Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK
For members

LIVING IN SWITZERLAND

Old, new, and trending: What were the most popular baby names in Switzerland in 2023?

A new list of the most common names parents in Switzerland have given their newborns reveals one interesting fact: there is no Heidi among the top 10.

Published: 23 August 2024 10:52 CEST
Old, new, and trending: What were the most popular baby names in Switzerland in 2023?
Noah or Mia? Chances are, it's one or the other. Photo: Pixabay

What is clear from the survey published on Friday by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), is that baby names, like fads in general, are cyclical – that is, they come and go in waves of popularity.

In 2023, Noah, Liam and Matteo were the most frequently given first names to newborn boys. For little girls, Mia, Emma and Sofia were the favourites.

But look: Noah retained the first place in 2023, after having already held it in 2010 and 2011; from 2013 to 2017; and then again in 2021 and 2022.

Mia had already been the most popular first name in 2013, 2015, 2016, as well as from 2019 to 2021.

Jumping (and slipping) in the ranks

Vera for girls and Kiyan for boys have seen the greatest climb in ranks between 2022 and 2023.

During the same period, the first names Thea and Maxime suffered the steepest drop, while Amaya, Lily, James, and Jaro made it to the top 100 first names for newborns.

What about surnames?

The FSO study also ranked the most widespread family names in Switzerland.

Unlike first names, which are subject to fashion trends, many surnames have remained steadfast for generations.

Therefore, Müller remains the most common surname among the permanent resident population. It is followed by Meier and Schmid.

Still, even though they form a group of 53,170 people, the Müllers (Meier: 32,657 people, Schmid: 30,332 people) represent only 0.6 percent of the the country’s population of nearly 9 million people.

While Müller is also the most frequent surname in German-speaking Switzerland (49,137 people), in French-speaking regions, da Silva is the most frequent (10,287 people), reflecting the high number of people of Portuguese descent that have settled in these cantons.
 
This is also the case for Bernasconi (2,250 people) in Italian-speaking Switzerland, and Caduff in the Romansh region (230 people). 

It’s a free country, but…

In case you are expecting a baby and plan to give your son or daughters an unusual name, keep in mind that – depending on just how “unusual” it is – it may not be approved by your local civil registry office.

That’s because Swiss law forbids parents to give their offspring bizarre names.

Years ago, new parents had to pick a name for their newborn from an official list.

The rules are more relaxed nowadays, with the only one being that a name can’t be so wacky that the child’s well-being could be damaged.

In considering this, Swiss authorities will look at whether “the child will be exposed to ridicule because of its name”.

Based on this, among actual names Swiss authorities have rejected over the years (and for a good reason) were Satan, Cain and Lucifer.

Grandma, Rose Heart, Prince Valiant and Puhbert were also turned down.

READ ALSO: Why so many baby names are banned in Switzerland

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.
For members

LIVING IN SWITZERLAND

What are the laws in Switzerland if you have fireplace in your home?

A number of homes and apartments in Switzerland have a fireplace, which is a nice feature, but it does come with certain legal responsibilities.

Published: 5 September 2024 15:57 CEST
What are the laws in Switzerland if you have fireplace in your home?

There is nothing cosier in cold weather than a wood-burning fireplace.

In fact, during the winter of 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine, sparking massive energy crisis and, consequently, higher heating costs, fireplaces were used more frequently as a source of heat — that is, until the price of wood pellets skyrocketed as well. 

But whether used for heat or general ambience, Switzerland has strict rules concerning the cleaning and maintenance of fireplaces.  And all of them involve the black-clad figure of a chimney sweep.

Here is what you should know

Called kaminfeger in German, ramoneur in French, and spazzacamino in Italian, you can’t avoid the presence of a chimney sweep if there is an active fireplace in your home.

Nothing is cosier than a fireplace in a home. Photo: Pixabay

Whether or not he (or she) really brings good luck is debatable; what is certain, however, is that if one shows up at your doorstep carrying various  rods, brushes, and vaccums, you have to let them in.

That’s because anyone who has a fireplace in their home (or a wood-burning stove, which is quite rare these days) must have it professionally cleaned periodically — usually once a year — by a chimney sweep who is officially recognised in your canton.

Usually, you will receive a note in your letter box letting you know the date and time when a chimney sweep will come to your home. If that particular date is not convenient, you can call or email the company to change the appointment.

You cannot, however, refuse to have the fireplace cleaned — not only because it is against the law, but also because you’d be putting your and your family’s health and safety at risk.

This is why:

Over time, an active fireplace gets clogged with built-up soot and dust, including a debris called creosote, which is not only toxic but highly flammable as well.

It is important to remove these materials so they don’t cause any damage.

That’s the most common scenario, but some people were surprised (and not pleasantly) to see parts of dead birds and other animals stuck in their chimneys, which were discovered during the cleaning process.

So having your chimneys and fireplaces cleaned once a year (or whatever frequency your canton requires) is a good thing; refusing to do so can result in a fine, the amount of which will be determined by your municipality.

What happens when a chimney sweep comes to your home?

If you are concerned that your house will be dirtied during the process, don’t be.

Chimney sweeps come equipped with protective sheets which they spread on your floors around the fireplace, and they will vacuum up any residues afterwards.

They will begin from the flue — a duct through which smoke leaves your fireplace —  and work their way up, ending up by the chimney on the roof.

How much does the ‘sweep’ cost and who pays for it?

The price is determined by the canton, and usually costs several hundred francs for a standard clean-up.

If unforeseen problems are discovered during the process, the chimney sweep will let you know the additional cost. Always get it in writing though, never just verbally.

As to who pays for this service, if you own your dwellings, then you will have to pay. If you are a tenant, your landlord will, unless your rental agreement states otherwise.
 

SHOW COMMENTS