After a hearing for a dispute over the last name of a seven-month-old boy, the parents ended up being given a new first name for their son.
Originally named Messiah DeShawn Martin, his parents were in a child support hearing because they could not agree on his last name. However, upon hearing the baby’s first name, Child Support Magistrate Lu Ann Ballew ordered his name be changed from Messiah to Martin, which is also the mother’s last name, stating that the title of ‘Messiah’ had been earned by one person “and that one person is Jesus Christ”.
Despite Messiah being one of the fastest rising baby names in 2012 in the USA, the judge ordered that the baby’s name be changed to Martin, arguing that, if he were called Messiah, “It could put him at odds with a lot of people”, adding, “At this point he has had no choice in what his name is.”
The baby’s mother, Jaleesa Martin, said she would appeal against the judge’s order, telling WBIR TV, “I didn’t think a judge could change my baby’s name because of her religious beliefs.”
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