Their first two children received quite traditional names: George Alexander Louis and Charlotte Elizabeth Diana. The first child of Prince William, The Duke of Cambridge and his wife Catherine, will probably once be King George VII and his name is frequently used within the British royal family since the early 18th century. Saint George is also the patron saint of England. Nobody was really surprised about his first name I think. Alexander was somewhat more of a surprise, and was said to be a name the Duchess liked a lot. Louis is also one of the names of his father. Lord Louis Mountbatten, an uncle of Williams grandfather Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, was quite popular in the family, and was killed by the IRA in 1979. Charlotte is the female form of Charles, the name of Williams father, and also the second christening name of Catherine’s sister Philippa Charlotte Middleton (Pippa). Elizabeth is of course the name of Charlotte’s great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth, and Catherine’s own second christening name. And Diana is of course the name of Williams mother Princess Diana, who died far too early.
What could the couple call their third child? Although the pregnancy was announced on 4 September 2017 and the child is only expected in April 2018, speculations are already going on. It is very likely that the child will receive traditional names that already run in the family. The closer to the throne, the less likely it is that royals come up with an unusual name. It would be nice if they would honour some close relatives. The child could thus receive name as Philip, Michael, James or Henry when it is a boy. Or maybe Caroline (instead of the rather unroyal name Carole), Philippa or Alice when it is a girl.
Which names have been in use within the British royal family since the Hanoverians came to the throne in 1714 (quite often in combination in the 18th and 19th century)? Some names are already in use, but that might not stop the couple using them. Other names sound rather old-fashioned to me, but they could decide making the name popular again. Except for the descendants of Queen Elizabeth II I only looked at the official first names in use by male line descendants and their spouses. Some names might be quite unlikely, others could be good candidates. Personally I’d love to see a new Victoria or otherwise a Philip.
Boys:
- Adolphus
- Alastair
- Albert
- Alexander
- Alfred
- Andrew
- Arthur
- Augustus
- Charles
- Edward
- Ernest
- Frederick
- George
- Henry
- James
- John
- Leopold
- Louis
- Nicholas
- Octavius
- Peter
- Philip
- Richard
- Timothy
- Victor
- William
- Xan
Girls:
- Adelaide
- Alexandra
- Alice
- Alexandrina
- Amelia
- Anne
- Augusta
- Beatrice
- Birgitte
- Camilla
- Caroline
- Catherine
- Cecilia
- Charlotte
- Claire
- Cosima
- Davina
- Diana
- Dorothea
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Eugenie
- Frederica
- Gabriella
- Helen
- Helena
- Isla
- Katharine
- Louisa
- Louise
- Margaret
- Marie-Christine
- Marina
- Mary
- Matilda
- Maud
- Paola
- Patricia
- Rose
- Sarah
- Savannah
- Sophia
- Sophie
- Sylvana
- Victoria
- Wallis
- Zara