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Starbaby News: Welcome Harper Seven Beckham

July 10, 2011 By appellationmountain 34 Comments

Victoria and David Beckham

After speculation that they’d name their darling daughter Atlanta or Justice or Gucci or something startlingly unusual, the Beckhams, those ever-so daring baby namers, have dubbed their daughter Harper Seven.

Harper wouldn’t be surprising most places in the US. Amongst the glamorous, she’s as average as Emily. Dave Grohl, Lisa Marie Presley, Neil Patrick Harris, Tiffani Thiessen … who doesn’t have a Harper?

But Harper is a great name. It works well with brothers Brooklyn, Romeo, and Cruz. Plus Seven is completely daffy and stylish at once – very Beckham-esque. It does remind me of creepy crime thriller Jennifer Eight – but nonetheless, I like the unexpected kick of the number in the middle.

What do you think?

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Comments

  1. Chelsea says

    July 16, 2011 at 5:53 PM

    David Beckham has revealed the “lot of thought” that went into naming Harper Seven.

    http://www.digitalspy.com/celebrity/news/a330130/david-beckham-reveals-meaning-behind-harper-seven-name.html

    Reply
  2. annamaria says

    July 12, 2011 at 9:40 PM

    I dont hate it but all I see is Harper Steven. Which makes it so much harder for me to realize the name is for a girl.

    Reply
  3. liz says

    July 12, 2011 at 5:46 PM

    I can’t figure out how to reply in the right place, but thanks for your comments on my novel-names. Mason is supposed to be the oldest, b. late 90s and Marlo the youngest, b. late 00s. Thanks for commenting!

    Reply
  4. appellationmountain says

    July 12, 2011 at 4:29 AM

    Harper Seven doesn’t really scream girl, does she? Victoria made late-in-pregnancy comments about liking to dress girls in a more conventionally feminine style – we’ll see if that means pink stripey tees or the full-on Suri Cruise approach. It is interesting to me that parents’ naming style doesn’t necessarily translate to other aspects of parenting. I always think that with Toddlers & Tiaras – I’d expect them all to be called Anastasia Elisabetta Raquelline Mae or something equally feminissa, but instead they’re all Hailey and Madison, relatively boyish choices.

    Reply
  5. Lemon says

    July 11, 2011 at 9:48 PM

    While I thought they’d go feminine after three boys for sure – my vote was Dahlia Caroline – I’m not at all disappointed by Harper’s name. You’re right. There are lots of Harper’s in Hollywood. But, none of them will have the influence that Harper Beckham most certainly will. Do I think Harper is trendy? No. She’s on trend. She’s subtly unisex, and I say subtle because she’s one of the more feminine “unisex” names if you ask me, and she’s a literary surname. She’s just a great name! In my view, many of the H “unisex” names are – Harper, Hayden, Hollis, Hadley, Halsey – I like them all.

    Seven is odd. I honestly don’t consider the Beckham name style to be that odd. Brooklyn isn’t weird. Maybe he was when the boy was born, but we’ve been using place names for a while. Romeo? Sure, he’s mythological and whatnot, but not entirely absurd. And, Cruz. Not commonplace in our English-speaking countries, but again, not unheard of. Not “crazy.” Seven? Weird. But, at the same time, so very not weird. All the reasons they chose Seven are cool! Harper was seven pounds, they said, and she was born in the seventh month, on the seventh day of the week, during the seventh hour, even? And, can we not forget to mention Daddy’s jersey number? In all likelihood, Harper is the last Beckham child. Why not pay tribute to good ole dad’s legacy with “Seven.” I agree that you shouldn’t use two unisex names in one child’s name, and Harper Seven doesn’t really follow that rule, but I’m okay with it because I consider Harper girly compared to other “unisex” names – also, Tiffani Thiessen’s Harper Renn doesn’t quite make the cut, either.

    Finally, I see why they chose Seven, but after using such classics in the middle for their boys, I was shocked! Brooklyn Joseph (one of David’s middle names), Romeo James, and Cruz David. I guess if I were them, and I really wanted Seven in there, I’d give Miss Harper two middle names. I’d choose from Victoria, Caroline (Victoria’s middle name), Georgina (David’s mom’s middle name and his sister’s middle name), Jacqueline (Victoria’s mom), or Louise (Victoria’s sister and David’s sister’s middle name). Thus, I propose they change Harper’s name to…wait for it…Harper Carolina Seven Beckham! Carolina = Caroline + Georgina. Done!

