Rumor has it, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will welcome a baby boy this spring. After publicly claiming she and Prince Harry decided to keep their baby’s gender a surprise, the Duchess of Sussex allegedly revealed the royal baby’s gender to friends at her baby shower last month. If the reports are true, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex might name their firstborn after a very special royal in Prince Harry’s life — his grandfather, Prince Philip.
It’s no secret that Prince Harry is very close to his almost 98-year-old grandfather. Apparently, part of the reason for he and Meghan Markle’s whirlwind engagement was so Prince Philip would be alive to see them tie the knot. And now, the Duke of Sussex is likely anticipating Prince Philip and his future (alleged) son’s first meeting. Will Prince Harry name his son after Prince Philip? Find out, ahead.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle baby names
In the royal family, it’s tradition to name a royal baby after another member of the monarchy. That’s why everyone is a Charles, Albert, Edward, William, Alexander, Victoria, Elizabeth, and Anne (plus other a long list of other monarch-worthy names). So, it’s likely that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will do the same.
According to early reports from People, the bets are on for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s baby names and Albert, Arthur, and Alexander are top contenders. However, the Duchess of Sussex’s due date approaches, a new popular name has come to the forefront. Cosmopolitan reports that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle might also consider Philip as either a first name or middle name (after all, royals typically have at least two to three of them!). Given their close-knit relationship, the Duke of Sussex might want to honor his grandfather by naming his firstborn after the consort.
If Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have a daughter (which some still believe is the case), they might keep Philip in their back pocket for a future child and, instead, honor Prince Harry’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth. Elizabeth is one of Princess Charlotte’s middle names and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex could follow suit by naming Baby Sussex after the longest-reigning monarch.
Royal name rules
No matter what names they decide on, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will have to follow protocol when finalizing their decision. Here are some of the royal name rules the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will most likely follow.
Consult the queen
Even if the Duke and Duchess of Sussex decide to name their son after Prince Philip or their daughter after the queen, it won’t be a surprise to either of them. According to royal rules, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle must consult the queen on royal baby names. While her opinion doesn’t dictate the name they choose, it does have influence and the parents-to-be will likely take her suggestions and opinions into top consideration.
Choose a family name
In addition to honoring Prince Harry’s grandparents, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will have to choose a handful of other names for Baby Sussex’s first name and middle names. When deciding on a name, they probably won’t go with Meghan Markle’s family names, as it’s custom to choose a royal family name (such as Edward, Charles, Victoria, or even Diana).
Wait to tell the public
Think Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will announce their baby’s name before their due date? Think again. Not only will the Duke and Duchess of Sussex hold off on sharing their baby’s name, but they might also make the public wait a week or two after the royal baby’s arrival. In the weeks following a royal baby’s birth, royal couples typically finalize their name decisions and therefore don’t share it with the public upon birth.
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