Tolga Akmen / AFP/Getty Images Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, aka the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, welcomed a baby boy on Monday. The baby is the first British royal born to an American parent. Dad Harry said the couple is still thinking about names. "That's the next bit," he said, suggesting a name will be announced in two days. "I'm just over the moon" The Duke of Sussex came outside of Frogmore Cottage to announce the birth of his baby boy with the Duchess of Sussex! He also added that the mother and baby are doing well and that we should see the baby and know the name in 2 days time!#RoyalBaby pic.twitter.com/Fp1yHPXmPD — The Royal Family Channel (@RoyalFamilyITNP) May 6, 2019 The British Royal Family tends to reuse family first names over and over, so such names as Albert, Arthur, Charles and Philip keep coming up. But this baby is only seventh in line to the throne, so really, there's room for Harry and Meghan to step off the traditional name path, as Princess Anne did in 1981 when she named her daughter Zara. Some would like to see the baby's name include Spencer, to honor the last name of Harry's mother, the late Princess Diana. I want the baby's name to be Spencer. Earl Spencer of Sussex 😭😭 #royalbaby pic.twitter.com/Qq1eSTLrdq — Bye (@Queen_Soul01) May 6, 2019 idc about the royal family but i hope they name the baby spencer and spite the queen lmao — K (@keelyymadison) May 6, 2019 "Spencer" was high on the oddsmakers' lists, too, though not as high as Arthur, Albert and Philip. Meghan Markle's own father's name, Thomas, even made the betting lists despite their frayed relationship. Here's how we've priced up the #RoyalBaby name betting 👑 Arthur - 5/1 Albert - 6/1 Philip - 6/1 James - 8/1 Alexander - 10/1 Alfred - 10/1 Thomas - 12/1 Spencer - 14/1 Charles - 16/1 Edward - 16/1 Henry - 16/1 Richard - 16/1 — Ladbrokes (@Ladbrokes) May 6, 2019 Some observers are rooting for a Yankee Doodle Dandy of a name, just to bring a little star-spangled Americana into the royal family. "Don't care for the royals but I'm praying they give this baby a really American name like Greyson or Tucker or Brad," wrote one Twitter user. Don’t care for the royals but I’m praying they give this baby a really American name like Greyson or Tucker or Brad — Na(like a horse)omi (@naomibourke) May 6, 2019 In homage to her heritage I wonder if Megan & Harry will give the new #RoyalBaby an American name? I'm leaning toward Hank, Ralph or Dwane and at a pinch Billy Joe. — John Short (@JDherts) May 6, 2019 They should give the royal baby a traditional American name and call him ‘Chip’ — Joshua William (@jshwllm) May 6, 2019 Still trying to help the royals name the new baby. Something that blends British tradition with brash American ideals. I like both Allistair McAllister and H. Salt, Esquire. — Cairn (it's really not that hard, please just try) (@CairnRodrigues) May 6, 2019 Convincing people the royal baby has a trashy American name is getting me through the day — DAFT VADER (@ArranDTaylor) May 6, 2019 And of course, some names are just awesome dreams. "They should name the royal baby something badass like Angus Nitro," wrote one Twitter user. They should name the royal baby something badass like Angus Nitro. — Ryan, perdido en TX (@RyanLostinTX) May 6, 2019 Prince Gary 👑 — Mickayla (@MickaylaD_) May 6, 2019 Joffrey — Anthony Degliomini (@DeGz77) May 6, 2019 I’m not one to judge but that’s a terrible name for the #royalbaby pic.twitter.com/LLAEoHncqR — Amanda (@Pandamoanimum) May 6, 2019 According to the radio just now, his name will be "Announced in due course". — Sue Archer (@SueArcher6) May 6, 2019 And a certain departed Tudor king who had problems getting himself a son of his own had something to say, too. "He's royal. He's a ginger. His name is Harry. And his wife gives birth to a boy. There's not enough wine for this," snarked the Henry VIII parody account. He's royal. He's a ginger. His name is Harry. And his wife gives birth to a boy. There's not enough wine for this. Not enough cheese. Not enough shouting. Not enough smashing things. Not enough clutching a tapestry & making incoherent sobbing noises. #royalbaby #courage #wine — Henry Tudor (@KngHnryVIII) May 6, 2019 Good Lord my Liege! She's from the new world! — Clive Conway (@13thDukeofWmbm) May 6, 2019 Chin up your majesty! You tried really hard! — Becca Eller a.k.a Professor F (@the_beccaeller) May 6, 2019 There's room for plenty of names stuffed into the new baby's moniker. Dad Prince Harry has four names (Henry Charles Albert David) and the Queen's uncle, who abdicated the throne in 1936 to marry divorced American Wallis Simpson, had seven names (Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David).