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.
drArsMoriendi at 2024-03-27 13:32:30+00:00 ID:
kwsmzu6
It’s very common in Swedish that your first name isn’t the first name written on your passport. Many people are called by their second or third first names.
Admirable-Athlete-50 at 2024-03-27 14:36:27+00:00 ID:
kwsxmfq
Swedish doesn’t use middle names the same way as the us. Here you have multiple first names and one of them is just the one you introduce yourself as. I go by what is technically my second name.
The only weird thing will be if his Swedish and American worlds mix and people use different names for him. They might think that’s a bit strange.
Rockyshark6 at 2024-03-27 14:12:33+00:00 ID:
kwsuaua
It’s not weird to be called by your middle name, some part of the country it’s even the norm.
However it’s pretty weird to be asked to be called something you’re not usually called.
On top of that Sture is an old man’s name and everything about this screams heritage complex, which is ironic because all Swedes thinks the American “I’m x% and y%” is cringe and no one will see him as Swedish anyhow as he’ll be first and foremost American.
What’s even the reason he wants to go by Sture?
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 😃
Goblinweb at 2024-03-27 15:16:16+00:00 ID:
kwt61i8
If he introduces himself as his middle name that’s what he’s likely to be called.
But Swedes also like pet names so if his name is Karl then he might be called Kalle or if his name is Lars then he might be called Lasse.
Ratathosk at 2024-03-27 14:52:09+00:00 ID:
kwt1etp
No it’s fine.
karbmo at 2024-03-27 14:35:14+00:00 ID:
kwsxltr
Damn, Sture is a nice name!
Definitely coming back and getting a popularity swing as it enters another name popularity cycle like all names do. I can feel it coming, oh yeah.
DEADLYVENOMABUSER at 2024-03-27 15:00:22+00:00 ID:
kwt2xat
Id like to add, Sture is a cool ass name!
miekman at 2024-03-27 14:09:28+00:00 ID:
kwstc6u
My grandpa’s name is Sture, he is 88 years old and in a wheelchair. I have actually not met any other Swede who has that name. So that’s the kind of person who I think of when I hear the name Sture.
As someone else said, he can call himself whatever he wants, but my immediate thought is that I would think it just doesn’t really fit if he is pretty much 110% American and he’d introduce himself as “Sture” with a heavy American accent, but it’s not something I’d make fun of him for.
Pata11 at 2024-03-27 15:27:51+00:00 ID:
kwt6qwd
My grandfather’s name was also Sture, he would have been 92 this year.
Vetusiratus at 2024-03-27 13:41:42+00:00 ID:
kwsofnd
Is it weird if I ask Americans to call me Bubba, when I travel over yonder?
FifaPointsMan at 2024-03-27 13:51:49+00:00 ID:
kwsq2aa
not if it is your name
pillevinks at 2024-03-27 14:26:55+00:00 ID:
kwsvydp
I think nicknames are earned, not taken
Vetusiratus at 2024-03-27 14:35:46+00:00 ID:
kwsxhm2
See now, I reckon I’ve earned it after going moonshinin’ in the Deep South. ‘Least that’ll be what my compatriots thought.
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
PM_EyeContactNudes at 2024-03-27 14:45:03+00:00 ID:
kwszlen
My interpretation is that he may be playing a bit with identities. Maybe he wants to start anew, as you can do when going on an exchange year, and switching name to a more Swedish one is a way to perhaps assimilate and take on this experience fully.
When I went away for military service I did something similar and voluntarily switched my dialect. Mostly in an effort to fit in i guess. It lasted 2-3 weeks, then I was back to being myself again.
No one else will mind, so let him do as he wants.
storman_sten at 2024-03-27 16:22:59+00:00 ID:
kwthue0
Sture is pretty based name
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 :)
anonymous_matt at 2024-03-27 14:09:28+00:00 ID:
kwsticq
I don’t think it matters either way but for what it’s worth the average Swedish highschooler would probably think the name John is cooler than Sture.