Grace and Diana share top spot as likely names for Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's royal baby
As the rest of the world is still trying to figure out whether Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, are having a boy or a girl, with the odds being in favor of the latter, the latest buzz surrounding the royal couple's highly talked about pregnancy happens to be the prospective name of the baby.
After considering options like Elizabeth and Diana - after the Queen, and the late Princess of Wales, respectively - the latest name that seems to be gaining traction is Grace.
While the Duchess said the couple isn't keen on finding out the soon-to-be-arriving baby's sex, according to U.K. bookies Ladbrokes, the name Grace shares the topmost spot alongside Diana. The same organization also noted the name was popularized by another noteworthy royal, Princess Grace of Monaco.
Even though Markle has always maintained privacy regarding her faith, insiders have spoken about how integral a part of her life it is. “Meg is extremely faithful,” a longtime friend of the expecting Duchess had shared with People in February. “We pray a lot together. We meditate. She has had, and especially has now, a very close relationship with God.”
But Grace isn't the only contender gaining momentum with regards to possible baby names. Another unexpected name that has risen through the ranks is Allegra, which is the sixth most likely name of the royal baby in terms of betting odds, revealed Ladbrokes.
“We’re scratching our heads as to why we’ve seen so much interest in Allegra, but the bets are coming in thick and fast and it’s been by far the most popular pick of the month with punters,” Alex Apati of Ladbrokes told People.
Italian in origin, the name means cheerful or joyous. The Duchess has spoken in the past about how Italy is one of her favorite travel destinations, with a special mention to Positano. Even her former lifestyle blog, The Tig, derives its name from the Italian wine Tignanello. In 2018, just weeks after their royal wedding, the couple traveled to Italy. It all makes sense, doesn't it?
Other contenders on the list of baby names are Elizabeth at 8/1, Alice at 12/1 and Victoria at 16/1. As for baby boy names, in top position is Arthur, followed by Philip (for great-grandfather Prince Philip, of course), James and Albert.
Princess Diana, the Duchess' late mother-in-law, revealed Arthur and Albert were alternatives offered to her as choices for her sons' names. In Andrew Morton’s 'Diana: Her True Story,' the late princess shared how she was behind the names of both of her sons - Prince William and Prince Henry, who goes by his nickname, Harry.
“The alternative was Arthur and Albert,” she revealed, adding that her reaction to both was “No, thank you.” She added: “There weren’t fights over it. It was just a fait accompli.” However, her older son’s full name is William Arthur Philip Louis, while Harry’s is Henry Charles Albert David.