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| Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester |
Source: The mother of Prince Philip is almost certainly the inspiration for this decision, but she's not the only one (though she is a well-regarded member of the Royal Family-defiant against the Nazis, she housed Jews during the Holocaust and was given the title Righteous Amongst the Nations posthumously). There is also Princess Alice, the third child of Queen Victoria (she is a fairly close relative of both Queen Elizabeth's and Prince Philip's). There is also Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, who was the last surviving grandchild of Queen Victoria, and Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, who is the longest-lived member of the Royal Family (ever), who was Queen Elizabeth II's aunt.
Pro: As you can tell, there's a lot of goodwill surrounding the name, and it's fairly recent goodwill. Plus, both the Countess of Athlone and the Duchess of Gloucester lived an exceedingly long time (the Countess being the longest-lived blood member of the Royal Family and the Duchess being the longest-lived overall member of the Royal Family), which is a great tradition to bestow onto your child.
Con: Honestly, very little. The only thing I can find that was really damning about the above women is that the Countess of Athlone had a Nazi sympathizing brother, but her specific war efforts were very anti-Nazi (her husband was governor-general of Canada at the time), so I don't think that counts. About the only other con is that this isn't a superbly modern name, if that's where they're going, but I would definitely not count it out, particularly since whatever name they pick will be on the Top 20 baby names lists next year.
2. Elizabeth
Source: There are actually quite a few sources for this name, but I'll go with the four most prominent ones. The first is of course the current monarch, Prince William's grandmother, who is beloved by the British people and would be an excellent model for the young princess. The second would be the Prince's great-grandmother, the Queen Mother, who is cherished by the British people, and was well-regarded by the Prince's father (and lived long enough to have been a part of Prince William's life). The third is Britain's legendary Queen Elizabeth I, who is considered one of the greatest and most important monarchs in Britain. And the fourth would be Kate Middleton's great-grandmother, Elizabeth Temple, who is Carole Middleton's maternal grandmother, meaning that if you want to go for a strong female presence, your mother's mother's mother is not a bad way to go.
Pro: Obviously, this name is steeped in tradition and goodwill. It's one of the few names that both sides of the family have a recent and obvious connection toward, and the British media and tabloids would be happy with it. It's not uncommon for princesses to be named after the monarch (it happened during Queen Victoria's reign), and none of the royal great-grandchildren have taken the name yet.
Con: Elizabeth is such an expected choice, they may go with something a little less obvious and use this as a middle name.
3. Charlotte
Con: Elizabeth is such an expected choice, they may go with something a little less obvious and use this as a middle name.
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| Charlotte, the Princess Royal |
Source: There’s a few famous Queens and Princesses named Charlotte. King George III had a wife named Charlotte (he would be the grandfather of Queen Victoria, who is the Queen’s great-great grandmother), and famously had fifteen children. There’s also Princess Charlotte of Prussia, who was King George V’s first-cousin (and therefore a first cousin twice removed of Queen Elizabeth II). In addition, there is the former Princess Royal (a title that Will and Kate’s daughter will likely inherit one day), Princess Charlotte (eldest daughter of King George III), who reigned as Queen of Wurttemberg. However, the most famous Princess Charlotte would have to be Princess Charlotte of Wales, who was the only daughter of King George IV and was therefore Queen Victoria’s first cousin.
Pro: Princess Charlotte of Wales was heir to the throne of England, and was wildly popular and beloved by the public. As you can tell, the name has been around in the Royal Families of England for a number of years, but has never been bestowed on a reigning monarch.
Con: Princess Charlotte of Wales died tragically during childbirth and the nation was in deep mourning. Hardly a great source of a name for an infant.
4. Victoria
Source: The obvious connection for the public here is Queen Victoria, and that would likely be where we should go with the name. Britain's longest-reigning monarch (thus far) is not the only member of the royal family to support this name. Queen Elizabeth II's great-great aunt Victoria, the Princess Royal, also had the name, and it was the given first name of Prince Philip's mother (though she went by Alice).
Pro: This name is steeped with great tradition, and it is one of the few monarch's names that hasn't been sullied or recently used. It would be a fitting choice.
