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Seven seems to be kind of trendy for boys. I can think of at least two celebs who used it and I think it was used on a TV show as well.
I really like it. I love the sound and I think it's close enough to Stephen to be acceptable as a name.
Opinions?
I really like it. I love the sound and I think it's close enough to Stephen to be acceptable as a name.
Opinions?
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Replies
Huh...
I know I usually just lurk but this is kinda driving me nuts. I have known (or known of) several little Sevens, all female and all African-American. I was always under the impression that Seven was a popular name in that comunity. Maybe it's just my area.
I know I usually just lurk but this is kinda driving me nuts. I have known (or known of) several little Sevens, all female and all African-American. I was always under the impression that Seven was a popular name in that comunity. Maybe it's just my area.
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....of Nine
Great for sexy Borg children.
Great for sexy Borg children.
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I know a female Seven
She's in her mid-20s. At first I thought it was weird (and hilarious because of Seinfeld), but I got used to it. I can't really picture it on a boy though.
She's in her mid-20s. At first I thought it was weird (and hilarious because of Seinfeld), but I got used to it. I can't really picture it on a boy though.
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Haters gonna hate
I kinda dig it I think. I like the way it sounds, and it's a number that holds a lot of meaning for me. I don't think I'd use it as a first name, but it's got a cool vibe for me.
I kinda dig it I think. I like the way it sounds, and it's a number that holds a lot of meaning for me. I don't think I'd use it as a first name, but it's got a cool vibe for me.
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It gives me the creeps, honestly.
I guess I don't think it is that awful, because it IS trendy and so it's not that unexpected. But it still sounds creeptastic to me.
I guess I don't think it is that awful, because it IS trendy and so it's not that unexpected. But it still sounds creeptastic to me.
This message was edited 5/23/2012, 7:41 PM
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In 1963, Charles Schultz, who was the author of "Peanuts", did a series of comics about a little boy named 5 joining the group. 5's sisters were named 3 and 4, and 5's father had had their last name legally changed to their ZIP code. He had done this as a way of protesting how people's identities were being taken over by numbers.
Is that why it's creeptastic to you? Because our identities have been so taken over by numbers, anyway?
Is that why it's creeptastic to you? Because our identities have been so taken over by numbers, anyway?
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Yess! And Charlie Brown, always a gentleman, says of 3 and 4 "Those are nice feminine names" and 5 replies smugly "We think so!"
I read of a man once who named his cats by number, and it worked well until he got to the sixth cat. The thought of shouting "Six, Six, Six" out of his wondow was too much so the cat became Oscar.
I read of a man once who named his cats by number, and it worked well until he got to the sixth cat. The thought of shouting "Six, Six, Six" out of his wondow was too much so the cat became Oscar.
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Don't forget Six on Blossom :P I think it makes a huge difference whether you're named 7 or Seven, though.
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I actually know a child named Seven.He is a first-born, not 7th-born.
You get used to it, but it's a poor idea, I think.
He has a brother, who is not, however, called Eight, or even Six.Can't remember his name just now, but it's an actual name, Biblical, I believe.
You get used to it, but it's a poor idea, I think.
He has a brother, who is not, however, called Eight, or even Six.Can't remember his name just now, but it's an actual name, Biblical, I believe.
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...would approve.
But I'm not on board. And the Seinfeld reference just makes it sound like the punchline to a cruel joke, to me. I mean, it does SOUND namey enough.... I think it's closer to Evan or Kevin or Devin than Steven. But it's not something I'd ever consider and honestly if I ever met one I'd probably joke about it with my friends in an "omg I can't believe I actually met someone named this" sort of way
But I'm not on board. And the Seinfeld reference just makes it sound like the punchline to a cruel joke, to me. I mean, it does SOUND namey enough.... I think it's closer to Evan or Kevin or Devin than Steven. But it's not something I'd ever consider and honestly if I ever met one I'd probably joke about it with my friends in an "omg I can't believe I actually met someone named this" sort of way
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I don't really like it. It sounds too weird.
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I think seven as a name is obviously much more about the trendy aesthetic of the word "seven," as a set of sounds, rather than the concept of 7. I wouldn't use it, I find it pretty tacky, but I don't find it any more degrading than any other vacuous name.
