Not sure what name to give your baby? You're in royal company!
Choosing the perfect name for your kid is stressful for any parent. But when your firstborn is the future king of England, the pressure is really on. After all, the whole world is watching and will remember the name for the rest of their lives. (History will have something to say about your choice too!) Royal power couple Kate and William, parents of Prince George, second in line to the throne, can certainly tell you a thing or two about it.
According to a new book, the pair, who tied the knot in 2011, changed their minds about his name again and again—right up until little George was born on July 22, 2013. Kate especially had “her heart set” on a different name, and we have all the details.
Can you guess what George was almost called? Read on for the big reveal!
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What name did Kate really want to give Prince George?
It was Alexander, according to royal biographer Russell Myers. As he claims in his new book William and Catherine, The Monarchy’s New Era: The Inside Story, the pair “spent hours” brainstorming names for George and went back and forth until the very last minute.
Friends had gifted them a book with baby names for inspiration, but the couple still struggled with the decision for months. (It probably didn’t help that they’d agreed not to find out the sex of their baby until birth.) Hedging her bets, Kate originally favored Alexander for a boy or Alexandra—the late Queen Elizabeth’s middle name—for a girl.
But these weren’t the only ones she and William had in mind.
What other names did the royal couple consider?
William’s favorite name for a girl was Diana, an obvious nod to his late mother who died in a tragic car accident in 1997. He also cheekily suggested modern names like Graham and Rodney for a boy when running through options with his press team. In the end, however, he narrowed it down to more classic choices for the future heir of the throne: George and Louis.
As we now know, when their baby boy was born at St. Mary’s Hospital in London, Kate and William decided to combine all their favorites and call him Prince George Alexander Louis.
What does George’s full name literally mean?
George is originally a Greek name derived from Georgos, or “farmer,” and stands for strength and bravery. Alexander, also from ancient Greek (Alexo), means “defender of the people” and is associated with power, influence and charisma—perfect for a future monarch. And then there’s Louis, deriving from the Germanic Chlodowig (or Hludowig), which literally means “famed warrior” in English. Sounds like a pretty good (and suitable) combo to us!
What’s the significance of the royal kids’ names?
Names for royals are never a coincidence, of course—they all pay homage to someone important in the family. Here are the full names of Kate and William’s three kids, along with a brief description who they honor.
- George (Prince George Alexander Louis): George is an homage to Elizabeth’s father, George VI, and her grandfather George V, while Louis is one of William’s middle names (full name: William Arthur Philip Louis). Alexander (and its female equivalent) is a name frequently used throughout the royal family tree.
- Charlotte (Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana): This one is easy to guess. Elizabeth refers to the late queen, and Diana, of course, honors William’s mum. Charlotte, on the other hand, is the female version of Charles, a sweet nod to William’s father, King Charles III.
- Louis (Prince Louis Arthur Charles): Louis honors (among others) Louis Mountbatten, Prince Philip’s uncle, as well as his own father and brother, who both have Louis as one of their middle names. Charles refers to the king, while Arthur is a middle name shared by both the current monarch and his heir, William. It’s also often seen as an homage to the medieval king of the same name.
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Why trust us
Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of stories on the British royal family, providing a behind-the-scenes look at the fascinating facets of the monarchy. We regularly cover topics including the latest royal news, the history and meaning behind time-honored traditions, and the everyday quirks of everyone’s favorite family members, from Queen Elizabeth’s daily snack to Prince William’s confessions about his home life. We’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. For this piece on Prince George’s name, Astrid Hofer tapped her experience as a London-based journalist with more than 20 years of experience covering topics including the British royal family. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- William and Catherine: The Monarchy’s New Era: The Inside Story by Russell Myers
- BBC: “Royal baby named Prince Louis”
- InStyle: “Kate Middleton reportedly ‘had her heart set’ on naming Prince George something entirely different”
- Mirror: “Prince William’s eye-raising alternative name for George left palace staff stuttering”
- ABC News: “Prince George Alexander Louis: What does it mean?”
- Ancestry: “Meaning of the first name George”
- Ancestry: “Meaning of the first name Alexander”
- Ancestry: “Meaning of the first name Louis”