Con: As has been mentioned, the title Queen Victoria is pretty much associated with one woman only, and the name is not entirely without issue. Though she typically went as Princess Patricia, Lady Patricia Ramsey, a first-cousin of George V, was actually Princess Victoria by birth and ended up causing a major scandal in the Royal Family, when, after being pursued by a number of foreign royals (including the King of Spain and Grand Duke Michael of Russia), she married a naval commander and lost her royal title.
5. Alexandra
4. Victoria
Source: The obvious connection for the public here is Queen Victoria, and that would likely be where we should go with the name. Britain's longest-reigning monarch (thus far) is not the only member of the royal family to support this name. Queen Elizabeth II's great-great aunt Victoria, the Princess Royal, also had the name, and it was the given first name of Prince Philip's mother (though she went by Alice).
Pro: This name is steeped with great tradition, and it is one of the few monarch's names that hasn't been sullied or recently used. It would be a fitting choice.
Con: As has been mentioned, the title Queen Victoria is pretty much associated with one woman only, and the name is not entirely without issue. Though she typically went as Princess Patricia, Lady Patricia Ramsey, a first-cousin of George V, was actually Princess Victoria by birth and ended up causing a major scandal in the Royal Family, when, after being pursued by a number of foreign royals (including the King of Spain and Grand Duke Michael of Russia), she married a naval commander and lost her royal title.
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| Princess Alexandra of Kent |
Source: Almost certainly Queen Alexandra, wife of King Edward VII, who happens to be the great-grandmother of Queen Elizabeth II. She was well-known for her generosity. Princess Alexandra of Kent, the Queen's first cousin (and a favorite of hers) is also a partial source of the name.
Pro: You’d be hard-pressed to find a more regal sounding name, and her fame for charity was well-known.
Con: She was also bad at managing her money (famously giving or spending more than she had) and she was not a close blood relative of the British Royal Family (her great-great-great grandfather was King George II, and that seems to be the closest connection).
6. Diana
7. Anne/Anna
Source: Myriad royals have been named Anne or Anna, most recently the Princess Royal and the baby's great aunt, Charles's younger sister. It's also one of the few names that is sported by a British Monarch Queen Anne (of the famed furniture). Anna is less common, with Empress Anna of Russia not really being related to the royals, though Grand Duchess Anastasia of Russia was a first cousin, once removed of Prince Philip.
Pro: It's a pretty common name, certainly one steeped in British lore and most every generation has a Princess Anne.
Con: Do you want to build a snowman? Because unless Will and Kate have a promotional deal with Disney this seems like a non-starter (perhaps a middle name?). Plus, there's always the risk of being associated with Anne Boleyn, not the finest moment in English history, and it's not like Grand Duchess Anastasia is a story you want repeated.
8. Daniella
Source: I've got nothing here-this is easily the oddest name on this list. Perhaps they are thinking that Kate will name the baby after Daniella Helayel, one of her favorite designers?
Pro: It's definitely unique, and it's certainly a pretty name.
Con: This is a name I just don't get at all-it has no royal lineage, and unless there's a random Middleton relative I can't find, this seems like the least likely of these ten names in my opinion.
9. Catherine
Source: Numerous queens through history have been named Catherine, including several in the British family: Catherine of Braganza (wife of King Charles II), Catherine of Aragon (Henry VIII's first wife), Catherine Howard (his fifth) Catherine Parr (his sixth), Catherine of Valois (wife of Henry V), and Catherine of Lancaster (wife of Henry III). Plus, of course, there's Kate Middleton herself, the mother of young Catherine.
Pro: It's a name steeped in British lore, and it's definitely one of the more regal options out there. Plus, it's been a while since we've had a Princess Catherine of royal birth.
Con: It may seem narcissistic to name the child after Kate, and it's not like all of the Catherine's were stand-up examples. Catherine Howard, for example, cheated on her husband and Catherine of Aragon was basically a prisoner for most of her life. This is more likely for a grandchild's name.
10. Mary
Con: Two of the most violent moments in English monarchical history occurred with Queen Mary’s: the reign of Bloody Mary and the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots.
6. Diana
Source: This one is most obvious-the beloved mother of Prince William is an icon of the past 30 years-tragically taken too early in a car crash, she was the People’s Princess and adored by William.
Pro: I just listed it-if they’re searching for a name that rings as beloved with the British people, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better one.
