Kirk Franklin gave an Instagram sermon on Monday about returning to using “real names” for babies.
“My daughter just gave birth to my second grandchild,” he said in the video. “Beautiful little girl named Levi. Levi’s beautiful, but I told my daughter that I think to save the next generation, we need to go back…to real names.
He continued, “That baby should’ve been named Betty, Phillis, Geraldine, Ruby. See, we moved too far. We need some more Charlenes. We got to take it back if we’re going to change the world. Bring back Johnny-Mae, Jeanette, Deborah. God bless you.”
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The Black Twitter choir had something to say to the “Melodies From Heaven” singer.
Imagine me, calling my 3 year old son, “Come here Earl!” 😂
— Crafty Tippy (@CraftyTippy) March 6, 2023
😂🤣 nobody wants to hold a baby Earl. Child’s name will be changed to “E” real quick.
— Dre (@_50shadesof_dre) March 6, 2023
Don’t nobody wanna hold baby Betty
— Private Chef 👩🏽🍳💙💛🏀 (@SheMadeUCook) March 6, 2023
😂😂we not naming these kids Betty and Josephine in this era @kirkfranklin Levi is much better than Kristian Dior Chanel Dior and Ashton Martin Dior 🙏🏾💜
— Kenya The Biz Builder (@KenyaCarterKnws) March 6, 2023
The scream I almost scrumt at Charlene. Be forreal Kirk. 🤣🤣😂
— Ashlee (@tweetwithashlee) March 7, 2023
Kirk silly for those grandma great grandma names
— Dee’s Custom Designs (@deescustomss) March 7, 2023
People in his comment section began to cut up.
“All those names come with a smock and house slippers,” a commenter wrote.
Another user took a page from Franklin’s “Stomp” song, writing, “For those of you who think kids names has gone too far… .”
The actual lyric is “For those of you that think gospel music has gone too far.”
“No one is born with the name Betty. They just get it when they turn 65.”
Comedian Steve Harvey and gospel singer Anthony Hamilton agreed on the name Peal being a good example.
