Royal Baby Names & Their Meanings

Few things are pored over quite like a royal baby name. When a new prince or princess arrives, the world waits, and when the name is announced, every part of it is unpicked for meaning, tribute and history. And there is always meaning to find, because royal names are never chosen casually. Behind each royal baby name lies a web of family tradition, honoured ancestors and centuries of royal history.

Royal children typically carry several names, each a deliberate nod to a relative, a monarch or a cherished family member. It is a lovely custom, a way of weaving a new arrival into the long story of the family from the very first day.

Here are the meanings and stories behind the modern royal children’s names, and the traditions that shape how royals are named.

The tradition of royal naming

Royal naming is an exercise in continuity. Rather than reach for fashion, royal parents draw on a pool of traditional family names (the names of past kings and queens, of grandparents and great-grandparents), choosing ones that honour the family’s history and, often, pay tribute to specific loved ones.

That is why royal children usually have several forenames: it allows the parents to honour multiple relatives at once. A single royal name can nod to a grandfather, a great-grandmother and a long-dead monarch all together, a genealogy in miniature. Understanding that is the key to reading the meaning in any royal name.

Prince George

The eldest child of the Prince and Princess of Wales, and second in line to the throne, is Prince George. It is about as regal a name as exists: George has been the name of six British kings, most recently the Queen’s father, George VI, making it a direct nod to a much-loved monarch and a clear signal of the boy’s future.

The name itself derives from the Greek for “farmer” or “earth-worker,” but its royal weight comes from that line of kings, and from Saint George, the patron saint of England. His full name, George Alexander Louis, layers further tributes on top, in the royal tradition of honouring several relatives at once.

Princess Charlotte

The couple’s daughter is Princess Charlotte, a name of obvious royal pedigree. Charlotte is the feminine form of Charles, a graceful tribute to her grandfather, King Charles III, and it also honours Queen Charlotte, the wife of King George III. It is a name that looks both to the present and deep into royal history.

Her full name, Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, is one of the most touching in the modern royal family, honouring her great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth II and her late grandmother Diana, Princess of Wales. In three names, it gathers together some of the most beloved women of the royal story: a beautiful piece of tribute.

Prince Louis

The youngest Wales child is Prince Louis, a name with both French royal grandeur and a very personal royal meaning. Louis has been borne by numerous kings of France, giving it a long regal history, but within this family it is above all a tribute to Lord Louis Mountbatten, the beloved great-great-uncle and mentor of King Charles.

Pronounced in the French way, “Loo-ee,” it is an elegant, historic choice. His full name, Louis Arthur Charles, again layers tributes, to his grandfather the King among them, in the familiar royal pattern of honouring several family members within a single name.

Archie and Lilibet

The children of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Archie and Lilibet, broke a little with tradition while still carrying deep meaning. Archie (full name Archie Harrison) is a warmer, less formal choice than most royal names, reflecting his parents’ more relaxed style, though it charmingly shares roots with names meaning “genuine” and “bold.”

Lilibet, his younger sister, carries perhaps the most touching tribute of all: “Lilibet” was the childhood nickname of Queen Elizabeth II, used by her closest family, while her middle name, Diana, honours her late grandmother. Lilibet Diana thus pays tribute to two of the most cherished women in the family’s recent history, a tender choice for the youngest of the cousins.

The rules of royal names

Royal naming follows conventions rather than strict rules, but certain patterns hold. Children are given several forenames to honour multiple relatives; names of past monarchs and long-standing family names are favoured; and tributes to recently departed loved ones, like Diana or the late Queen, are woven in with care.

The names also carry titles that can change over time, and the family surname question is its own gentle complexity: royals who need one have used Mountbatten-Windsor. But the heart of royal naming is simple and rather lovely: it is an act of remembrance, connecting each new child to the family and the history they are born into.

Why royal names matter

Royal baby names matter because they are never merely names. They are tributes, statements of continuity, and tiny acts of family memory. In choosing George, Charlotte, Louis, Archie or Lilibet, royal parents honour the past while looking to the future, binding a new generation into the long, unbroken story of the family.

That is what makes them so fascinating to decode: each one is a little piece of history and love, chosen with care. Browse more of our Royal Figures stories to explore the people and traditions behind the modern monarchy.

Frequently asked questions

What are the names of the Wales children?

The three children of the Prince and Princess of Wales are Prince George (George Alexander Louis), Princess Charlotte (Charlotte Elizabeth Diana) and Prince Louis (Louis Arthur Charles). Each name honours royal relatives and history.

What does the name Charlotte mean for royalty?

Charlotte is the feminine form of Charles, making Princess Charlotte’s name a tribute to her grandfather, King Charles III. It also honours Queen Charlotte, wife of George III. Her full name adds tributes to Queen Elizabeth II and Diana.

Why is Prince Louis called Louis?

Prince Louis’s name honours Lord Louis Mountbatten, the beloved great-great-uncle and mentor of King Charles, as well as the long line of French kings named Louis. It is pronounced in the French way, “Loo-ee.”

What does Lilibet’s name mean?

“Lilibet” was the childhood nickname of Queen Elizabeth II, used by her closest family, making it a tender tribute to her great-grandmother. Her middle name, Diana, honours her late grandmother, Diana, Princess of Wales.

Why do royal children have so many names?

Royal children are given several forenames so their parents can honour multiple relatives and monarchs at once. A single royal name often pays tribute to grandparents, great-grandparents and past kings or queens all together.

How are royal babies named?

Royal parents typically choose traditional family names, those of past monarchs and cherished relatives, often weaving in tributes to recently departed loved ones. The result is usually several forenames, each carrying a piece of family history and meaning.

Name meanings and tributes are drawn from widely published accounts of the royal family; details are described as of 2026.