given name. A "name normally used" is the given name one is called. One can at most have 2 given names that are names normally used. In the Total Population Register (TPR), which is the source of all Name Statistics, there exists information on normally used names for some 70 percent of the population. We have considered the first given name to be the normally used name for the remaining third of the population. Most people use their first given name as their normally used name.

6. How does one come up with Name Statistics?

The source of Name Statistics is the TPR. This Register includes, among other things, the name of every person who lives in Sweden. Persons with protected identities are not included in the Name Search.

7. Why are there no statistics on full names, that is, a combination of given name and last name for an individual?

For reasons of secrecy, no statistics which show both the given name and the last name together are published.

8. How do I find out about the spelling variations of a name?

When you search for a name, the answer takes the form of the number of people who spell their name in the same way as the name searched for. For example, in order to find out how many people are named Carl or Karl, you must search for both spelling variations. Christoffer and Therese are examples of given names for which many different spelling variations exist.

9. Does Statistics Sweden have the address of the people who have the same name as me?

Statistics Sweden never gives out addresses of individuals for reasons of secrecy.

10. How do I get more information on names?

There are several books on names and their meaning or significance. There are also many internet websites which have information on this topic. Contact the Library for help in finding information on names. Statistics Sweden's services can also be commissioned or bought to produce Name Statistics. Contact us at befolkning@scb.se for more information and prices.

Name Search

For more information:
E-mail: befolkning@scb.se
Phone: +46 8 506 948 01