Gothamist: Youth Culture at the Times

Jen

Wed, 28 May 2003 11:32:51 -0500

Well, I knew the Chinese/lucky aspect of 8... It's like George Costanza wanting to name his kid Seven. But not 7. Or Se7en.

Peter

Wed, 28 May 2003 10:26:18 -0500

I've hung out with Jennifer a few times, and she explained it to me once: her middle name is "8" because that is a lucky number for the Chinese, and her parents wanted to give her a middle name that would distinguish her from all the millions of other "Jennifer Lee's" out there. I forgot to ask why they didn't just give her a different, more uncommon first name. The Times let her use it in her byline, but I believe (and I might be remembering it wrong) that they made her use a period after the 8 so it seemed like a more proper middle initial.

Sam T

Wed, 28 May 2003 09:16:04 -0500

That does it, my kid is getting a numeral... Maybe double-digits, like (Xxxxx...) "27" Thompson...

Jen

Wed, 28 May 2003 07:46:28 -0500

We'll have to find out from our sources.

jake

Wed, 28 May 2003 07:45:05 -0500

why is her middle initial '8'?