/ 11 July 2011

Beckham baby saddled with the name ‘Harper Seven’

British football superstar David Beckham’s wife Victoria has given birth to a baby girl named Harper Seven, prompting innumerable observations that this might easily be mispronounced as “Half-past Seven”.

Speculation that the birth was imminent mounted after Beckham’s wife, a former member of the Spice Girls pop group, failed to accompany her husband to a weekend reception for visiting Prince William and his new wife Catherine.

“I am so proud and excited to announce the birth of our daughter Harper Seven Beckham,” wrote the footballer on his Facebook page.

“She weighed a healthy 7lbs 10oz (3.5 kilograms) and arrived at 7.55am this morning (Sunday), here in LA. Victoria is doing really well and her brothers are delighted to have a baby sister.”

A spokesperson added the baby was born at Cedars Sinai hospital in Los Angeles.

The Beckhams’ three sons also have unusual names — Brooklyn (12), Romeo (8) and Cruz (6).

The numerical middle name for the new girl is a reference to the star’s old soccer jersey number when he played for Manchester United and England’s national team. Beckham gave up the number when he joined Spain’s Real Madrid team, and used the number 23.

It wasn’t the number itself that had commentators in stitiches, but rather the unfortunate resemblence of her names to the time — half-past seven.

“That’s not a name, that’s a curfew,” said blogger Angelique Hornby.

The spokesperson dismissed as “rubbish” a report in one British newspaper that Prince William could be godfather for the latest addition to the Beckham family.

The footballer was spotted talking to Britain’s future king at a reception Friday evening at the residence of Britain’s consul-general in LA, where the royal couple stayed over the weekend.

Former England captain David, 36, and pop star-turned fashion designer Victoria, 37, married in 1999 and live in Los Angeles where he plays for LA Galaxy.

Victoria — known as “Posh Spice” during her days with the Spice Girls — had said before her pregnancy was announced that she was open to the idea of another child, but resigned to the fact that she might never have a daughter. — AFP