Messiah too good a name for baby

[katmai]

NEWPORT, Tenn. (AP) — A judge in Tennessee changed a 7-month-old boy's name to Martin from Messiah, saying the religious name was earned by one person and "that one person is Jesus Christ."

Child Support Magistrate Lu Ann Ballew ordered the name change last week, according to WBIR-TV (http://on.wbir.com/1cDOeTY). The boy's parents were in court because they could not agree on the child's last name, but when the judge heard the boy's first name, she ordered it changed, too.

"It could put him at odds with a lot of people and at this point he has had no choice in what his name is," Ballew said.

It was the first time she ordered a first name change, the judge said.

Messiah was No. 4 among the fastest-rising baby names in 2012, according to the Social Security Administration's annual list of popular baby names.

The judge in eastern Tennessee said the baby was to be named Martin DeShawn McCullough, which includes both parents' last name.

The boy's mother, Jaleesa Martin, of Newport, said she will appeal. She says Messiah is unique and she liked how it sounded alongside the boy's two siblings — Micah and Mason.

"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," Martin said.

Ballew said the name Messiah could cause problems if the child grows up in Cocke County, which has a large Christian population.

"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 judge said.

[Valmy]

"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 judge said.

WTF?  Strange a guy dictating theology from the bench would be so mind bogglingly ignorant of the Bible.

[Tonitrus]

"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 judge said.

WTF?  Strange a guy dictating theology from the bench would be so mind bogglingly ignorant of the Bible.

The guy wasn't a guy.

[Valmy]

Well then she should have remembered 1 Timothy 2:11 and not gone on preaching 

[Eddie Teach]

The name "Jesus" however is a dime a dozen.

[dps]

I can't see this one being upheld on appeal.

[Ideologue]

NEWPORT, Tenn. (AP) — A judge in Tennessee changed a 7-month-old boy's name to Martin from Messiah, saying the religious name was earned by one person and "that one person is Jesus Christ."

See, the person I feel bad for is the law grad who works for a year for this woman and then winds up in doc review, while the magistrate who clearly violated at least two First Amendment principles in a way only a complete retard could do will be just fine, get her pension, and so on.

[CountDeMoney]

See, the person I feel bad for is the law grad who works for a year for this woman and then winds up in doc review, while the magistrate who clearly violated at least two First Amendment principles in a way only a complete retard could do will be just fine, get her pension, and so on.

Everybody has to wait their turn, rookie.

[Scipio]

NEWPORT, Tenn. (AP) — A judge in Tennessee changed a 7-month-old boy's name to Martin from Messiah, saying the religious name was earned by one person and "that one person is Jesus Christ."

See, the person I feel bad for is the law grad who works for a year for this woman and then winds up in doc review, while the magistrate who clearly violated at least two First Amendment principles in a way only a complete retard could do will be just fine, get her pension, and so on.

Pretty sure this violates the judicial canons as well.  So this judge may be up for a reprimand.

[mongers]

Good, it's about time someone got a handel on the overuse of this name.

[CountDeMoney]

Boo. Hiss.  Boo.

[Eddie Teach]

Hallelujah.

[Brazen]

I bet he'll be a very naughty boy.

[Valmy]

I bet he'll be a very naught boy.

Yeah it is like naming a daughter 'chastity'.

I mean you are just asking for it.

[Viking]

From a babynames website, synonyms to Messiah include

Anjita, Carsten, Chandnin, Chrys, Crysta, Karsten, Khristos, Krist, Kristian, Kristin, Kristr, Krystan and Samoel.

There are lots of Karstens, Kristians and Kristins around here.