A French couple who named their baby son Jihad are under investigation after authorities in Toulouse, southern France took the case to prosecutors to see if the name was lawful.

Once the case goes to court, a judge will decide whether the parents must change the name of the child who was born in August, according to the Telegraph.

The Arabic name "Jihad" has various meanings, one being "an effort to achieve good," but in recent years the term has become most-closely associated with violent terrorism.

According to the French law, parents are free to choose any name which is not considered harmful to their child or infringing the rights of third parties.