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No, just no!
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I agree with you. It sounds cool and seems usable enough to me.
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I don't mind it. Heck, the ancient Romans already named their children numbers.
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I thought they did it because it meant something. Like, Septimus was the seventh of something real. Not just because they liked the sound of it. I could be wrong...
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Maybe Seven has also special meaning to the parents who chose it? Even if it's just their lucky number or something.
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Twenty-one has special meaning to me. If you were my daughter would you mind if I had named you Twenty-One?
Seven seems to work because it sounds like Kevin Devin and Evan, and because it's got a rep as a lucky or magic number. There's a symbolic meaning when it's an amount of something. Seven sins, seven seas, seven sisters etc. I just don't like it as a name because ... well, it's still a number. Sorry, I just can't get over it. Whatever, though - there are far worse names being used more often.
Seven seems to work because it sounds like Kevin Devin and Evan, and because it's got a rep as a lucky or magic number. There's a symbolic meaning when it's an amount of something. Seven sins, seven seas, seven sisters etc. I just don't like it as a name because ... well, it's still a number. Sorry, I just can't get over it. Whatever, though - there are far worse names being used more often.
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Comparing Seven to Twenty-one or Seventy-Two doesn't make sense. As you said Seven works as a name. So if parents happen to love a number that works as a name, like Seven, what is wrong with that? Nothing. It works fine so if it has special meaning to them they should use it.
It's the same with tree names, if you'd like to name your child after your favorite tree and it is a Willow, go for it. If it is a Bottletree, a Dodo Tree or a Prickly-ash, then don't.
What I mean is that if they happen to love the number 7 and the sound is kind of name-y I don't see a problem with them using it.
I can see why many people don't like it and that's fine. I just don't think a child would feel horrible about being named Seven. Of course he could, but he could be just as unhappy with a name like John. You just never know which name your child would like to have.
It's the same with tree names, if you'd like to name your child after your favorite tree and it is a Willow, go for it. If it is a Bottletree, a Dodo Tree or a Prickly-ash, then don't.
What I mean is that if they happen to love the number 7 and the sound is kind of name-y I don't see a problem with them using it.
I can see why many people don't like it and that's fine. I just don't think a child would feel horrible about being named Seven. Of course he could, but he could be just as unhappy with a name like John. You just never know which name your child would like to have.
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Well, I personally wouldn't like to be named a number, and the words "they happen to love the number 7" or "7 has special meaning for them" are funny to me. I can't help immediately asking, 7 whats?? To me, comparing Seven to Twenty-One totally makes sense. How about if I compare it to Three, which sounds like Lee? Or Ten, which sounds like Len and Wren? Or Thousand, which sounds like Townsend and Bertrand? I see how it is helped by sounding namey, but to me, that does not matter enough to overcome the vague horror it inspires in me and cause me to really approve of it.
Nothing's wrong with it, I just personally feel that it's sort of creepily empty, abstract and depersonalized, not namey enough for me, despite "sounding" namey - like naming someone Parallel or Secant or Degree or Ratio which could all be said to sound a little namey IMO. It doesn't work well enough for me personally. Go ahead and use it if you dig it, but in my opinion it's not a desirable name. I consider myself pretty mellow about creative naming, but 7 ... I mean, Seven does not make the grade with me.
Nothing's wrong with it, I just personally feel that it's sort of creepily empty, abstract and depersonalized, not namey enough for me, despite "sounding" namey - like naming someone Parallel or Secant or Degree or Ratio which could all be said to sound a little namey IMO. It doesn't work well enough for me personally. Go ahead and use it if you dig it, but in my opinion it's not a desirable name. I consider myself pretty mellow about creative naming, but 7 ... I mean, Seven does not make the grade with me.
This message was edited 5/24/2012, 6:45 PM
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OTish. Lately I kind of think naming kids emptyish names like Seven and Braylynn are symptoms of having not very many problems. Societally, not personally. It becomes less important to cling to something and pass it down. Sounds and whims become equally as (un)important as tradition. Does that make sense?