<doc-sep>Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, pose with their newborn son Prince Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor in St George's Hall at Windsor Castle on May 8, 2019, in Windsor, England. The wait is over, and the world now knows the name of the newest member of England's Royal Family: Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. The name is a unique one for the new baby boy who is seventh in line for the throne. Unlike his cousins' names, the new baby's moniker isn't drawn directly from the family tree. Archie ranks as the eighteenth-most popular baby name in England and as the 1,182nd-most popular baby name in the United States, birthplace of mother Meghan Markle. "By English standards, this is an incredibly normal name," said Laura Wattenberg, author of "The Baby Name Wizard: A Magical Method for Finding the Perfect Name for Your Baby" (Harmony, Revised Edition, 2013). And that normalcy, Wattenberg said, is a statement in and of itself. Baby names: Who cares? The royals announced the baby's name today (May 7) on Instagram. The question of what Markle and Prince Harry's child would be named has been of intense interest — it's even the subject of wagering, with bookies giving Spencer strong odds ahead of the announcement, according to The Telegraph. (Spencer was the maiden name of Princess Diana, Harry's late mother). Names are typically the subject of interest because they're rich symbols, Wattenberg told Live Science. "They pack so much information into a few letters, sending signals about age, sex, religion, class, ethnicity, culture, values, and of course, style," she said. This is especially true because names have become increasingly tailor-made for parents and their hopes for their children over time. In the United States, for example, 40% of boys got one of the country's top-10 names in the 1880s. By 2007, the top 10 boy names covered less than 10% of new baby boys. In that sense, baby names convey information about their parents' values and attitudes. For example, a 2018 analysis of the Social Security database of U.S. baby names by Wattenberg found that newly emerging names show a wide gender gap. Boys are much more likely to be given names associated with power, speed, animals and courage (Diesel, Rage, Dash), while girls are more likely to get names linked to beauty, luxury or happiness (Cashmere, Gorgeous, Joy). Baby names can even hint at parents' political ideology. A 2013 study of U.S. names found that parents in liberal areas prefer softer consonants, such as "L," for their babies' names, while parents in conservative regions favor harder sounds such as "B" and "D." Babies in Western states are also more likely to get unusual names compared to babies in New England, perhaps reflecting a more individualistic ethos in those "frontier" regions. (Markle, for the record, was born and raised in Los Angeles.) Naming royalty The names of royal babies are at a whole different level. For Kate Middleton and Prince William, whose children are third, fourth and fifth in line for the throne, naming was a statement for the whole family, Wattenberg said. "It was a moment of branding for the monarchy, a statement of purpose and identity," she said. "Their choice was tightly constrained." And indeed, the pair drew their children's monikers from the family lineage. Their firstborn, George Alexander Louis, shares a first name with six British monarchs since 1714. Alexander was part of the name of his great-grandfather Prince Philip's grandfather, and Louis is in honor of his father's great-uncle Lord Louis Mountbatten. Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, the pair's second child, drew her middle names from her great-grandmother, the current queen, and her grandmother, Princess Diana. Charlotte is both a feminine form of Charles (William's father and next in line for the throne) and an homage to Queen Charlotte, wife of George III, who ruled between 1738 and 1820, according to The Telegraph. The couple's third child, Louis Arthur Charles, also nods to Prince Charles and Lord Louis Mountbatten, as well as Arthur, part of Charles' and William's full name. With a long line in front of him in the royal succession and parents known for a modern approach, the naming field seemed wide-open for "Baby Sussex," the nickname given to Harry and Meghan's child. "This one is far less predictable than recent royal names," Wattenberg said before the announcement. That made the name more interesting, she said, because it was a chance to glimpse "something real and heartfelt" about Meghan and Harry. According to Wattenberg's website, Namerology, which focuses on baby-name statistics, Archie is holding steady in popularity in England, but trending upward in the United States. The nickname form of the name is more popular in both countries than the name it originally