What two daily hours inspired the name 7-Eleven?

The name 7-Eleven refers to the stores’ historical opening hours of 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

The convenience-store chain adopted the name 7-Eleven in 1946, replacing its earlier name, Tote’m Stores. The new name highlighted a schedule that was unusually long for the period: stores opened at seven in the morning and closed at eleven at night.

The hours were an important part of the brand’s identity before round-the-clock convenience stores became common. Many 7-Eleven locations later operated 24 hours a day, but the original name was retained because it had become a recognizable brand.

The name therefore describes opening hours, not a count of products, stores, or weekly operating days. The company’s modern franchise network operates under many local schedules, so the historical meaning should not be read as a universal current timetable.