[Dottie]

Since I happen to know that Fable hides a great admiration for Swedish naming laws I will do my very best to indulge him.

If someone wants to change his surname he can do so, but only once an not if:
The spelling or pronunciation are unsuitable for a surname
The name is also used as a given name
The name is a "double-barrelled" name
The name is also a name on a railway station a post office or otherwise prone to confuse the public.
The name can be found offensive
The name can cause distress to the bearer.

If you change gender on a foreign surname it does not count as a change of name.

If someone loses his surname the court shall decide on a new surname.

If someone have gained the right to a peculiar surname, another person can not use a surname that can be easily confused with the peculiar name, unless he can show he has legal or traditional right to use that surname.

If a Swedish citizen lives outside Sweden these laws do not apply.

---

The sad thing IMO is that I generarly tend to find laws to be more sensible than the juridical practice is.