I put my foot in my mouth with a poor child (lighthearted)

[Booboostwo]

I was at an English speaking Easter egg hunt (I live in France, the party was specifically set up to encourage kids to speak English - this is relevant). I was introduced to three kids from the same family and since I was meeting them for the first time I said "Hello, my name is Booboos, what is your name?" The first two children told me their names all fine, the third one told me a number. In the context I assumed she had misunderstood the question so I said "No, not how old you are but what is your name?", but she repeated the number. I kept going and switched to French to help him out at which point his mum intervened and clarified that the child had understood me the first time and the number was his name.

I don't know if I should tell you the number as it might make the child more identifiable but there is nothing about this number that in any way resembles a name or is used as a name in a different culture. I didn't have the guts to ask why he had been called after a number.

Judgey? Moi? Well yes but only in a lighthearted sort of way.

[coffeeisnectar]

you have to tell us.

I presume it's under 10 as you thought it was the child's age so not 563 or anything daft(er).

[Jessesbitch]

Why not just say it? I cant be arsed with all this drip feeding...

[leelu66]

82?! So does the child call himself 'quatre vingt deux' in French and '82' in English?

Maybe it the year his mum or dad was born?

[slicedfinger]

I know a real live adult called Seven. I think it is a cool name, but I'm not sure I'd say that about just any number.

[OfaFrenchmind2]

She must be a fan of Gundam Wings.

[Booboostwo]

It's Sixteen.

[opensideno7]

Maybe they are Spanish and his name is Juan

[IceBeing]

There is the information that the OP thought the number could plausibly be the child's age....and hence 1 2 and 3 are probably out.

So a third child of a bunch that were all of about the right age to do an easter egg hunt in English - not necessarily their first language...

I think it is 5, 6 or 7...my money is on 7.

[IceBeing]

16?!?! you thought this child could actually be 16? wtf were they doing at an easter egg hunt?

[Booboostwo]

Come on Jess that was 26 minutes of suspense, not a drip feed!

[opensideno7]

Bugger I see my genius has been replicated :-(

[dizzytomato]

Oh Twinkle that's fantastic!

[NeedACleverNN]

Why on earth would you name a child sixteen?!

[leelu66]

@Arf

I think OP meant she apologised to the mum, hence the 'her'

[NeedACleverNN]

not blush iPhone!

[KatharinaRosalie]

Were they of Swedish origin maybe? Sixten is a common Swedish name.

[dizzytomato]

Sixteen ?!!?

[leelu66]

@ open

Actually, you replicated it

[Booboostwo]

He didn't look 16 but I thought he was confused about the question and getting the number wrong.

There were 4 teenagers there, they helped the younger children find the eggs.

[LurkingHusband]

Can't 82 also be huitante-deux ?

[leelu66]

Good shout Katharina.

Looks like Sixten is from the Old Norse name Sigsteinn, which was derived from the elements sigr "victory" and steinn "stone".

[wavingnow]

Was it a girl then? Sixtine is quite common for girls in France.

[NeedACleverNN]

Were they of Swedish origin maybe? Sixten is a common Swedish name.

I hope this is what is is. Sixten actually sounds quite nice. Better than 16 anywayb

[KatharinaRosalie]

Yes if it was a girl she was Sixtine - www.journaldesfemmes.com/prenoms/prenom/9428/sixtine/