With thousands of names to choose from, deciding what to name your baby can create tension in even the most relaxed parents-to-be. If you've decided to buck trendy names and instead focus on more classic ones, you may be drawn to royal baby names.
Royal names are typically rooted in tradition and heritage, which means that the same names are used repeatedly, generation after generation, and often represent specific qualities in their ancestors. Here are a few royalty-inspired names to consider.
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Naming trends in the US vs. the UK do indicate some similarities, but there are more differences than you might expect. For one, the number one boy name in the US, Liam, didn't even make the top twenty in the UK in 2022. But America could be inspiring baby names in England in other ways.
"Who could have predicted that wild west names would be a new trend," BabyCentre's Sarah Redshaw told Daily Mail. Redshaw cited the increase in cowboy-themed searches for names like Billy, Wyatt, Pearl and Clementine, across the BabyCentre website.
To switch things up, we've compiled a list of some of the most common baby names in the UK. Did your possible baby girl name make the list?
Lily
Of Latin origin, the baby name Lily means "innocence." It is also Lilibet's nickname, though hers is spelled with an "i" instead of a "y."
Sophia
Sophia, from the Greek for "wisdom," is a common name both in the US and the UK. Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, is married to King Charles III youngest sibling, Prince Edward. In the US, Sophia ranked the 5th most popular baby girl name in 2022.
Olivia
Olivia took the number one spot in both the US and the UK in 2022. The name means "peace," and while there aren't any royal family members named Olivia, the name is almost connected to royalty. In the 18th century Olivia Serres was an imposter who claimed she was a princess, and contemporary English actress Olivia Colman was revered for her role as Queen Elizabeth II in The Crown.
Charlotte
Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, born in 2015, is currently third in the line of succession to the throne. The name Charlotte is the female variation of the name Charles.
Arthur
Derived from "artos" which means "bear," the name Arthur gained popularity in Medieval England after the reign of King Arthur, but has seen a resurgence in the UK.
Harry
The name Harry means "home ruler," which given all of the drama surrounding Harry, Meghan and The Royal Family, is quite ironic. Regardless, if you like the tradition of a classic royal name but prefer something more casual, consider using a nickname. After the birth of their son Henry, Prince Charles and Princess Diana announced that he would be known as Harry, a name that has stuck.
