This paper discusses the reading and reconstruction of rune stone U 253 from Fresta in Uppland. It is claimed that the same anonymous rune carver was also responsible for U 277 and U 294. The paper investigates three odd spellings of personal names with an epenthetic r-rune: kuþrlaug/kuþrlauk Guðlaug, U 253/U 294, þiuþreiþr Þiūðhæiðr, Ög 93, and the female name Undrlaug, Sö 280 and 328. All three cases, however, call
for individual phonological and etymological explanations. It is argued, finally, that the name of the deceased husband on U 253 can most probably be read as Sylfa, and an etymology for this hitherto uninterpreted name is put forward.