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Yeah, I think it makes sense. But "having not very many problems" is not resonating for me. I think you could maybe say, symptoms of not having very many solutions. Or at least, of tradition not representing any solution, and projecting a potentially negative image, since kids like Braylynn and Seven seem to be named like products or companies or characters, for image.
Seven's a magic number and that's why I think they like it, more than because it sounds namey. Magic. Like Nevaeh.
Seven's a magic number and that's why I think they like it, more than because it sounds namey. Magic. Like Nevaeh.
This message was edited 5/24/2012, 11:31 PM
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How is Nevaeh magic?
At least the number 7 has a long, long history. It's considered lucky not only in the Western world but also in China. Also it could have special meaning to the parents in other ways. The 7th day of a month that was important to them, an important date, someone who studied maths and loves numbers, whatever.
I just don't think it's fair to say someone didn't put thought into a name because he chose Seven instead of John or something. In fact I think many Marys or Johns back in the day were named because it was a name that fit in and didn't cause trouble, not because it was so special to the parents. I'm pretty sure many Emilys or Chloes were just name because their parents loved the sound. If I met someone named Seven or Reef or something or I would expect an interesting story or reason behind it that I wouldn't necessarily with Emma or Jacob. Also I associate a name like Seven more strongly with other names that are used in every day language such as Faith, Hunter or Sky than with Nevaeh or Braylynn, but maybe that's just me.
I don't even have anything against Nevaeh or Braylynn. I'm pretty sure if you had asked board members 10 years ago what they thought of Nevaeh they would have thought it was a nice biblical name or something. I thought that at first before realizing what it really was.
Yeah, I guess what I want to say is that I think it's unfair to assume someone was named for image just because he has a new name like Seven and not something that is centuries old like Hannah.
At least the number 7 has a long, long history. It's considered lucky not only in the Western world but also in China. Also it could have special meaning to the parents in other ways. The 7th day of a month that was important to them, an important date, someone who studied maths and loves numbers, whatever.
I just don't think it's fair to say someone didn't put thought into a name because he chose Seven instead of John or something. In fact I think many Marys or Johns back in the day were named because it was a name that fit in and didn't cause trouble, not because it was so special to the parents. I'm pretty sure many Emilys or Chloes were just name because their parents loved the sound. If I met someone named Seven or Reef or something or I would expect an interesting story or reason behind it that I wouldn't necessarily with Emma or Jacob. Also I associate a name like Seven more strongly with other names that are used in every day language such as Faith, Hunter or Sky than with Nevaeh or Braylynn, but maybe that's just me.
I don't even have anything against Nevaeh or Braylynn. I'm pretty sure if you had asked board members 10 years ago what they thought of Nevaeh they would have thought it was a nice biblical name or something. I thought that at first before realizing what it really was.
Yeah, I guess what I want to say is that I think it's unfair to assume someone was named for image just because he has a new name like Seven and not something that is centuries old like Hannah.
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*groan*
This is a little frustrating. Are you trolling me? Lol, it's kinda fun.
Nevaeh is magic because it's spelled backwards.
I didn't SAY someone didn't put thought into a name because he chose Seven instead of John. Isn't it more like, a person would put a great deal more thought into Seven, than John?
Marys or Johns back in the day were named because it was a name that fit in and didn't cause trouble
Yeah ... this is I was trying to get at in my reply which was to Ludwig's comment. Why is "not causing trouble" not desirable any more? You sound as dismissive of traditional naming, as you seem to accuse me of being about nontraditional naming. I think Braylynn and Seven's parents choose those names, based on sound and image, for reasons that might seem superficially lame, but actually are NOT entirely numbskulled. I think there's a reason why such names come off as insubstantial ... but there's also a reason why parents would want a name that is not insubstantial per se, but substantially insubstantial. I don't think I can explain myself very well, I'm sorry - but please, stop implying that I am disrespecting people who name their kids Nevaeh, Braylynn, Seven or whatever. I'm not better than them. That's not what this conversation was about, for me.
Ludwig was grouping Nevaeh and Braylynn together because they are together in the category "not traditional" - like, they don't honor certain values? It's not that they are the same style. She was thinking about the arc of history I think ... thinking about how the traditional names that people (which people? well duh, the mainstream ...) have used proudly for centuries - like a piece of heritage so ingrained that it wasn't even thought about - lost their appeal for so many folks. It loses appeal because it isn't seen as beneficial - for whatever reason, we were wondering. If I understood her right.
