Alexander, Gabriel, Julian, and Ines
Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia of Sweden are the proud parents of “a perfect little quartet.” Their eldest son, Alexander, has a moniker that typically means “defender of man” in Sweden. The name “Gabriel” also has Swedish ties and means “strength from God.” Julian’s name means “youthful.” And their youngest daughter, Princess Ines, has a gentle moniker that means “kind,” “innocent,” “meek,” and/or “chaste.”
Athena Elizabeth Rose
In Jan. 2024, Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo “Edo” Mapelli Mozzi welcomed baby Athena Elizabeth Rose. Her middle name is in honor of her great grandma Queen Elizabeth II, and “Athena” typically refers to another powerful matriarch — the Greek goddess of war and wisdom.
Sienna Elizabeth
In Sept. 2021, Princess Beatrice and Edo welcomed their daughter Sienna Elizabeth Mapelli Mozzi. “Elizabeth” is once again a nod to the late monarch and is also Beatrice’s middle name. As for “Sienna,” the name has Italian roots and was likely chosen as a nod to Edo’s heritage. He is an Italian aristocrat and the heir to an 18th-century villa about an hour outside Milan.
Edo is also dad to son Christopher “Wolfie” Woolf who he shares with ex Dara Huang.
Princess Iman of Jordan
Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan and Princess Rajwa of Jordan welcomed a baby girl in August 2024 and gave her the same name as her paternal aunt — Iman. The name has Muslim roots and means “faith” and “belief.”
August Brooksbank
Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank are the proud parents of two sons who don’t have royal titles but are members of the royal family nonetheless. Their firstborn’s name is August Philip Hawke Brooksbank. His name honors Prince Albert, Prince Philip, and Reverend Edward Hawke Brooksbank. August means majestic dignity and grandeur. He is affectionately known as “Augie,” a sweet nickname that just so happens to mean “deserving of respect.”
Ernest Brooksbank
The couple’s second son is Ernest George Ronnie Brooksbank. “He is named after his great great great Grandfather George, his Grandpa George and my Grandpa Ronald,” Princess Eugenie shared in the birth announcement, referencing King George V, her mother’s father Major Ronald Ferguson, and her husband’s late father George.
Ernest means “serious, determined,” and, like his brother, Ernest has an affectionate nickname. The little boy — who was the first member of the British royal family born after the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the coronation of King Charles III — is called “Ernie.”
Lucas Tindall
On March 21, 2021, Princess Anne’s daughter and Queen Elizabeth’s eldest granddaughter Zara Tindall gave birth to Lucas Philip, her third child and first son with husband Mike Tindall.
Lucas is from the Italian district of Lucania and also means “light.” Philip is a nod to both Mike’s father, Philip Tindall, and Zara’s grandfather, Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.
Prince George of Wales
Prince George’s full name is George Alexander Louis. The name George has a long history in the British royal family — he will be the seventh king named George, the most recent of whom is his great-grandfather, Queen Elizabeth II’s father George VI.
George means farmer and is derived from the Greek Georgos which translates to “tiller of the soil.” The name Alexander is a nod to his late grandmother the Queen, whose full name was Elizabeth Alexandra Mary. The name Louis (the ‘s’ is silent) is Prince William’s middle name and is also likely an homage to William’s late uncle, Lord Louis Mountbatten.
Princess Charlotte of Wales
Princess Charlotte’s full name is Charlotte Elizabeth Diana. The name Charlotte is the feminine version of Charles, after Charlotte’s grandfather, Prince Charles.
Elizabeth is a reference to Charlotte’s great-grandmother, the late Queen, and Diana is in honor of Prince William’s mother, the late Princess Diana, who died in 1997.
Prince Louis of Wales
Prince Louis’ full name is Louis Arthur Charles. The name Louis, which is one of Prince George’s middle names as well, is in honor of the late Lord Mountbatten, who died in an IRA bombing in 1979. Arthur is a Welsh name and means “bear.” And Charles is in honor of the young prince’s grandfather, King Charles III.
Prince Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor
Prince Archie is the son of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. His full name is Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. Meghan and Harry strayed from tradition in choosing the name Archie, as it’s not associated with any royal, living or dead. It is a short form of Archibald, which means “archer” or “truly bold.”
Mountbatten-Windsor is the surname used by male descendants of Queen Elizabeth who are not given a hereditary title.
Princess Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor
Prince Archie’s little sister, Princess Lilibet Diana, is named after two paternal ancestors. Lilibet was a nickname for her late great-grandma, Queen Elizabeth II, and the young princess’ middle name honors her late grandma, Princess Diana.
Lilibet is a blend of “Lily” (the flower) and “Elizabeth,” and Diana means “luminous” or “divine.”
