Should a Judge Be Allowed to Change a Baby's Name?

It may have been one of the fastest-rising baby names in 2012, but a judge recently decided "Messiah" was not an appropriate name for a 7-month-old Tennessee boy.

Child Support Magistrate Lu Ann Ballew ordered the name change after the baby's parents appeared in court because they could not decide on a surname.

According to WBIR-TV, Ballew decided the child's name should be Martin DeShawn McCullough -- a name which included both the parents surnames while omitting the given name of "Messiah."

"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," Judge Ballew told WBIR.

Ballew explained the child's name could put him "at odds with a lot of people."

Messiah, which means expected savior or deliverer, is listed as No. 387 in name popularity for 2012 according to Nameberry.com. The baby name site describes Messiah as being "for parents who have high expectations for their son."

The expectations Jaleesa Martin, Messiah's mother, has for her son are not known, but her expectations of the judicial system are.

"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 according to the Daily Mail.

Martin is appealing Ballew's decision. The case will go before the Cocke County Chancellor on Sept. 17.

Should a judge be allowed to change a baby's name? Under what circumstances would a name change be warranted? Should all baby names be subjected to governmental approval as required in some countries? Let us know in the comments.