This is a little frustrating. Are you trolling me? Lol, it's kinda fun.
Nevaeh is magic because it's spelled backwards.
I didn't SAY someone didn't put thought into a name because he chose Seven instead of John. Isn't it more like, a person would put a great deal more thought into Seven, than John?
Marys or Johns back in the day were named because it was a name that fit in and didn't cause trouble
Yeah ... this is I was trying to get at in my reply which was to Ludwig's comment. Why is "not causing trouble" not desirable any more? You sound as dismissive of traditional naming, as you seem to accuse me of being about nontraditional naming. I think Braylynn and Seven's parents choose those names, based on sound and image, for reasons that might seem superficially lame, but actually are NOT entirely numbskulled. I think there's a reason why such names come off as insubstantial ... but there's also a reason why parents would want a name that is not insubstantial per se, but substantially insubstantial. I don't think I can explain myself very well, I'm sorry - but please, stop implying that I am disrespecting people who name their kids Nevaeh, Braylynn, Seven or whatever. I'm not better than them. That's not what this conversation was about, for me.
Ludwig was grouping Nevaeh and Braylynn together because they are together in the category "not traditional" - like, they don't honor certain values? It's not that they are the same style. She was thinking about the arc of history I think ... thinking about how the traditional names that people (which people? well duh, the mainstream ...) have used proudly for centuries - like a piece of heritage so ingrained that it wasn't even thought about - lost their appeal for so many folks. It loses appeal because it isn't seen as beneficial - for whatever reason, we were wondering. If I understood her right.
This message was edited 5/25/2012, 9:14 AM
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Haha no, I just realized that we had the Evan conversation. I remember I had it but not with whom :P
No, not at all. I like many classic names such as James, Aaron and Luke.
'Not causing trouble' is not desirable when it's the only reason to choose a name. Just my opinion, of course. But my friend who was named Anna was almost named Ivy and her parents simply decided on Anna because they thought it would cause her less trouble in life (I think they were especially worried about 'Poison Ivy' jokes, because a movie of that name came out before she was born) and I just think that's kind of sad because they liked Ivy more but wanted to be safe. I mean to each their own, I realize they had their child's best interest at heart so you can't argue with that.
Oh I get what you mean now, about the 'not very many problems' thing. I kind of agree. I think some time ago it was more desirable to fit in than stand out. I remember reading about naming in the 1600s in England and people would often be named after members of society they knew who were slightly better off in the hope that they would become the child's godmother/godfather and that the child could benefit from them. Also it wasn't unusual for family members to have the same name and just a different nickname. I guess that wouldn't be popular today.
Oh and sorry if I made you feel like I was trolling you :P I just like many unusual names (I love classic names too) and feel a bit sad about them not getting so much love here :P Nothing personal, really.
No, not at all. I like many classic names such as James, Aaron and Luke.
'Not causing trouble' is not desirable when it's the only reason to choose a name. Just my opinion, of course. But my friend who was named Anna was almost named Ivy and her parents simply decided on Anna because they thought it would cause her less trouble in life (I think they were especially worried about 'Poison Ivy' jokes, because a movie of that name came out before she was born) and I just think that's kind of sad because they liked Ivy more but wanted to be safe. I mean to each their own, I realize they had their child's best interest at heart so you can't argue with that.
Oh I get what you mean now, about the 'not very many problems' thing. I kind of agree. I think some time ago it was more desirable to fit in than stand out. I remember reading about naming in the 1600s in England and people would often be named after members of society they knew who were slightly better off in the hope that they would become the child's godmother/godfather and that the child could benefit from them. Also it wasn't unusual for family members to have the same name and just a different nickname. I guess that wouldn't be popular today.
Oh and sorry if I made you feel like I was trolling you :P I just like many unusual names (I love classic names too) and feel a bit sad about them not getting so much love here :P Nothing personal, really.
This message was edited 5/25/2012, 10:21 AM
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Doesn't have to be romantic or even specific, I just want it to be appropriate to a person. Sextus and Septimus meant sixth and seventh. Like, the seventh someone or something. Seven is just a number - an abstraction for manipulation by the mind. Creeps me out. Like naming someone "?" it has almost no meaning. IMO.
