SUNGAI PETANI: Princess Aura Nurr Ermily Amara Auliya Bidadari Nawal El Zendra has become a much talked about topic, but for the one-year-old toddler's family, there is nothing odd about it as long names have become a norm for them.
While Princess Aura has been certified by the National Registration Department (NRD) as having the longest name in Malaysia to date, two of her older siblings also have lengthy names.
Since media outlets published the news yesterday, many took to criticising the parents for what they deemed as burdening the child.
However Princess Aura's parents Mohd Suffian Mohd Saleh, 37, and Nurul Huda Ariffin, 32, do not mind the criticism.
Princess Aura, the youngest of five siblings, has a brother whose name is Prince Muhammad Ahmad Ashrafi Auliya Alfarezel Rasya Sidra, 2, and a sister whose name is Princess Amanda Auliya Sofea Nur Jelita, 3.
"At first, the NRD shortlisted the names of both our son and Princess Aura, and then our youngest was announced as having the longest name.
"We are happy with the announcement despite receiving various reaction, we are not angry with comments from the public because it is their right to give their views," Nurul Huda who goes by 'Puteri Tujuh' on Facebook said when met at their home, here, today.
Nurul Huda said the inspiration for the names came when she and her husband were visiting the grave of a well know Islamic preacher in Indonesia, also known as 'wali songo', Sunan Gunung Jati Sheikh Hidayatullah Auliya Maulana Sultan Hassanuddin in Cirebon, central Java.
"It all started when we had work to do in a district in Indonesia and at the time I was pregnant with my third child. When we were there, we were invited by a (local) leader and locals there to visit the grave of one of Indonesia's 'wali songo'.
"So we wanted to name our third child after the wali's name and since then, everytime I get pregnant, I would go there to get inspiration with regard to naming my child and this was also agreed upon by an ustaz there," she said.
As for Mohd Suffian, he does not feel the lengthy names will make his children face difficulties when they start schooling or in their lives.
"This shouldn't even be an issue, I believe in time they will get used to the names we gave and those around them too will accept it, just as how they accept other names," he said.
Mohd Suffian added that he and his wife have also agreed to continue using 'Prince' for boys and 'Princess' for girls in their family.
"We want our generation in the future to start their names with 'Prince' for boys and 'Princess' for girls even when we are no longer around."