She is a fan of the Brazil football team. So is her husband and most of her family. No wonder when her name is Brazilia.

What’s in a name, many may ask. But Brazilia Shamsudheen, councillor representing the Mukhadar ward of the Kozhikode Municipal Corporation, will tell the story of how the name changed her fortune.

Her parents just wanted to give her a name that would rhyme with her elder sister Badriya’s.

But her uncle Sherif, a football fan, decided to name his niece Brazilia after his favourite team and the rest is history.

“In my childhood, it did not make much of a difference. But in college, my seniors refused to believe that my name is Brazilia. They would tease me and ask if I was Ronaldo’s girlfriend. When I said a boy my name and asked his in return, he said his name was Doughlas just to tease me,” Brazilia said.

The name made her conspicuous wherever she went. No one would forget such a name, which made matters easy for her as a councillor. As a student, she was active in arts festivals. Her name became popular when she won a few events. “I think my name had much to do with me winning the Corporation election”, she said adding that people in her ward, especially those in Nainamvalappu, were crazy about football.

Brazilia likes football but is not a regular viewer.

Her husband Shamsudheen said he never missed a good match as far as possible. Brazilia’s father is also mad about football.

Son’s name

“At one stage, I thought of naming my son Rio de Janeiro after the Brazilian city that is known for its carnivals. But then dropped the plan as I did not want to subject my child to the strange treatment that I faced,” Brazilia said.

Now the whole family is waiting for the day the world cup ball starts rolling in Brazil.