Parents sue Georgia state for right to name daughter 'Allah'

Continue clicking to learn about the baby names on the rise for 2017. less Georgia parents Elizabeth Handy and Bilal Walk want to name their daughter ZalyKha Graceful Lorraina Allah, but the state is telling them they can't name her that because neither of their last names are "Allah." As a result, the parents are taking the state to court. Georgia parents Elizabeth Handy and Bilal Walk want to name their daughter ZalyKha Graceful Lorraina Allah, but the state is telling them they can't name her that because neither of their last names are ... more Photo: Alexander Maier Photo: Alexander Maier Image 1 of / 152 Caption Close Parents sue Georgia state for right to name daughter 'Allah' 1 / 152 Back to Gallery

What's in a name? Apparently a lot to one Georgia couple who are suing the state for not allowing them to give their daughter the last name "Allah."

With the help of the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia, Elizabeth Handy and Bilal Walk are suing after officials allegedly refused to grant their daughter - ZalyKha Graceful Lorraina Allah - a birth certificate with her chosen name. State law requires the baby's surname to be either that of the father, or of the mother, for the initial birth record, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

RISE UP: These are the top baby names on the rise for 2017, according to Nameberry

Because the 22-month-old has not been able to get a birth certificate, the parents say they are unable to get a Social Security number and the parents anticipate problems with access to health care, schools and travel.

"Simply put, we have a personal understanding that we exercise in regards to the names," Walk told the AJC. "It is nothing that we want to go into detail about, because it is not important. What is important is the language of the statute and our rights as parents."

The couple says they chose the name "Allah" because it is "noble." Furthermore, they had no problems from the state in naming their first child, three-year-old Masterful Mosirah Aly Allah.

MOST POPULAR: These are the top girl and boy names of 2016

"Government has no business telling parents what they can and cannot name their children," Andrea Young, ACLU of Georgia Executive Director, told WSB-TV. "Elizabeth and Bilal jumped through every bureaucratic hoop that's required to obtain a birth certificate for their daughter, but officials at the Department of Public Health refused to record the birth certificate with the name of their choice. "

According to the Huffington Post, the couple is six month pregnant with their third child and don't want to go through the same legal hoops for their next child, whom they also plan to give the last name "Allah".

If you're looking for baby name inspiration, click through the gallery above to learn the baby names on the rise for 2017.

LONE STAR STATE: These names are the most popular in Texas