Sverige rejected my legal name change. Because there are fewer than 2000 people with the last name Lee in Sverige, they do not have to allow it. They considered it, but I was not able to demonstrate my use of the name for over 10 years adequately.
I'm crushed. I don't know what more I could have done.
I will have to move back to the US, at least temporarily, to change my legal name now since it is a state matter and I have no state living abroad.
@tharper I have something risky and fun to try on the creation side.
I’ve wanted my legal name to be Jeremiah X Lee. Adding the X as a middle initial (ahem, second first name in Sverige) was going to be a separate battle after changing my family name.
If I lose my appeal, I will try creating “X:lee” in the Swedish tradition of colon-abbreviated family names like Thomas G:son.
@Jeremiah Awesome! Having your name mangled is a key part of the immigrant experience. Many friends of mine have lost (important) accents marks, but also taken the chance to drop naming traditions they didn't like (like mandated patronyms they didn't want due to bad relationships with their fathers).
@lorrden Yes and I will, but I have no idea what more evidence I could possibly provide. All I can do is hope a different person makes a different decision.
@Jeremiah I sincerely wish you the best of luck with the process. I hope being able to legally change your name in the US provides some comfort in this challenging moment
My legal name is Jeremiah Lee [UnsupportiveFamilyName]. I have gone as just Jeremiah Lee since I was 25. I have published, presented, been interviewed, and only introduced myself as Jeremiah Lee since then. I presented all of that to Skatteverket. Lee is not even a aristocratic Swedish family name that needs the protection of the 2000 person rule. It's used almost exclusively by immigrants. This is so so dumb and I am sad right now.
@Jeremiah this sucks but I know you are so much more than passports and paperwork. You are brilliant, determined and adventurous so I hope one day look back on this is just another speed bump you encounter on your journey to owning your most authentic self. Fuck the patriarchy. 😘
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