So David & Victoria Beckham had their first baby girl Sunday, and named her Harper Seven. As an ambisexual name, Harper certainly works. But what’s with the 7? Apparently, the Beckham infant weighed 7 pounds 10 ounces, was born on the seventh day of the week (Sunday), in the seventh month of the year (July), at 7:55 in the morning. Also, some people consider seven a lucky number. So ok. But still…Harper Seven???
I just hope Seven will be treated as a middle name, and fade into oblivion, as so many middle names do. Otherwise, Harper Seven can brace herself for decades of teasing about what happened to Harpers 1-6.
Unusual isn’t bad per se. Natalie Portman‘s newborn son was named after the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, Aleph, which has a nice ring to it. But just as in brand naming, there’s a fine line in baby naming between a distinctive name and one that’s ripe for ridicule. Harper Seven, I would say, is on the other side of that line. Then again, maybe if your parents are cool enough and rich enough, none of this matters.
Anyway, I wish little Harper Seven the best. Here’s looking at you, kid. And all six of your other doppelgangers.
