Due to the parents’ separation before the girl was born and their inability to agree on a name, a court has had to intervene to determine what to call a two-year-old girl.
The girl’s birth had not yet been registered, with each parent referring to her by a different name.
The Family Court of Australia ruled in favor of the first name selected by the mother, mandating that the girl be registered using that name.
Previously, she had been known by her father’s surname.
Justice Colin Forrest was tasked with deciding on the name, as well as determining the time the child and her sibling spent with each parent.
He remarked, “I am led to conclude that the father’s resistance to the name chosen by the mother reflects his ongoing desire to control her and parenting decisions regarding these two children.”
He pointed out that if the child became accustomed to two different names, it was probable she would learn to manage that situation.
Furthermore, he noted that ultimately, she would be able to decide which name she wished to use.
However, he highlighted that the issue stemmed from the unregistered birth, necessitating court intervention.
During the court proceedings, the mother explained that she chose the girl’s name based on its meaning and the impression the toddler made when she was born, and she proposed a compromise.
She offered to hyphenate the two names, but the father strongly rejected this idea.
The father also asserted that the mother’s name choice was blasphemous according to his Islamic beliefs.
Justice Forrest stated that there was no evidence to suggest the name was offensive to Islam.
He also disclosed that the child was widely recognized by the name the mother selected, further supporting the need for it to be registered.
by Sel Hurst