    Reply
    • appellationmountain says

      July 12, 2011 at 4:24 AM

      Lemon, I think your distinction between “trendy” and “on trend” is a good one. Trendy is dismissive, but on trend honors the reality that even the most classic names come in and out of fashion.

      Reply
  6. Joy says

    July 11, 2011 at 4:30 PM

    I’m fine with Seven–it’s a quirky, unisex, word name that has a special meaning to them. A nice choice for the middle name. I used to watch Star Trek: Voyager, and I got used to a character named Seven (Jeri Ryan).

    I don’t like how Harper Beckham sounds out loud. Plus it has the “law firm” sound of surnames strung together.

    Like everyone else, I expected her to have a first name with a distinctly “not-British” feel. Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz sound American, Italian and Spanish respectively. Maybe Brigitte or Maiko?

    Reply
    • liz says

      July 12, 2011 at 5:47 PM

      Haha! It totally has a law-firm sound.

      Reply
  7. English Kate says

    July 11, 2011 at 3:53 PM

    Liz, I’m pretty sure their middle names are the shockingly normal Brooklyn Joseph, Romeo James and Cruz David. I’m pretty underwhelmed by Harper Seven, it’s not at all what I expected. Harper seems like a standard celebrity name as everyone has already mentioned and not at all in line with their usual standards. Seven is more what I would have expected, perhaps preceded by a more feminine first name though.

    Reply
  8. liz says

    July 11, 2011 at 12:25 PM

    I definitely thought they’d go more girly and off the beaten track…. but it’s just fine by me 🙂

    Reply
  9. Sarah A says

    July 11, 2011 at 12:18 PM

    I think it’s interesting that we just had a huge discussion on here about unisex names and one of the general consensus seemed to be that they ought to be paired with a gender specific middle name. Harper Seven? I would have no idea if that’s male or female. Harper Victoria, however, would have been lovely. While I don’t care for Harper myself, it’s not that horrible.

    I said this over at FB and I’ll reiterate: Harper and Brooklyn sound like 2 sisters while Romeo and Cruz sound like 2 brothers. Although, maybe kudos to them for choosing another unisex name??

    Reply
    • liz says

      July 11, 2011 at 12:27 PM

      I agree about your match-ups, although while Romeo and Cruz sound like two brothers; Harper & Brooklyn sound like a sibset that could be truly either two girls, two boys, or one of each. But in terms of style, those are the two couplings. What do you all think of this sibset: Mason, Lorna, Cedric, & Marlo? It’s for a novel I’m working on.

      Reply
      • Sarah A says

        July 11, 2011 at 7:18 PM

        I agreee, siblings named Brooklyn and Harper could be any combination. I guess what I meant is that knowing Harper is a girl, a sibling named Brooklyn sounds like it would be a girl, and vice versa.

        My opinion about your sibset is that Mason is kind of the odd one out. Maybe I’m just all Mason-ed out by Kourtney Kardashian, but it sounds uber-trendy to me whereas Lorna, Cedric, and Marlo sound like a vintage-ish, classic, and kind of Southern set. Hope that helps 😉

        Reply
      • Chelsea says

        July 12, 2011 at 12:40 AM

        I agree too. If i looked at the sibset I’d assume that Brooklyn and Harper were sisters since Romeo and Cruz look comparatively much more masculine. I think Brooklyn and Harper match up okay as unisex names, but Brooklyn might look to Romeo and Cruz and feel he got the short straw.

        Reply
      • appellationmountain says

        July 12, 2011 at 4:21 AM

        It depends. Are these kids born in the last decade or so? If so, I agree that Mason feels like the odd one out – unless there’s a backstory, like it is their mother’s maiden name. If we’re talking about another historical period, Marlo might stick out – though by today’s standards, Lorna and Marlo sound like sisters to me, and Cedric seems like a brother to either. Though Lorna and Marla might be slightly more intuitive, depending on the story’s setting and character’s bios.

        Reply
  10. appellationmountain says

    July 11, 2011 at 12:15 PM

    I adore Septime – more subtle, but then, after Brooklyn’s name, I’m not sure subtle is their speed!

    Reply
  11. Dearest says

    July 11, 2011 at 11:14 AM

    It sounds like a boy, and Harper is already popular, so I’m unimpressed like a lot of people here. I actually feel sorry for her for having such a masculine name…
    Harper Luna Septima, now that would have impressed me! I would have rejoiced.
    I saw someone mention her being named after Harper’s Bazaar, Bazaar in the middle spot would have been more intriguing, if difficult to get to work.

