A judge in Tennessee has changed a seven-month-old baby boy’s name from Messiah to Martin, claiming the name befits only one person, and “that person is Jesus Christ”.
Child Support Magistrate Le Ann Ballew ordered the name change last week, WBIR-TV reports.
The channel adds the child’s parents were in court because they could not agree on his last name, but when Ballew heard his first name, she ordered that changed, too.
He's not the Messiah: Martin DeShawn McCullough
"The word Messiah is a title and it's a title that has only been earned by one person and that one person is Jesus Christ," the Associated Press reports the judge as stating.
“It could put him at odds with a lot of people and at this point he has no choice in what his name is.”
The little boy is now named Martin DeShawn McCullough, which includes both parents’ last names.
The child’s mother Jaleesa Martin, says she plans to appeal.
Messiah was the fourth fastest rising baby name in 2012, citing the Social Security Administration’s annual list of popular baby names.
According to recent findings released by the Office of National Statistics, Harry and Amelia were the most popular first names given to babies born in England and Wales in 2012.
Muhammad was the favourite name for boys born in London.