Con: The name is not really one that is steeped with tradition in the British family. Aside from the Princess of Wales, there has been no prominent royal in recent memory with the name. Also, being named after one of the monarchy's most beloved (and within the Royal Family, controversial) members is a lot of pressure on a child. My hunch is this a far more likely middle name than a first.
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| Anne, the Princess Royal |
Source: Myriad royals have been named Anne or Anna, most recently the Princess Royal and the baby's great aunt, Charles's younger sister. It's also one of the few names that is sported by a British Monarch Queen Anne (of the famed furniture). Anna is less common, with Empress Anna of Russia not really being related to the royals, though Grand Duchess Anastasia of Russia was a first cousin, once removed of Prince Philip.
Pro: It's a pretty common name, certainly one steeped in British lore and most every generation has a Princess Anne.
Con: Do you want to build a snowman? Because unless Will and Kate have a promotional deal with Disney this seems like a non-starter (perhaps a middle name?). Plus, there's always the risk of being associated with Anne Boleyn, not the finest moment in English history, and it's not like Grand Duchess Anastasia is a story you want repeated.
8. Daniella
Source: I've got nothing here-this is easily the oddest name on this list. Perhaps they are thinking that Kate will name the baby after Daniella Helayel, one of her favorite designers?
Pro: It's definitely unique, and it's certainly a pretty name.
Con: This is a name I just don't get at all-it has no royal lineage, and unless there's a random Middleton relative I can't find, this seems like the least likely of these ten names in my opinion.
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| Catherine Howard |
Source: Numerous queens through history have been named Catherine, including several in the British family: Catherine of Braganza (wife of King Charles II), Catherine of Aragon (Henry VIII's first wife), Catherine Howard (his fifth) Catherine Parr (his sixth), Catherine of Valois (wife of Henry V), and Catherine of Lancaster (wife of Henry III). Plus, of course, there's Kate Middleton herself, the mother of young Catherine.
Pro: It's a name steeped in British lore, and it's definitely one of the more regal options out there. Plus, it's been a while since we've had a Princess Catherine of royal birth.
Con: It may seem narcissistic to name the child after Kate, and it's not like all of the Catherine's were stand-up examples. Catherine Howard, for example, cheated on her husband and Catherine of Aragon was basically a prisoner for most of her life. This is more likely for a grandchild's name.
10. Mary
Source: Few names in the British royal family are steeped in as much history as Mary. England has had two queens named Mary (the famed “Bloody” Mary, as well as Mary II, a late 17th century monarch). Considering the steam the Scottish independence movement gained in recent years, it’s worth noting that Mary Queen of Scots was a fairly close relative of the royal family (her grandmother, Queen Margaret of Scotland, was the daughter of Henry VII and the brother of King Henry VIII). There are also a number of consorts and princesses who have been named Mary, everyone from Queen Mary Tudor of France (sister of Henry VIII) to Mary of Modena (wife of James II of England) to most recently, Mary of Teck, Queen Elizabeth’s stern grandmother and the wife of George V of England (and yes, the ships are named after her). Kate also has a great-great grandmother named Mary (Mary Asquith).
Pro: Mary is, as you can tell, perhaps the most common female name in the Royal Family lexicon, and we oddly don’t currently have a member of the official Royal Family named Mary (the closest is Princess Michael of Kent, whose given name is Marie). This is also a fairly easy name to pronounce, compared to Alexandra, which is considerably difficult, something that some have considered a factor in this consideration because of the international aspects of the royal family.
And finally, one more name I'm surprised isn't in the mix: Augusta
Source: Too many to count. Everyone from Augusta, Princess of Wales (mother of King George III) to Princess Augusta Frederica of Wales (mother of Queen Caroline, wife of King George IV) to two very interesting women: Princess Augusta of Hesse-Kassel (grandmother of Queen Mary of Teck) and her daughter Grand Duchess Augusta of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.
Pro: Those last two women are the most recent relatives of the Duke of Cambridge (prior to the current holder). George, the Duke of Cambridge was the tenth child of King George III, and was the last man to be bestowed the title of Duke of Cambridge, currently enjoyed by Prince William.
Con: Nothing, really. This would be such a clever and smart choice for the baby's name, but for some reason no one's talking about it.
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