A recent contribution to the discussion about equality between the sexes in Sweden concerns the question
of whether given names should be related to biological sex. The usual pattern of given names in the
Germanic world involves a pronounced difference between female and male names. Eliminating this sextyped
naming custom would have a radical impact on the language.
One function of given names is to individualize. They serve a practical purpose. Gender-neutral names
may for obvious reasons create problems. In some countries, unisex names are even forbidden.
The question is whether abolishing sex-typed given names would in practice promote equality between
the sexes. Unisex names often tend to evolve from masculine to unisex to feminine names. Sex
stereotyping is more rigidly applied to boys than to girls. It is by no means certain that boys will be given
female names as frequently as girls are given male ones.