Will they go traditional? Modern? We’ll have to wait and see, but there’s plenty of speculation brewing about the royal baby name. Here’s the scoop.
For months, we were all on the edges of our seats awaiting the newest royal baby’s arrival. And now that Baby Sussex has arrived, we have all the answers we’ve been looking for, including a new royal baby name.
What is the New Royal Baby Name?
Harry and Meghan have named their son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor.
Per royal protocol, Queen Elizabeth II was the first to hear of the birth, followed by the rest of the family. Once that happened, the press was notified by a statement on the royal website and the couple’s Instagram account. A bulletin was also placed outside of Buckingham Palace with essential information like the sex of the baby and time of birth. A few days later, the couple introduced Baby Sussex to the press and revealed his name.
Royal Baby Name Odds
Before the royal baby name was revealed, there was much speculation. Would the royal parents go traditional? Modern? Let’s take a look at what some of the top contenders were.
Potential Girl Names
The list of contenders for a little lady Sussex contains solid favorites, as well as curveballs, each fit for a royal. The betting odds are up and down, but here are some that have remained steady on the charts:
- Diana: The name of Harry’s beloved mother gives Diana a sentimental advantage over the competition. Meaning “heavenly and divine,” this royal baby name is a beautiful choice for the couple. Odds of a little royal Diana? 4/1
- Victoria: A grand name with royal ties, Victoria is a likely pick for the new little one. A meaning of “victory” and an association with Queen Victoria add to her appeal. Chances we’ll see Victoria announced? 7/1
- Allegra: This dashing Italian name came out of the left field as a sudden favorite with betting odds of 8/1. Meaning “cheerful,” it is said that Allegra was a favorite of Princess Diana’s if she ever had a daughter. We’re pulling for this unexpected pick.
- Alice: With her meaning “of nobility,” Alice is an appropriate choice for a royal baby name. She has been used in the British royal family as a first and middle name, as seen in Princess Alice. This was a favorite royal baby name for Kate Middelton’s third child, too. How likely is a little Alice? 12/1
- Grace: As a virtue name with a sweet sound, it’s no surprise to see Grace on the short list. Already worn by Princess Grace Kelly of Monaco, she’s proven herself worthy in royal circles. The odds are 12/1 that a new royal Grace will appear.
- Isabella: That’s right, there’s a 12/1 chance of Isabella joining the House of Sussex. A favorite stateside, this variant of Elizabeth is a sweet nod to the Queen and has the wonderful meaning “devoted to God.”
- Elizabeth: The odds of the couple honoring the Queen outright with the name stand at 14/1. Elizabeth is a common name in the English royal family and means “God is my oath.”
- Alexandra: A Greek name with the strong meaning “protector of man,” we’d love to see an Alexandra welcomed into the royal family. Of course, she frequently appears as a middle and first name in the family, as seen with Queen Elizabeth II’s cousin, Princess Alexandra. Odds of another Alexandra joining the ranks? 20/1
- Harriet: Ever since Harry complimented the name in 2018, royal watchers have pegged Harriet as a potential royal baby name with odds of 20/1. She’d be an obvious nod to her father as a variant of his name, and simply adorable. Meaning “home ruler,” she’s a German stunner we’d love to see more often.
- Rose: She’s a wildcard, but Rose is certainly still in the running with odds of 20/1. The couple already paid homage to Princess Diana with white garden roses at their wedding, a favorite of the late princess. Could they honor her with their daughter’s name, as well?
Potential Boy Names
The list of possible boy names are more traditional than those found on the girl list, but each is special in their own way.
- Arthur: This Celtic cutie has been a favorite since the couple announced their pregnancy and remains a frontrunner with odds of 16/1. Meaning “bear” and associated with the fictional king, Arthur would be right at home in the royal family.
- James: Already appearing as the name of several kings, James is another likely royal baby name for the couple with odds of 16/1. A regal pick with plenty of polish, James would be a natural in the House of Sussex.
