The royal family has a long-standing tradition of using noble, strong, and classical names for its children. Generation after generation reuses and recycles the same names over and over, not from lack of creativity, but because the names they choose hold certain regal airs that they want to be associated with. And just because someone isn't a part of the royal family, doesn't mean their baby can't have a royal name. There are so many class British royal names to choose from, for both girls and boys, and every single one of them has a special meaning. And the best part? The kiddo would share a name with some of the most famous people in royal history.
Pretty cool, right? And now that Kate Middleton and Prince William welcomed the newest royal to the scene, Prince Louis, there is bound to be a rise in royally inspired baby names — so be sure to pick the right one! Choosing a name for your baby is a tricky business, so sometimes it helps to have a little inspiration for a nudge in the right direction.
We've gathered the 20 best baby names inspired by the British royal family. Whether it's a first name or middle name, these royals know how to choose the most powerful and commanding of them all — so why not borrow from the experts?
JAMES
James, derived from a Hebrew name, is after James, Viscount Severn, the youngest grandchild of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. The name became popular in the 17th century after James VI inherited the English throne. And while this isn't the most used royal name, it still has great regal significance.
CHARLOTTE
Ah, yes, the classic! There have been many royal Charlottes, but the one we know and love is the daughter of Prince William and Kate Middleton, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge. It has French origin, but has been a popular British and royal name for quite some time (i.e. Charlotte Brontë).
SOPHIE
After Prince Edward's wife, the Countess of Wessex, Sophie means wisdom and skill. The name has had British popularity since James I named his daughter Sophie in the 17th century.
LOUISE
Louise, after Lady Louise Windsor, the youngest granddaughter of the queen, has Germanic roots and his the feminine form of Louis. But, in French, the name means "famous warrior."
CATHERINE/KATHERINE
The name Catherine/Katherine means innocent and pure and has been the name of many European royals. Not to mention, it's the name of our beloved Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge. It hit its peak popularity throughout the 1900s, but as slowly tapered off — but that doesn't mean it can't make a comeback.
ANDREW
Andrew means "strong," "courageous," and "manly," and is the name of one of Queen Elizabeth's sons, the Duke of York. Another famous British Andrew? Composer and musical writer, Andrew Lloyd Weber.
LOUIS
Our newest royal on the scene, Prince Louis, has a French name meaning "famous in war" or "famous fighter." It's pretty clear to see why the name was so popular among French kings, but has also long been used by the British royal family.
MARY
Mary, the middle name of many royals, is a name that's immediately associated with the royals and religion. It's another Hebrew name that means "wished-for child," and was famously the name of Mary, Queen of Scots.
ANNE
Anne, after the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth, is a Hebrew name with a great religious background. Anne was the name of the Virgin Mary's mother, and it typically means "grace" or "favor."
MARGARET
Princess Margaret, the sister of Queen Elizabeth, was a trailblazer in her own right, and had a name that means "pearl." The name itself sounds classic and bold, which is probably why it has been so popular among royals.
CHRISTIAN
Christian is of English origin and was actually used as both a girls' and boys' name. It's one of the less common royal names and is typically used as a middle name, like with Prince Andrew, the son of Queen Elizabeth.
CHARLES
A Germanic name, Charles typically means "manly" or "strong," and again, has been the name of many kings over time. Most recently, it is the name of Queen Elizabeth's eldest son, Prince Charles, and the middle name of little Prince Louis.
HARRY
Prince Harry probably has one of the most unusual royal names, but that is because it's actually a nickname for Henry, which is his given name. Harry typically means "rules the home."
VICTORIA
The name Victoria, meaning "victory," has seen a rise in popularity over the last couple of years, and was the name of Queen Elizabeth's great-great-grandmother. More recently, the name is typically used as a royal middle name.
GEORGE
George is perhaps one of the most common British royal names, and it's the name of Prince George, who currently stands third in line to the throne. Kings for generations have had the name, which originally comes from the Greek language.
ALEXANDRA
The middle name of Queen Elizabeth herself, Alexandra is a Greek name meaning "defender of man." The name has long been popular in Russian literature and has been in British royal family for decades.
WILLIAM
Meaning "strong-willed warrior," William has been the name of a number of different British kings, and was given to Prince William, grandson of the queen.
SARAH
This one is a little surprising. Sarah, after the Duchess of York, the former wife of Prince Andrew, is a Hebrew name, and the meaning of the name is "princess." Seems appropriate enough for the royal family.
ELIZABETH
Who wouldn't want to be named after the reigning Queen of England? The name has Hebrew origins and was #27 in popularity for 2018. Clearly, Elizabeths aren't going anywhere anytime soon.
ALICE
Alice, the middle name of Princess Anne, is a classic British name and is perhaps best known from Lewis Caroll's Alice in Wonderland. The name means "noble" and "kind," and became extremely popular after Caroll's book was published.
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