James, Viscount Severn
James, Viscount Severn is the only son of Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, and Sophie, Countess of Wessex. His full name is JamesAlexanderPhilipTheo Mountbatten-Windsor.
Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor
Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor is the daughter of Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, and Sophie, Countess of Wessex. The name Louise has several etymologies and means “famous or renowned warrior.”
Mia Grace Tindall
Mia Grace Tindall is the oldest daughter of Zara and Mike Tindall. Zara is the daughter of Princess Anne and is the Queen’s granddaughter.
Mia is a name of Latin and Hebrew origin, considered either a form of Maria or the female form of Michael.
Lena Elizabeth Tindall
Lena Elizabeth Tindall is the second daughter of Zara and Mike Tindall. Lena has many origins (Greek, Hebrew, Latin) and is considered a short version of names such as Magdalena and Helena. It is said to mean “light.”
Savannah Phillips & Isla Phillips
Savannah and Isla are the children of Peter Phillips, the Queen’s oldest grandson and son of Princess Anne. Their names mean “from the open plain” and “from the name of a Scottish river.”
Prince Christian of Denmark
Prince Christian is second in line to the Danish throne after his father Crown Prince Frederik and his full name is Christian Valdemar Henri John. The name Christian follows a Danish royal tradition of the heir apparent being named either Christian or Frederik.
Valdemar has a long royal tradition as well, dating back to before the 14th century. Prince Christian’s name is in honor of Danish King Valdemar IV who ruled from 1340 to 1375. The name Henri is in honor of his paternal grandfather and John is after his maternal grandfather.
Princess Isabella of Denmark
Isabella’s full name is Isabella Henrietta Ingrid Margrethe. She is named after her ancestor Isabella of Austria and her maternal grandmother, paternal great-grandmother, and paternal grandmother.
The name Isabella is of Italian origin and means “God is my oath.”
Prince Vincent of Denmark
Prince Vincent’s full name is Vincent Frederik Minik Alexander. The name Vincent is of Latin origin and means “victorious.” It is a popular French name and is likely a nod to his grandfather’s French heritage.
Frederik is from the royal tradition of naming princes either Frederik or Christian. Minik is a popular name from Greenland Inuit origins which translates roughly to “viscid train oil which is being used as sealing for skin boats.” And Alexander means “defender of the people” and is of Greek origin.
Princess Josephine of Denmark
Prince Vincent’s twin sister Josephine’s full name is Josephine Sophia Ivalo Mathilda. The name Josephine is of French origin and means “may Jehovah add.”
Sophia is Greek and means “wisdom.” Ivalo is a Greenlandic name meaning “tendon, thread, sinew” and Mathilda means “battle maiden.”
Prince Emmanuel of Belgium
Prince Emmanuel’s full name is Emmanuel Léopold Guillaume François Marie. The name Emmanuel is of Hebrew origin and means “God with us.” Leopold is in honor of his great grandfather, Leopold III, and Guillaume is a reference to his godfather, Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg.
His parents chose the name Francois because Emmanuel was born on the Saint’s Day of St. Francis Assisi, and Marie is in honor of the Virgin Mary, which is a tradition in the Belgian Royal Family.
Princess Elisabeth, Duchess of Brabant
Princess Elisabeth is the heir apparent to the Belgian throne, and her full name is Elisabeth Therese Marie Helene. The name Elisabeth is in honor of her paternal ancestor Queen Elisabeth of Belgium, wife of King Albert I, while Therese refers to her maternal ancestor, Polish Countess Teresa Sobanski.
Marie is after the Virgin Mary, and Helene, which is a form of Helen and means “light,” is in honor of her godmother and aunt, aunt and the godmother, Countess Hélène d’Udekem d’Acoz.
Prince Gabriel of Belgium
Prince Gabriel is second in line to the Belgian throne, and his full name is Gabriel Baudouin Charles Marie. The name Gabriel is of Hebrew origin and means “God is my strength.” Baudouin is in reference to his great-uncle, King Baudouin of Belgium.
Charles is in honor of his godfather and uncle maternal uncle and godfather Charles d’Udekem d’Acoz, while Marie continues the tradition of naming after the Virgin Mary.
Princess Eleonore of Belgium
Princess Eleonore is the fourth child of King Philippe and his wife Queen Mathilde. Her full name is Eleonore Fabiola Victoria Anne Marie. Eleonore is a French name that means “shining light.” Fabiola is a reference to her great-aunt, Queen Fabiola of Belgium, and Victoria in honor of Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden, her godmother.
Anne is in honor of Countess Anna Maria d’Udekem d’Acoz, her maternal grandmother and Marie is after the Virgin Mary like her siblings.
