My son is in high school and is going to be an exchange student in Sweden next year.
Our family background is Swedish. His first name is a typical American name, but his middle name is Swedish, and our last name is Swedish.
For example, John Sture Andersson.
Nobody calls him Sture in the US; people can’t pronounce it. But he has been asking Swedish people who he’s met (so far, as part of the exchange program process) to call him Sture.
Is that weird; if he asks people in Sweden to call him Sture, will Swedes make fun of him or think that his request is bizarre, since he is called John in the US? And is the name “Sture” a nice name?
Thanks.
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The original was posted on /r/sweden by /u/CraftAccomplished784 at 2024-03-27 13:08:14+00:00.
ManyCarrots at 2024-03-27 15:09:38+00:00 ID:
kwt3rzc
Seems kinda weird when you explain it but if he just tells people his name is Sture nobody will care
Love-Laugh-Play at 2024-03-27 14:56:55+00:00 ID:
kwt1uuu
It’s not weird since many people use their middle name as their primary name. But John is common in Sweden too although sound a bit different.
Fille-pille-korvsas at 2024-03-27 14:31:53+00:00 ID:
kwsxaml
It’s perfectly normal as long as he introduces himself as Sture. I am technically not going by my first name but instead uses my middle name as my “tilltalsnamn”
Sekhen at 2024-03-27 15:06:26+00:00 ID:
kwt3mg6
Perfectly normal. My second name is the name people call me by.
In your case, if I was named John Sture Andersson, I present myself as “Sture Andersson” and everyone would call me Sture.
Had it like this for 46 years and no one cares…
_ballora_0 at 2024-03-27 14:43:12+00:00 ID:
kwsz4b6
The name “Sture” is a name that’s a bit joke related in Sweden but still very popular. Kinda like the name “Arne”. John is also a pretty popular name in Sweden and there’s even a game called “Följa John”.
Zealousideal-Pie8346 at 2024-03-27 15:23:53+00:00 ID:
kwt7qqy
John is a common Swedish name as well it’s just pronounced a bit different. Sture is more common to be named when you’re a bit older. Not a lot of young people are named that but it’s a nice name 😃
dwitchagi at 2024-03-27 14:44:43+00:00 ID:
kwszch1
My great uncle is named Sture. Names come back around I guess, but still a bit odd for a kid. I’d wear it with pride, though, as a middle name :)
Fapping-sloth at 2024-03-27 16:09:10+00:00 ID:
kwtem8y
To be fair; John (if that is not just an example!) is a more common name in Sweden than Sture!
Sture is quite an ”old people” name over here, not many young adults that are called that.
As for first va second name……doesnt really matter! Ive NEVER been called my first name in my whole life by people i know or family!
Might they think its odd he wants to be called by his second name rather than the one he is usually called….well, maybe a bit but not much especially if it is the name he use when they get to know him! Doesnt really matter much…
storman_sten at 2024-03-27 16:22:59+00:00 ID:
kwthue0
Sture is pretty based name
NoResponsibility7031 at 2024-03-27 16:17:53+00:00 ID:
kwtgsh5
All names are your first names except family name that you share with your family. People usually assume first name is your preferred name but there is nothing weird in using another of your names.
Example: You can be named Karl Johan Wilhelm Stenhammar (I made it up). Then your “efternamn” (family name) is Stenhammar, and your “förnamn” (first name) is Karl Johan Wilhelm. Usually you would use one or two as your “tilltalsnamn” (name when addressed). You can only register two tilltalsnamn at skatteverket (tax office).
Name: Karl Johan Wilhelm Stenhammar.
Last name: Stenhammar
First name: Karl Johan Wilhelm
Name when addressed: Karl Johan
Mumrik93 at 2024-03-27 16:11:08+00:00 ID:
kwtglh6
Is your son missing a leg per chance? If he does then it would be a crime Not to call him Sture.
Merinther at 2024-03-27 16:42:25+00:00 ID:
kwtlbqi
Is it weird? Eh, maybe a little, but it’s no big deal. I’ve met people who used one name with their parents and another with their friends. It happens. And in most cases you wouldn’t need to tell anyone.
Is Sture a nice name? It’s a matter of opinion, of course. It’s fairly common, but mostly with the older generation. Maybe it’ll make a comeback, but it would stand out among high school students.
Also, how sure are you that he can pronounce it? Not being able to pronounce your own name might be a bit awkward. If you don’t speak Swedish at home, it seems very likely that his pronunciation would be noticeably un-Swedish. It’s easy to learn that the E isn’t silent, but getting the U and R right is hard. And a more international pronunciation of the U would make it sound like the Swedish word store, which can mean “(the) great” or “(the) large one” – maybe not something you want to go around calling yourself.
Dr_St3iner at 2024-03-27 16:38:55+00:00 ID:
kwtkdgi
Born and raised here, why do you use english here then? Sus
LowTale at 2024-03-27 15:49:40+00:00 ID:
kwtavpn
Why does he want to be called by another name? A Swede will not see him as Swedish even if his name is typical Swedish. He will be American here just to be clear, so I don’t see the point unless it’s just for fun which of course is a totally valid reason.
CraftAccomplished784 (OP) at 2024-03-27 16:03:55+00:00 ID:
kwtdbnf
To fit in better and to put his Swedish name to good use.
onehandedbraunlocker at 2024-03-27 15:39:18+00:00 ID:
kwt9u80
No, not at all. I have a friend who went the other way, she’s Swedish but moved to the US. Using your example she’s “John” with her Swedish friends, but “Sture” with her American friends and family, for the same reasons. Didn’t think twice when I heard it, haven’t thought of it since, until now :)