The Court of Justice in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais initially told a couple they couldn't name their newborn son after an ancient king because it can't "register first names that could expose their bearers to ridicule."
Danillo and Catarina Prímola told Brazilian news platform G1 they decided on the name Piyé (Piiê) -- the first black Egyptian pharaoh -- after he was mentioned in a song Danillo heard while choreographing a dance for the 2023 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. They learned that the pharaoh was a Kushite leader who conquered Egypt and established the 25th dynasty.
The couple appreciated that the name created a link between their son and his African ancestry.
"It is also important for him to know that our heritage is from African kings and queens, that he comes from these people," the boy's mother, Catarina, told the news outlet.
The court defended their decision to prohibit the parents from using the name by pointing out that it is too similar to the word plié, which is a type of ballet step. The couple considered changing the boy's name, but ultimately chose to appear before the court to explain its cultural significance.
The judge was eventually persuaded to walk back her decision, allowing Piyé to receive his birth certificate, but warned that she still believes the boy will be a target for bullies.
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