shortens, Archibald. Archibald ranks 2,554 in popularity in the United States and 392 in England. Harrison as a first name is the 34th most-popular choice in England and ranks 113th in the United States. (Though Harry can be a nickname for Harrison, Prince Harry's full name is Henry, not Harrison.) "I take this name as a polite statement that royal trappings come second" for Harry and Meghan, Wattenberg said. William and Kate used a traditional approach to naming, Wattenberg said, picking names from a menu of classic family names. That's how almost everyone in the English-speaking world named their kids until a few decades ago,she said. In contrast, Harry and Meghan took a contemporary approach, picking a "fashionable, well-liked name," Wattenberg said. "It's really only in the last few generations that names have become trendy objects of style," she said. Originally published on Live Science.<doc-sep>Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window) With oddsmakers betting on the traditional names Arthur, Philip or Albert for the royal baby, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry surprised the world with their choice of Archie Harrison for their first-born. With English and Scottish origins, Archie, the shortened version of Archibald, is “composed of the Germanic elements ercan, meaning ‘genuine,’ and bald, meaning ‘bold’ or ‘brave,'” according to the UK’s Baby Centre website. Harrison, meanwhile, appears to be a nod to dad Harry as the name comes “from a surname, meaning ‘son of Harry. '” Though the official meaning behind baby Archie’s name has not yet been revealed, royal insiders told The Sun that Meghan, 37, and Harry, 34, “may have just liked the name,” indicating it could be yet another time American-born Meghan and Harry wanted to break from tradition. As previously reported, it’s believed the baby could have dual citizenship and perhaps even an American nanny. Harry and Meghan did not choose an aristocratic title for their son. Instead, he will be known for now as “Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor.” The infant joins a list of famous Archies, including the redheaded Archie Comics character, “Riverdale’s” Archie Andrews (based on the character) and Amy Poehler and ex Will Arnett’s 10-year-old son. The baby, who was born on Monday, made his official debut Wednesday with his parents and was later introduced to great-grandparents Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip at Windsor Castle. Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, was also present. Related Video Video length 2 minutes 59 seconds 2:59 Meghan Markle and Prince Harry introduce baby Archie Meghan Markle and Prince Harry introduce baby Archie With Post wires<doc-sep>Is this the real reason Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced son Archie's name with a black and white photo? Archie Harrison was introduced to the world on Wednesday Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced the surprising name for their newborn son on Wednesday, Archie Harrison Montbatten-Windsor, with a stunning black and white photo on Instagram. The image saw the royal baby in the arms of his mum, while dad Harry, great-grandparents the Queen and Prince Philip and grandmother Doria Ragland all gazed adoringly at little Archie. Archie Harrison was introduced on Wednesday But according to photography expert Glenn Gratton, there may be a clever reason why Meghan opted to release a black and white photo to announce her son's moniker to the world. "She would have put a lot of thought into the photos," photographer Glenn told the MailOnline. "It's the first picture of the baby and that's going to be Googled for years and she wants to make sure it's right. She would have thought it all through, long and hard." READ MORE: Is this the family member who Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's son Archie is named after? Loading the player... He added: "It is very complimentary on skin tones - take someone who is red-headed, or pale skinned - it is flattering for them. It just looks beautiful. It's very forgiving." Glenn also said that while black and white is "in vogue", it could also be a way for Meghan to distance her photos from the "high contrast, filtered images" that dominate Instagram feeds. This isn't the first time Prince Harry and Meghan have used black and white photography to mark a special occasion. The royal couple made a statement when they released two of the three official engagement photos in black and white. They also chose some colourless images to mark their wedding day, later choosing one of them standing with their backs to the camera as their first Christmas card. Meghan and Harry on their wedding day READ MORE: Did you notice EastEnders' special shoutout to new royal baby Archie? Meanwhile, Harry and Meghan revealed baby Archie to the world on Wednesday after enjoying two days of privacy as a new family of three. On Monday afternoon, the happy news was officially announced on Twitter and Instagram with a statement that read: "Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex was safely delivered of a son at 0526hrs this morning. The baby weighs 7lbs 3oz. The Duke of Sussex was present for the birth." The statement concluded: "Her Royal Highness and the baby are both doing well." Make sure you never miss a ROYAL story! Sign up to our newsletter to get all of our celebrity, royal and lifestyle news delivered directly to your inbox.<doc-sep>
