Royal baby name predictions for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, is thought to be just days away from giving birth to her first child with Prince Harry.

There is much speculation about the unborn royal: where will it be born? Markle is thought to be shunning the Lindo Wing, where Princess Diana and Kate Middleton both gave birth. Will it be a boy or a girl? But the biggest conversation point has to be the name.

Here, we weigh up the possible monikers for the royal-to-be...

Although the mum-to-be is new to The Firm, it's unlikely that the couple will stray too far away from royal naming norms – it is thought that Queen Elizabeth II approves the baby name, and she is notified of the name and gender before anyone else.

Obviously, not being able to meet his mom it is so important to me, to know that she is a part of this with us.

Meghan Markle on Princess Diana

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have kept it very classic with their name choices – George, Charlotte and Louis – and it is expected that the Sussexes will do the same.

Diana, Grace, Victoria and Alice have all been suggested for a girl, Diana being a tribute to Harry's mother.

Meghan has spoken about wanting to keep Diana's memory alive with Harry. When he proposed, he used pieces of his mother's jewellery to make the ring, of which Markle said: "Obviously, not being able to meet his mom it is so important to me, to know that she is a part of this with us."

For a boy, Alexander and Philip, are hot suggestions. Philip would honour Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, Harry’s grandfather.

Other names that have been suggested for possible middle names are Doria or Loyce, as a tribute to Doria Ragland, Markle's mother, who she is incredibly close to. Loyce is Ragland's middle name, and according to sheknows.com is a German girl's name meaning "renowned warrior". Markle has said she wants her unborn child to grow up a feminist, so the name could fit.

The couple's baby will be seventh in line to the throne, therefore extremely unlikely to become king or queen. So it's possible that a more modern name could be chosen.

 

Prince Harry's cousin, Zara Tindall, is mum to girls Mia Grace and Lena Elizabeth with rugby player, Mike Tindall.

The five most popular boys name in the UK are Oliver, Harry, George, Noah and Jack, while across the pond in the US Jackson, Liam, Noah, Aiden and Caden rated as the most popular names in 2018.

While for girls Olivia, Amelia, Isla, Ava and Emily topped the British charts, and Sophia, Olivia, Emma, Ava and Isabella were the American top five.

Noah, Ava and Olivia rank highly in both countries. Would the royals use this as their inspiration?