Messiah

[fanjodisfunction]

So a judge in Tennessee USA has ordered parents to change the name of their child from Messiah to martin. So is she right? or can the parents name the child what they want?

uk.news.yahoo.com/tennessee-judge-orders-babys-name-changed-messiah-report-024954202.html#5AtOIcb

I don't think that they should be prevented from calling him "Messiah" for the reasons the judge gave.
I think they should be prevented because its just a stupid name. But then I think that about a lot of names.

I agree that the judges reasons seem well a bit over the top. Considering the stats the articles gives about the popularity of the name.

Whether the judge acted correctly spends on the law (federal and state).

Certainly in countries such as New Zealand there are laws that limit name choices (various threads crop up on MN when they have their periodic updates on prohibited lists) and named deemed blasphemous are not permitted there (even Lucifer was on that banned list).

I am American; I saw this on the news this morning. I think that the judge is wrong and that her decision will be overturned if appealed, based on the constitutional principle that we have no established religion in the US (separation of church and state).

That's true scone, I think it will be over turned also.

It seems wrong that she decided to rule this even though that's not what they were in court about, seems harsh.

Is the name Messiah really a title?

I don't think it is a title, fanjo; I think the judge may have used that term as a possible reference to the legal principle in the US that people cannot be given titles of nobility, etc. For example, Americans can be knighted by the Queen, but they cannot call themselves Sir.

FWIW, names that are titles are used for firstnames in the US on a regular basis: Earl, Prince, Contessa, etc., and there are many surnames that are titles; King being the most obvious.

Ridiculous, what about all the Mexican boys called Jesus?

It is a title, but that doesn't prevent it from being used as a name.

I disagree with the decision, though more on the judge wanting to change the child's surname. Even if the first name was illegal/required changing, the judge has no right to challenge the child having his mother's surname and shouldn't try to enforce any other first name, just that it needs to be changed and reregistered.

Whether or not it legally needs changing I don't know, that depends the law in that area, but the judge has obviously overstepped his bounds for multiple reasons.

I think it's funny, there are loads of Jesus's, Mohamed's, etc., I wonder if there are any Ghandi's?

Another interesting thing about this case is that they were in court in the first place because they could not decide on a surname. The judge decided on the father's surname and then gave the mother's surname Martin as a first name and as the substitute for Messiah. So on what basis did the judge choose the father's surname over the mother's?

Agree that I'm not sure the judge's ruling would survive a Supreme Court challenge if that was her rationale.

But is it wrong to just want to say '....he's just a naughty boy' every time I think of this?

Agree that I'm not sure the judge's ruling would survive a Supreme Court challenge if that was her rationale.

But is it wrong to just want to say '....he's just a naughty boy' every time I think of this?

Argh, sorry.

I don't think they should ban it, naming should be up to each family without state interference.

Cross post with LittleSporks.

The judge's decision will not stand on the Messiah issue. It will be interesting to see if the choice of the father's surname will be challenged.

Messiah means "the anointed one"

I don't know if it is right or wrong and whether it would be blasphemous/disrespectful in any way from a religious POW, but I certainly think it is a very odd choice.

Jesus is another form of the name Joshua btw

I agree that unless you are going to ban the names Jesus, Mohammed, Madonna etc. then you shouldn't be banning Messiah.

It's not a great name, no, but I see no reason to outlaw it.

If other people are allowed to call their baby Messiah then the woman should have been allowed to use that name.

It's a crazy name but the same rule should apply to all babies.

Interesting Scone (though mine rhymes with cone), I was wondering why it was even in court.

I disagree with the ruling because its based on one judges personal opinion, by which I mean separate from her professional judgement based on facts. I've heard many names which are far worse!