Meghan Markle’s baby is most likely to be given this name
Betting agencies have also predicted the sex of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's first child
Before taking a wild guess at what Prince Harry and Meghan Markle might name their new royal baby, which is rumoured to be due in mid-to-late April, it would be wise to take into consideration all the rules and traditions the Royal Family have set in place first.
Royal traditions generally dictate that royal names nod to both relatives and British history by way of a family moniker, while also remaining relevant enough for modern day use. Recycled names are commonplace, particularly given that as each individual possesses multiple, there are only so many that remain free.
However, while King Edward VIII had a total of seven names, in recent times, members of the royal family have taken to cutting them down to between three and four. As Prince William and Kate Middleton opted to give their children just three, it’s highly likely Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will do the same.
When Middleton was pregnant with Prince Louis, Carolyn Harris, a history professor from the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies and the author of Raising Royalty: 1,000 Years of Royal Parenting, confirmed that “the further down the line of succession, the more likely you are to have a more unique or untraditional name.”
Therefore, it’s also probable that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex may decide to veer away from tradition and opt for a far more modern name, given that their first born will be seventh in line of succession to the British throne.
In terms of hinting at their possible pick, the pair have been mum on the topic, with Markle telling a royal fan in Australian that “we’ve been given a long list of names from everyone, we’re going to sit down and have a look at them.”
According to US Vogue, Diana and Arthur are trending with British betting agency Betfair. Similarly, those betting on Ladbrokes are going with Diana, Victoria, and Alice if it’s a girl, while Albert, Phillip, and Arthur top the list of boy’s names.
Although Princess Charlotte’s full name, Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, already includes a nod to the late Princess of Wales, it’s still highly likely Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will find a way to include a tribute to Diana in their newborn’s name.
As for the gender of the high-anticipated baby, bets are favouring a female.
This article originally appeared on Vogue.com.au