- Edward: A handsome pick that’s popular among kings, Edward comes in with odds of 25/1. Meaning “wealthy guard,” Edward is an English name that we adore.
- Alexander: With a meaning like “defender of man,” Alexander is a tough name to beat when it comes to strength. With odds of 33/1, he’s not as likely to become the royal baby name as other picks, but we would adore seeing this handsome Greek name chosen.
- Albert: He’s not as common stateside, but Albert is popular among royals. In fact, he’s one of Harry’s middle names! Odds of a new Albert in House Sussex? 33/1
- Philip: What are the chances that the Duke and Duchess could honor the baby’s great-grandfather, Prince Philip? 33/1. We love the charm of this Greek pick and can’t get enough of his meaning “horse lover,” which makes us think of horse-drawn carriages and other royal perks.
- Henry: It may surprise you to learn that this is actually Prince Harry’s given name. Odds of this happening currently stand at 33/1.
- Daniel: We don’t see this Hebrew pick as a top contender for the royal baby name, but he’s worth mentioning. Meaning “God is my judge,” Daniel is popular in both the U.K. and the U.S, making him a nice middle-ground name for the pair. Odds of a new royal with the name? 33/1
- Christopher: Christopher is another choice that blends the couple’s backgrounds nicely. He’s a classic pick meaning “bearing Christ,” and we find him dashing on a royal. He’s another unlikely pick with odds at 33/1, but he’s certainly still in the running.
- Joseph: A traditional name meaning “Jehovah will increase,” Joseph is a safe pick for the couple that won’t ruffle any feathers. He’s not as likely as others with odds of 40/1, but we wouldn’t mind seeing him used.
Other Royal Baby Names
If you look to other royal baby names and titles, you might find a name or two that will appear in the baby’s full name, as repeating family names is standard practice.
- Prince George Alexander Louis: The first son of William and Kate is named after Queen Elizabeth II’s father, George.
- Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana: The only daughter of William and Kate led to a surge in Charlottes on both sides of the pond. It is believed that this royal baby name is a subtle nod towards her grandfather, Prince Charles.
- Prince Louis Arthur Charles: The youngest child of William and Kate was named in honor of his great-great uncle, Lord Louis Mountbatten.
- Princess Beatrice Elizabeth Mary: The eldest child of Prince Andrew is named after Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom, daughter of Queen Victoria.
- Princess Eugenie Victoria Helena: Her name took royal watchers by surprise, but she was named in honor of Victoria Eugenie, a daughter of Queen Victoria who later became the queen of Spain when she married King Alfonso XIII.
- Prince William Arthur Philip Louis: The eldest child of Prince Charles and Princess Diana has been second in line for the throne since birth, and is named in honor of William of Gloucester, a royal who passed away young.
- Prince Henry Charles Albert David: More commonly known as Harry, Henry’s name was chosen by his late mother, Princess Diana. If a son is on the horizon for the couple, expect to see one of his names appearing in the baby’s title.
- Rachel Meghan, Duchess of Sussex: That’s right! Meghan is actually the Duchess’ middle name! While it’s unlikely we’ll see either used as the royal baby name, we’d love to!
- Queen Elizabeth Alexandra Mary: The queen was named after her mother, who later went by the Queen Mother to avoid being mixed up with her daughter. There’s a good chance we’ll see at least one of these names used if the Sussexes have a little girl.
- Prince Charles Philip Arthur George: The Sussex baby’s grandfather is first in line to the throne, and there’s a good chance we’ll see at least one of his names used for the baby if a boy is born.
- Princess Diana Frances Spencer: We see a lot of surprise naming potential for the couple with Harry’s mother’s name aside from the frontrunner, Diana. Frances would be unexpected, especially if she went by the precious nickname of Frankie. Spencer is a nice option for a boy, though he’s quite unlikely.