    Reply
  12. Rosy says

    July 11, 2011 at 7:16 AM

    Soo boring. What is she, the fifth or sixth celebrity baby Harper? Ignoring the fact that I have an extreme personal aversion to Harper ( mostly because of its surname status, and its harpyish sound) it’s just so trendy and unpredictable. And Seven?? That’s not even unique, either.

    Reply
  13. SkyeRhyly says

    July 11, 2011 at 7:07 AM

    I’m really disappointed. I expected something really feminine for their first girl, and instead they give her a masculine name and a number. Not impressed.

    Reply
  14. Havoye says

    July 11, 2011 at 7:06 AM

    I think Harper is awful – it sound HARsh to me and I dislike random-surnames-as-names generally. And I can’t share your enthusiasm about Seven; I wouldn’t give a number name to a pet, much less a child.

    I wish they’d gone with an English classic – Victoria herself has one of the loveliest of these names – but that was probably too much to hope for. I’d heard a rumour that they were going to call her Felicity and that would have been a much better choice in my opinion, not only because it flows better with Beckham. It wouldn’t be totally out of place with her brothers’ names, either.

    Reply
  15. Marianne says

    July 11, 2011 at 6:24 AM

    I like Harper OK, but I don’t like the combo of Harper and Seven. Kind of a jolt. I think they should have done something more unusual for a first name.

    Reply
  16. Catherine says

    July 11, 2011 at 4:38 AM

    I am surprising even myself by saying this but I love Harper (would never use it myself) for their daughter as it’s also a subtle musical allusion to how Posh got famous. A harper is one who harps, after all 🙂 Seven, well I’ve played a D&D character named Seven before.

    (the main reason I’d never use it is because of Stephen Harper, a politician I utterly despise)

    Reply
  17. waltzingmorethanmatilda says

    July 11, 2011 at 12:12 AM

    The Beckhams said they would give their daughter a name that reflected something significant about their lives during the pregnancy; I guess Harper is meant to be after Harper’s Bazaar, which Victoria has been very involved in (has her own blog or something as well with them I think).

    I thought she would have a traditional middle name like her brothers, but I guess new naming rules for girls!

    Reply
    • liz says

      July 11, 2011 at 12:30 PM

      what are the boys middle names?

      Reply
  18. Chelsea says

    July 10, 2011 at 11:14 PM

    Being a footie fan I got the seven reference immediately, but wondered why they used it for their daughter and not Brooklyn in the first place.

    I think Brooklyn may come out of this thinkng he has the “girliest” name of all still, definitely compared with Romeo and Cruz, but even maybe Harper too?

    Reply
  19. Laura says

    July 10, 2011 at 10:12 PM

    Harper is a really nice name. I liked it a even more five years ago before you heard it on every playground. Seven reminds me a of the “Seven” Seinfeld episode – it’s a joke.

    Reply
    • appellationmountain says

      July 11, 2011 at 12:13 PM

      I thought of that immediately – I’m not into sports enough to recognize the reference.

      Reply
  20. Emily says

    July 10, 2011 at 9:41 PM

    Harper is already so trendy. I think Miss Harper Beckham might succeed in sending the name to the top of the charts – top 30 at least.

    Reply
    • appellationmountain says

      July 11, 2011 at 12:12 PM

      I agree!

      Reply
  21. Charlotte Vera says

    July 10, 2011 at 9:30 PM

    Meh. I hear “Harper” and think “Stephen Harper, current Prime Minister of Canada”.

    Reply
    • Julie says

      July 11, 2011 at 11:45 AM

      I’m not Canadian, but I read the name as Harper, Steven Beckham.

      Harper is one of the few surnames I like… but I expected something more feminine and unusual like Flavia or Leda.

      Reply
  22. Names4Real says

    July 10, 2011 at 9:16 PM

    I feel a little disappointed because just liked you said, “who doesn’t have a Harper? in Hollywood.” I expected something more, although I do like the quirky Seven in the middle. I figured they would go with something girly/unique after three boys, but I’m glad they didn’t keep us in suspense and announced her name quickly.

    Now let’s hope Kate Hudson announces her son’s name soon. 🙂

    Reply
  23. H says

    July 10, 2011 at 8:35 PM

    I loved it. Harper’s popular, but a lovely name overall. Also concur on the Seven.. a bit gauche but also pretty endearing (obviously a sweet tribute to David), just like the Beckham family.

    Reply

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