Emily Nordling has never met a Muslim, at least not to her knowledge. But this spring, Ms. Nordling, a 19-year-old student from Fort Thomas, Ky., gave herself a new middle name on Facebook.com, mimicking her boyfriend and shocking her father.

“Emily Hussein Nordling,” her entry now reads.

With her decision, she joined a growing band of supporters of Senator Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, who are expressing solidarity with him by informally adopting his middle name.

New York Times

Ed Hussein Kay

Isreal.

Seriously, that is my middle name. Note the difference in spelling.

really? maybe too early and you are kidding, could it be?

origin? ever told why?

My father's first name is Iseal. He was named after an uncle with the same name. Given the ribbing he got as a kid, he said he didn't want to put me through that so chose to make Isreal my middle name instead of making me an Isreal junior.

i guess i was wondering where that name came from, does this mean you are jewish?

if so, then you realize you must stop all this right wing nonsense, denounce your love for ronald reagan and join us immediately...


realize spelling different, but cant imagine where that name comes from

So is it pronounced "Is real" instead of "Is rah-el?

My father and his brothers were Etric, Dendell and Randsley. Grandpa liked to make up names. Etric became Edward in my case.

I think I'd go with "Jefferson" or "Hamilton," if I were to adopt a middle name on principle.

Some of us were doing that at the Stephanie Miller live blog last month. It's pretty funny but by now I thought it was an old meme. Glad it's catching on.

Not Jewish. Note the spelling is Isreal rather than Israel.

origin?

I know my father was named after his uncle. Beyond that I don't know.

Here's my middle name:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_f_p0CgPeyA