Harper Seven Beckham: the Seinfeld connection

The Beckhams have provoked predictable derision after revealing the name of their new daughter, who was born yesterday. Victoria Beckham, 37, gave birth to her and David's fourth child by Caesarean section at the Cedars Sinai hospital in Los Angeles.

The football star announced the new arrival on Facebook, writing: "I am so proud and excited to announce the birth of our daughter Harper Seven Beckham.

"She weighed a healthy 7lbs 10oz and arrived at 7.55 this morning, here in LA. Victoria is doing really well and her brothers are delighted to have a baby sister."

Harper Seven joins Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz in the Beckham menagerie.

Why Harper? One of the few Harpers anyone could think of this morning was Harper Lee, the octogenarian author of To Kill a Mockingbird. But neither of the Beckhams is understood to be a big reader – except of magazines. It's possibly Victoria got the idea from Harper's Bazaar.

Why Seven? It could the weight and the timing - which would mean, presumably, that had she been four ounces heavier and five minutes later she'd be Harper Eight.

Alternatively, it could be inspired by July being the seventh month. More likely, it's a football reference: Beckham wore the number seven shirt as a midfielder for Manchester United and England. Another advantage is that Beckham already has the Roman numerals 'VII' tattooed on his body.

Internet wags have wasted no time in mocking the name, with some suggesting the Beckhams may have taken inspiration from the US comedy series Seinfeld. A clip from the show in which George Costanza is ridiculed after saying he wants to name his baby 'Seven' is now doing the rounds. ·