It was in the news recently when a Tennessee judge ordered the name of a 7-month-old boy changed to Martin from Messiah, saying Messiah was earned by just one person, Jesus Christ.

But I read an Associated Press report that said according to the Social Security Administration, King and Messiah are among the fastest-rising baby names for boys on its list of popular names.

The boy’s name that jumped the most, showing the fastest growth in popularity, was Major.

Jacob was the most popular name for a boy, for the 14th straight year. That was followed by Mason, Ethan, Noah and William (hurray for us Williams!). Liam was No. 6, reportedly its first time in the Top 10.

Daniel (my younger son’s name) slipped out of the top 10 for the first time since 1998, to No. 11.

Sophia was the favorite for girls, for the second year in a row, followed by Emma, Isabella, Olivia and Ava.

Chastity was in the top 1,000 for more than 20 years before it dropped off the list in 1994. Justice was in the top 1,000 in 1880, and then dropped off for more than 100 years before it got back on it in 1992. It was No. 518 last year.

John is now No. 28 and Mary, No. 123, reportedly the lowest ranking for each name since the list was started in 1880.

Major is reportedly up 505 spots, to No. 483, followed by Gael, Jase, Messiah and Brantley.

That judge in Tennessee would no doubt be surprised to know there are lots of Messiahs, as it jumped 246 spots to No. 387.

Other boys’ names jumping in popularity are Maverick, Armani and King.

Rising girl names include Arya, jumping 298 spots to No. 413, Perla, Catalina, Elisa and Raelynn. Raelyn with one “n” was No. 8 overall.

Losing popularity among girls’ names was Dulce, which dropped 159 spots, Mikaela, Estrella, Danna and Audrina.

William has never been out of the top 20 in more than 100 years.

A CNN report tells how New Zealand has a government agency that has to approve names.

So there are no Lucifers born in New Zealand, but no Christ or Messiah either.

The agency says names must not cause offense to a reasonable person, not be unreasonably long and should not resemble an official title and rank.

Justice has been turned down 62 times since 2001 and King 31 times during that span.

Others that reportedly got turned down were “Mafia No Fear” and “4Real” and “Anal.”

They also turned down parents who wanted to name their child * — that’s it, just the symbol for asterisk, and others who wanted to name their child . — the symbol for period.

The agency did reportedly allow the names Violence and Number 16 Bus Shelter (that one must have had a relative on the name-review board).

CNN reported that other countries have rules about naming children as well.

I’m not sure what those countries do about adults who seek to change their name, like happened in Illinois in 2008 when a school bus driver legally changed his first name to “In God” and his last name to “We Trust.”

 

WILL CHAPMAN is publisher of The Daily Iberian.