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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry choose royal baby name no one saw coming

Meghan and Harry have chosen an non-traditional name for their firstborn. And they’ve also decided not to give him a royal title.

Emma ReynoldsEmma Reynolds
@emmareyn
3 min read
May 9, 2019 - 6:59AM
Meghan and Harry have a baby boy: Inside the life of Baby Sussex

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have chosen an unexpected name for their firstborn baby, and it’s already the subject of great debate.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have revealed their son’s name is Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, after introducing him to the Queen at Windsor Castle.

Archie means “genuine”, “bold” and “brave”, is of German origin and is popular in the UK. It was once a short form of Archibald, but now many families use it on its own.

Proud parents Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have taken the world by surprise with their original baby name choice. Picture: Dominic Lipinski - WPA Pool/Getty Images
Proud parents Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have taken the world by surprise with their original baby name choice. Picture: Dominic Lipinski - WPA Pool/Getty Images
The newest royal, pictured during a photocall at Windsor Castle, has been named Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. Picture: Dominic Lipinski - WPA Pool/Getty Images
The newest royal, pictured during a photocall at Windsor Castle, has been named Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. Picture: Dominic Lipinski - WPA Pool/Getty Images

Famous Archies include US actor Archie Kao, former NFL star Archie Manning and Archie Andrews — a red-headed comic book character from the Archie comics.

Middle name Harrison may derive from “son of Harry” or “son of Henry”, his father’s real name.

Harrison is of English origin, with famous examples including Star Wars actor Harrison Ford — perhaps evidence of Meghan’s LA acting background.

Bookmakers had the name Archie at around 100/1, with Harrison not appearing at all.

Mountbatten-Windsor is the surname used by some of the male-line descendants of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.

The names are a far cry from some of the traditional ones predicted, with the progressive royal couple again showing they are happy to modernise.

Only Harry’s name has been referenced one given to the royal baby, pictured here with his father, mother, Prince Philip, the Queen, and Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland.
Only Harry’s name has been referenced one given to the royal baby, pictured here with his father, mother, Prince Philip, the Queen, and Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland.

The baby was not given a HRH, even though the Queen could have tweaked the rules, as she did for Kate and William’s children, to make him a prince.

Meghan and Harry have also chosen not to give him an aristocratic title, even though he could have been styled as Lord Mountbatten-Windsor and taken one of Prince Harry’s lesser titles, such as Earl of Dumbarton. He will simply be known as Master Archie.

Harry, 34, has previously spoken of how he would like his children to have a relatively normal upbringing.

The little boy, who was born early on Monday morning local time, could one day inherit the title the Duke of Sussex from Harry.

Some complained of the choice of the short-form of Archibald rather than the full name, while others joked it could be to avoid offending Prince William. But many loved the original choice, a refreshing antidote to the typical use of the same few names within the royal family.

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Bookmakers had named Arthur or Albert as the most likely names for Baby Sussex, with James, Alexander and Philip among the other frontrunners.

There was speculation the royals could choose Charles as the baby’s middle name, in tribute to Prince Harry’s father. Many of these names had already been used, however. Prince William and Kate Middleton’s third child, Prince Louis, has Arthur and Charles as his middle names. Prince George has Alexander and Louis.

Some did foresee the modernising royal couple might choose a less traditional name, based on Meghan’s Californian heritage.

The 37-year-old’s mother Doria Ragland, who was present for the birth and the introduction to the Queen and Prince Philip, is staying with the couple at their home of Frogmore Cottage, on the grounds of Windsor Castle.

The 62-year-old is “overjoyed” at the arrival of her first grandchild, according to the birth announcement released by Buckingham Palace.

The couple did not choose to pay tribute to Princess Diana with a name such as Aidan or Spencer, as some had predicted they would. Picture: PA Images via Getty Images
The couple did not choose to pay tribute to Princess Diana with a name such as Aidan or Spencer, as some had predicted they would. Picture: PA Images via Getty Images

Speaking outside the stables in the grounds of Windsor Castle on Monday, a delighted Harry suggested there had been plenty of discussion of the name. “We’re still thinking about names,” he said. “The baby’s a little bit overdue, so we’ve had a bit of time to think about it, but that’s the next bit.

“We’ll be seeing you guys in two days’ time as planned, so everyone can see the baby.”

There was talk that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex could choose to pay tribute to the prince’s late mother, Diana, by picking Aidan — an anagram of her name. They could also have plumped for Spencer, the princess’s surname.

Instead they have surprised us all, and again kept things interesting by breaking with royal tradition.

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/royals/meghan-markle-and-prince-harry-choose-royal-baby-name-no-one-saw-coming/news-story/3b3481806b02032a9dbb271d75a02e15