On Wednesday the Duke and Duchess of Sussex revealed they had named their firstborn son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. Harry, 34, and Meghan, 37, announced the name to the Sussex Royal Instagram account, along with a sweet picture of the two-day-old baby with Doria Ragland, the Queen and Prince Philip. The choice of name comes just months after Harry's nephew Prince George, 5, made the surprising revelation to a passerby that his nickname is 'Archie'. In January Prince George revealed his nickname is 'Archie' when he started chatting to a dogwalker. On Wednesday the Duke and Duchess of Sussex revealed they had named their firstborn son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor just hours after they posed with him at Windsor Castle The young prince was walking with his grandmother, Carole Middleton, near her home in Berkshire, when he struck up a conversation with a stranger. The five-year-old started talking to the woman while stroking her dog after playing with his younger sister, Charlotte, in a stream. The woman was told not to take pictures of the royal children by a police protection officer. She made small talk with the prince, who is third in line to the throne, when he told her his name was actually Archie. The choice of name comes just months after Harry's nephew Prince George, 5, made the surprising revelation to a passerby that his nickname is 'Archie' The unnamed woman told the Sun: 'I was asked by a police minder not to take a photo of the children, which I didn't, but George started stroking my dog. 'Just to be friendly I engaged in a bit of small talk and I asked George what his name was, even though obviously I knew it. 'To my astonishment he said 'I'm called Archie' with a big smile on his face. I don't know why he calls himself Archie but kids often play with their names and I think it's lovely.' George's middle names are Alexander and Louis and at school he is known as PG. Parents Kate and William then started calling him PG Tips or just 'Tips' after the brand of tea. When she was pregnant Kate referred to him as 'our little grape'. Harry, 34, and Meghan, 37, announced the name to the Sussex Royal Instagram account, along with a sweet picture of the two-day-old baby with Doria Ragland, the Queen and Prince Philip In January Prince George told a woman walking her dog in Berkshire that his nickname is 'Archie'. Above he is with his sister Charlotte arriving at the Lindo Wing at St Mary's Hospital after the birth of their younger brother, Prince Louis Archie is originally a German name with Scottish roots, where it is a shortened version of Archibald. The royal family often have nicknames for each other and Prince William went by the name 'Steve' at university to blend in with his fellow students. It also emerged that in September Charlotte is to go to the same Battersea school as her older brother. She has been at Willcocks Nursery in Kensington since last January and will enrol at Thomas's Battersea, which costs £6,000-a-term. It was reported last year that the Cambridges may not send their children to 'traditional' secondary schools such as Eton. Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, posed with their newborn son during a photocall in St George's Hall at Windsor Castle today Following the news of Baby Sussex's name on Wednesday, leading bookmaker Coral revealed they had offered a 100/1 on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle naming their baby boy Archie before they revealed the name late this afternoon. Alexander had been the 4/1 favourite, with Spencer, Arthur and James all well backed with the firm. 'We only took a handful of bets on Archie so this has to go down as one of the biggest surprises in Royal betting history as it was a 100/1 outsider before the name was revealed,' said Coral's John Hill. Prince Harry and Meghan are odds-on at 4-5 to announce they are having a second child in 2020. 'It would be no surprise if the Royal couple revealed at some point next year that little Archie will be having a brother or sister,' added Hill. The American former actress gave birth to the overdue 7lb 3oz boy on Monday at 5.26am.