I think the only reasons people work with 7 as a name, and not so much other numbers (nobody's proposing naming kids Five or Nineteen - see what I mean? I hope), is because it sounds like Kevin and Evan and whatever, and because 7 is symbolic or a magic number. This latter reason also makes it creepy to me.
I think the only reasons people work with 7 as a name, and not so much other numbers (nobody's proposing naming kids Five or Nineteen - see what I mean? I hope), is because it sounds like Kevin and Evan and whatever, and because 7 is symbolic or a magic number. This latter reason also makes it creepy to me.
This message was edited 5/23/2012, 10:04 PM
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Going to go against the grain and say I like it. I don't think it being similar sounding to other names has much to do with it. I just think it's pleasant sounding.
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Hmm I disagree. There are definitely names with worse meanings and the number 7 has different significances in different cultures, which I think is kind of cool. I would find it degrading had my parents named me Claudia or Mallory or something else with a really bad meaning. I mean other people wouldn't notice immediately but I'd know what it means and feel bad about it. To each their own. I understand many people don't like it :P
Oh and I chose Mallory and Claudia as random examples and just realized later Claudi is on your list. I didn't mean to use it to insult you or anything it's just one of the names that come to mind when I think of bad meanings. Voted on your list :)
Oh and I chose Mallory and Claudia as random examples and just realized later Claudi is on your list. I didn't mean to use it to insult you or anything it's just one of the names that come to mind when I think of bad meanings. Voted on your list :)
This message was edited 5/23/2012, 12:44 PM
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Haha, no offense taken. The meanings for Claudia and Cecily (both on my list) throw a lot of people off, and I understand that. The thing about Seven is that it's so blatantly a NUMBER and not a name. It makes the person sound like a test subject. Well, actually, where my mind goes is to the Holocaust. I know that's really dark and morbid, but my family is Jewish and that whole "number instead of a name" thing was always really blatantly discouraged for us because of its historical significance. It disturbs me a lot to see numbers used. It's not about the meaning of the name. It's about the concept itself.
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Oh ok :( I always think of that when people get tattoos of numbers on the insides of their wrists (yeah, I actually know people who did that). Usually the date of birth of someone they loved.
This message was edited 5/23/2012, 1:00 PM
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I get the same reaction. It just really digs at me to see stuff like that. I know JEWISH people who tattoo the hell out of themselves, and I just... eoaifjoaejfoirhgughijrfkefkjfhawerjwg. Hahaha.
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Not unless you're a blonde ex-Borg. :D Sorry.
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I like it.
I've liked it since I was about 10. Soon after I started liking Seven I became friends with a girl who had a younger brother named this (he was the seventh child). Since English isn't my first language I don't really think of "number 7" or anything.
I've liked it since I was about 10. Soon after I started liking Seven I became friends with a girl who had a younger brother named this (he was the seventh child). Since English isn't my first language I don't really think of "number 7" or anything.
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it's no more fit to be a name....
Than Fourteen or Sixty-three is.
And it isn't really at all close to Steven, it sounds nothing like it.
Than Fourteen or Sixty-three is.
And it isn't really at all close to Steven, it sounds nothing like it.
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My ex SO's cousin has nine children. My SO had nicknames for all of them. The seventh child, whose name was really Borshay, he called Seven because he is the seventh child.
I always thought of it as just a silly nickname, akin to the others he coined--for instance, he always called the oldest girl "Foots" because when she was an infant she appeared to have disproportionately large feet.
Now I hate Steven, but Seven, although visually close to Steven, sounds a lot different because the T sound isn't there and the E sound isn't a long E.
It doesn't sound bad, really, but I just can't help thinking that giving a number as a name is silly.
I always thought of it as just a silly nickname, akin to the others he coined--for instance, he always called the oldest girl "Foots" because when she was an infant she appeared to have disproportionately large feet.
Now I hate Steven, but Seven, although visually close to Steven, sounds a lot different because the T sound isn't there and the E sound isn't a long E.
It doesn't sound bad, really, but I just can't help thinking that giving a number as a name is silly.
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