A Messiah By Any Other Name

The banned name is actually one of the top growing baby names...

Messiah doesn't look too worried

Amanda Warren

Another example of a judge seeing an opening and running away with it. And it's another real one.

A simple dispute between two parents over their child's last name somehow magically turned into the judge bestowing a new first name and banishing his actual name, Messiah.

Tennesee child support judge Lu Ann Ballew ordered Jaleesa Martin to change 7-month-old Messiah DeShawn Martin's name to Martin DeShawn McCullough. Father's last name.

Do you wonder if she must stay up late at night with panic attacks thinking of all the people she couldn't prevent being named Jesus? Perhaps there are parts of the world blotted out of her travel bucket list. A reporter actually asked her about it (below, highly recommended watch) and she said she thought about that but of course, it's not relevant to this case.

Jaleesa said:

I was shocked. I never intended on naming my son Messiah because it means God and I didn't think a judge could make me change my baby's name because of her religious beliefs.

Everybody believes what they want so I think I should be able to name my child what I want to name him, not someone else.

Turns out, lots of moms are naming their child Messiah and not just for its omnipotence. It's actually the number 4 top growing name for male babies as of 2011. Type in the name in the search box and see how rapidly the name is gaining traction.

Ballew insists the issue is that his name is considered a title reserved for only one person who earned it. Wouldn't a real title be The Messiah, The Christ, The Son of Man or Our Savior?

No more Apollos, Christians, Angelas, Divinas, Juniors, Hunters, Archers, Pilot Inspektors, or Moon Units, The Man is really getting out of control these days.
Unfortunately, she didn't give a stern suggestion, which would be pretty outrageous....but an order. And she stands by it insisting that this decision is best for the child's future because in 'those there parts' he might get some guff. And, that he didn't get a choice for his name - no kidding. Since this incident is so strange, what does one do in this situation? The judge is ordering the parents to get a new birth certificate. Martin is appealing the case.

And is it not super confusing that the new name the judge ordered for the baby is his mother's last name?? Like...more confusing than having a name growing in popularity? Can you imagine calling your kid by your last name? Plus, he's going to be in 1st grade with three other Messiahs and think "That could have been me..."

Out of the influx of kids being named Messiah - this kid could have been 'the one.' But I guess we'll never know....

We suppose the parents could continue calling him Messiah, but then they might get a SWAT raid for not following the order - or a random lightning strike.

Let's make a baby and name him The One and Only Christ Our Savior Buddha Mohammad Krishna Kid Formerly Known as Prince Why Can't We All Just Get Along?

PS - Don't you love how the newscasters say "A judge can't just change any baby's name" - insinuating that they actually do have that right? And, "a question with no single answer...an interesting debate." 

Word to the wise - leave judges out of ANY personal disputes. What if they decide you'll have an easier road ahead as the opposite gender? Better start practicing your stiletto walk.

Source: http://www.wbir.com/news/article/283997/2/Judge-orders-babys-name-be-changed-from-Messiah

Read other articles by Amanda Warren

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