Prince Hashem of Jordan
Prince Hashem bin Al Abdullah is the second son and fourth child of King Abdullah II and Queen Rania al-Abdullah of Jordan. He is of the Hashemite family which descends directly from the Prophet Mohammed. He is the namesake of his grandfather, King Hussein.
Princess Salma of Jordan
Princess Salma bint Abdullah is the third born of King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan. Salma is of Muslim origin and means “peaceful.”
Prince Moulay Hassan of Morocco
The Crown Prince of Morocco’s full name is Moulay Hassan Mohammed Al-Alaoui. Moulay means “prince,” and Hassan (“handsome”) is the name of his grandfather. Mohammed is the name of his father, King Mohammed VI.
Princess Alexia of the Netherlands
Princess Alexia is the daughter of Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, and her full name is Alexia Juliana Marcela Laurentien. The name Alexia is the female version of Alexander, her father’s name, and Juliana is after Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, her great-grandmother.
Marcela is of Spanish origin and means “young warrior.” The name was chosen in honor of great-aunt, Marcela Cerruti. Laurentian is in honor of her aunt, Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands.
Princess Ariane of the Netherlands
Princess Ariane is the youngest daughter of the Dutch Royal Family and her full name is Ariane Wilhelmina Máxima Inés. Ariane was chosen in keeping with her family’s desire to use A names and is of French origin meaning “very holy.” Wilhelmina is in honor of Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands, her great-great-grandmother.
Maxima is a reference to both her mother and her mother’s great-grandmother, while Ines is in honor of her godmother and aunt, Inés Zorreguieta.
Princess Amalia of the Netherlands
Princess Amalia is the heir apparent to the Dutch throne, and her full name is Catharina-Amalia Beatrix Carmen Victoria.
Catharina is assumed to be in honor of Henriette Catherine of Nassau or her ancestor Catherine the Great. Amalia is of Latin origin and means “hardworking.” The name was chosen to honor Amalia of Solms Braunfels, the wife of Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange.
Beatrix is in honor of the current Queen of the Netherlands, her grandmother, while Carmen was chosen to honor her maternal grandmother. Victoria represents her godmother, the Crown Princess of Sweden.
Princess Gabriella & Crown Prince Jacques of Monaco
Gabriella is third in line for the throne of Monaco after her father and twin brother, Jacques. Her full name is Gabriella Thérèse Marie Grimaldi. Gabriella is of Italian origin and means “God is my strength.”
Jacques is a French name meaning “supplanter.” Jacques’ full name is Jacques Honoré Rainier Grimaldi.
Princess Sofia & Princess Leonor of Spain
Leonor is the heir to the throne of Spain. She is the oldest child of Felipe VI of Spain and his wife Letizia. Her full name is Leonor de Todos los Santos de Borbón Ortiz which translates to which translates to Leonor of All the Saints of Bourbon Ortiz.
Her younger sister’s full name is Sofía de Todos los Santos de Borbón Ortiz.
Princess Ingrid and Prince Sverre of Norway
Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway is second in line for the throne of Norway after her father, Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway and his wife Princess Mette-Marit. Ingrid is a Scandanavian name that means “Ing’s beauty.”
Her younger brother, Prince Sverre Magnus of Norway is third in the line of succession. Sverre is a Nordic name that means “wild, swinging, spinning” while Magnus means “big” or “great.”
The Latest Royal Baby-Name Inspiration You Need for Your Future Princes & Princesses
Like any other family, royal families can either be super conservative in their baby names, or buck tradition entirely. Either way, we can’t help but see them as trendsetters whenever their offspring are announced. Whether we’re talking about the British monarchy or the royals of Europe, Africa, and Asia, there is one thing these parents have in common (um, besides wealth and power) — the names they choose for their children are full of meaning.
Whether they use a handful of middle names hearkening back to past monarchs or first names chosen to denote virtues or religious tenets, royals do not mess around when it comes to naming the future of the nobility. And while it might seem stuffy or old-fashioned to all of us commoners, it’s a tradition not taken lightly.
Even if your baby isn’t going to have four middle names and a hereditary title, scrolling through royal names is a great way to find inspiration for your baby name list. That, too, is something of a tradition — see the many Georges, Victorias, Williams, and Elizabeths you know and love. We highly encourage looking a little deeper into the royal family tree, and at the royals around the world, for names that are a little more unexpected. How about an Alexia, Leonor, or Hassan, for instance? Moulay or Sverre?
And hey, unlike royal families, if you don’t want to name your firstborn after a multiple-times-great grandfather or a centuries-dead monarch, at least you won’t end up causing an international scandal.
A version of this story was published in 2021.
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