Parallel naming practices or names in contact? The example of Syrian first names in Sweden

The aim of the article is to describe the frequency and phonological aspects of Syrian first names in Sweden. The data is taken from Syrian citizens who were living in Sweden and had been in contact with the Syrian embassy in Stockholm between 2014 and 2018. In total, 1,119 first names (tokens) were studied: 328 are female names and 791 are male names. The research questions in focus are as follows: 1) What similarities and differences exist between Syrian female and male first names, regarding both frequency and phonological aspects? 2) What similarities and differences exist between the first names of Syrian and Swedish citizens in Sweden, regarding frequency and phonological aspects? 3) What are the possibilities of native Swedish parents accepting Syrian first names for their own children?The results show differences between female and male first names with regard to variation in first names. Further, there are similarities as well as differences between Syrian and established Swedish first names, which may lead to a lack of acceptance of using Syrian first names to name children of native Swedes. The starting point for the analysis is contact onomastics and the question of whether the Swedish naming practice is (or is not) undergoing a change due to names in contact.