When it comes to royal baby names, don’t expect any trendy, unusual, or even modern-day monikers. (Liam and Noah may have been the most popular baby boy names of 2019, but they couldn’t even sneak in as the third middle name of the Prince and Princess of Wales’s son born that same year.) That’s because, for the Windsors, one factor is prized beyond all: the history of their own family tree.
Unsurprisingly, many royal babies are named after beloved monarchs of the past: Little Prince George, for example, will be the seventh of his name when he eventually takes the throne, whereas Prince William’s name dates all the way back to the 11th century’s William the Conquerer. But they also routinely repurpose the names of Queen Victoria’s children and grandchildren—like Helena, Beatrice, and Louise. Even when the Windsors do decide to buck tradition, their names are still classic in origin: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s son Archie’s middle name, Harrison, translates to “son of Harry.” Meanwhile, their daughter “Lilibet” is an ode to Harry's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth.
Below, a running list of British royal baby names, as well as their meaning. Who knows? You may even find inspiration for your own brood.
Ernest George Ronnie Brooksbank
Parents: Princess Eugenie of York and Jack Brooksbank
Year born: 2023
Origin: Princess Eugenie explained the reasoning behind the moniker on her Instagram: “He is named after his great great great Grandfather George, his Grandpa George and my Grandpa Ronald,” she wrote. Meanwhile, the classic English name of Ernest means “resolute.”
Sienna Elizabeth Mapelli Mozzi
Parents: Princess Beatrice of York and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi
Year born: 2021
Origin: Elizabeth is a nod to the Windsor matriarch and Beatrice's grandmother, the Queen. Meanwhile, Sienna is an Italian name, which acts as a sweet nod to Edoardo's heritage.
Lilibet ‘Lili’ Diana
Parents: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex
Year born: 2021
Origin: A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex succinctly explained the deeper meaning behind their second child's name in a recent statement: "Lili is named after her great-grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen, whose family nickname is Lilibet. Her middle name, Diana, was chosen to honor her beloved late grandmother, The Princess of Wales," they said.
August Philip Hawke
Parents: Princess Eugenie of York and Jack Brooksbank
Year Born: 2021
Origin: Eugenie explained her son’s moniker clearly on her Instagram stories: “He is named after his great-grandfather and both of his great x5 grandfathers,” she wrote. August is the Christian name of Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s husband, whereas Philip is a nod to the current prince consort. Meanwhile, Hawke is a family name on Jack’s side.
Archie Harrison
Parents: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex
Year Born: 2019
Origin: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were inspired by arche, the ancient Greek word for “strength” and “wisdom,” when naming their first child. Harrison, fittingly, means “son of Harry.”
Louis Arthur Charles
Year Born: 2019
Parents: The Prince and Princess of Wales
Origin: Louis, pronounced with a silent s, is a tribute to Prince William’s beloved great-granduncle, Louis Mountbatten, who was assassinated by the IRA in 1979. Meanwhile, Arthur is one of William’s middle names, whereas Charles is a clear nod to the Duke of Cambridge’s father.
Charlotte Elizabeth Diana
Year Born: 2015
Parents: The Prince and Princess of Wales
Origin: When Kensington Palace announced the names of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s second child, a spokesperson said they “spoke for themselves.” Charlotte is a reference to Queen Charlotte, the wife of King George III, as well as a feminine version of Charles. Elizabeth,” of course, is an homage to the reigning monarch and matriarch of England, where Diana is a touching tribute to William’s late mother.
George Alexander Louis
Year Born: 2013
Parents: The Prince and Princess of Wales
Origin: George is a regal name as any: In the history of the British monarchy, there have been six King Georges. (And, when George eventually takes the throne, he will be the seventh.) The last was King George VI, Queen Elizabeth’s father and a beloved historical figure: He sat on the throne during World War II and was lauded for his stoic and steady presence. Alexander, although not a name of any historical British monarch, is the masculine version of George’s grandmother’s middle name, Alexandra.
Louise Alice Elizabeth
Year Born: 2003
Parents: The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh
Origin: Louise is the name of Queen Victoria’s fourth daughter, whereas Alice comes from both Queen Victoria’s second daughter as well as Louise’s paternal great-grandmother. Elizabeth, again, is a clear nod to her iconic grandmother.
James Alexander Philip Theo
Year Born: 2007
Parents: The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh
Origin: King James I is an important figure in British history, as he was the first monarch to rule over both England and Scotland in 1603—and therefore technically the first king of Great Britain. It’s been a reused family name ever since.
But what about “Theo”? That’s a sweet nod to the Countess of Wessex’s grandfather, who held the same name.
Eugenie Victoria Helena
Year Born: 1990
Parents: The Duke and Duchess of York
Origin: Eugenie is derived from the ancient Greek word eugenia, which means “nobility.” Although considered unusual upon its announcement, Eugenie’s name comes deep from the archives of British history—it’s also the name of Queen Victoria’s granddaughter. Meanwhile, Helena was Victoria’s fifth daughter.
Beatrice Elizabeth Mary
Year Born: 1988
Parents: The Duke and Duchess of York
Origin: The Duke and Duchess of York again looked to Queen Victoria’s princely picks—Beatrice was the name of her fifth daughter and youngest child. Mary comes from Beatrice’s great-great-grandmother, Mary of Teck, who was married to King George V.
Henry Charles Albert David
Year Born: 1984
Parents: Prince Charles of Wales and Princess Diana of Wales
Origin: Prince Harry’s four-name moniker is a heavyweight, paying homages to Tudor, Stuart, and Windsor kings throughout history. David, which means “beloved,” is often used as a middle name for royal boys: The Duke of Windsor, for example, had it as his seventh middle name.
William Arthur Philip Louis
Year Born: 1982
Parents: Prince Charles of Wales and Princess Diana of Wales
Origin: It’s said that Prince Charles wanted to give his first son, and the heir to the British throne, the first name of Arthur. But Diana reportedly thought it was too stuffy, and they settled on the classic William instead. There have been many Williams in British royal history, including the great 11th-century ruler, William the Conqueror.