25 royal baby girl names
These names are sophisticated, timeless and ready for your little princess to make her own.
Adelaide: Adelaide means “noble” or “serene” in German, so it’s very fitting that several royal women throughout history bore the name. There’s even a Saint Adelaide, who is the patron saint of parents, among other things. Nickname and variants for Adelaide include Addy, Addie, Addi, Adelina and even Heidi.
Alexandra: There have been several queens and princesses named Alexandra throughout European history, including Queen Alexandra of Denmark and Princess Alexandra, one of Queen Elizabeth II’s cousins. Greek for “defender of men,” it’s one of the most versatile names for great nicknames. Sasha, Sandy, Lexie, Alex, Ali, Alix, Xani, Xandra, and more—there are actually over 60 nicknames! Related names include Alejandra and Alessia, and Alexandrina, Queen Victoria of England’s given first name.
Alice: The name Alice applies to two British royals: Prince Philip’s mother, Princess Alice of Battenburg, and Prince Alice, Countess of Athlone, Queen Victoria’s last surviving grandchild. Alice means “truthful” and “noble,” and nicknames like Allie, Ali, Elsie and Lisa are all very popular.
Anne: Anne is one of the most popular names in England and it means “grace” or “peace” in Hebrew. More royal women have been named Anne than any other name. The most famous living Anne is Anne, Princess Royal, the daughter of Queen Elizabeth II. Variations of Anne include Annie, Anna and Annabelle.
Beatrice: While you might know of Princess Beatrice, Queen Elizabeth II’s granddaughter, there have also been several queens or queen consorts (someone who marries the king) named Beatrice in places such as Sweden, Portugal, Hungary and Sicily. Beatrice is French in origin and means “happy.”
Catherine: Catherine is the second most popular royal female name throughout history, with royals such as Catherine the Great, Catherine of Aragon and even Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge bringing the name even more popularity. Greek for “pure,” there are over 30 ways to spell it in different languages, plus countless related names and nicknames. A few to consider include Katrina, Katie, Caren, Ekaterina, Kaija, Kaja, Kyla and Karia.
Charlotte: Princess Charlotte was given a strong name—her full name is Charlotte Elizabeth Diana—and apparently she has the personality to carry it. While Princess Charlotte seems mischievous, the meaning of Charlotte is “feminine” and comes from the French male name Charles. Related names include Lola, Lottie, Charlie, Carlotta, Karolina and Carol (perhaps Princess Charlotte’s name is also a nod to her grandmother, Carol Middleton!).
Constance: Constance means “constant” or “faithful” and comes from Latin. Going way far back in British royal history, William the Conqueror had a daughter named Constance. King Arthur’s mother was named Constance as well, and there were several queens throughout European history named Constance. If you want something shorter, try the nickname Connie.
Diana: Latin for “divine,” one of the most famous women named Diana was Princess Diana, mother of Prince William and Prince Harry. Princess Charlotte bears her name as a middle name, as does Lilibet, Prince Harry’s daughter. Both are a lovely tribute to their grandmother. It can be shortened to Dee or Di.
Edith: While not currently a very popular name, Edith is the name of several royal family members in Europe, including a medieval queen. Meaning “a rich gift” in German, it’s a name that could rise in popularity thanks to the current trend of giving baby girls old-fashioned names. Edie, a nickname of Edith, is somewhat popular thanks to Edie Sedgwick and Big Edie and Little Edie from “Grey Gardens.”
Eleanor: Greek for “light,” Eleanor can also be spelled many different ways, including Elenor, Elenore, Eleanore and Elinor. It was a popular name in the Middle Ages, with many of the royal and noble daughters bearing the name. (Back then it was spelled Alienor in Old English, which is an interesting way to spell it now!) The most royal Eleanor was Eleanor of Aquitaine, a daughter of Henry II, a king of England. Nicknames are short and cute for Eleanor, such as Elle, Ellie, Ela, Ella, Nora, Nori, Ora, Lee and Leah.
Elizabeth: Is Elizabeth the most royal name? There’s no scientific proof of this, but given that two of the three most famous Queens of England were named Elizabeth, there’s a good chance that’s true. Queen Elizabeth II is the longest-reigning monarch in the history of the British Royal Family, and many royal and royal-adjacent relatives bear her name. One of the best parts about the name Elizabeth (which has Hebrew, Spanish and German roots) is the seemingly endless number of nicknames. There’s the classic Eliza, Ellie, Beth, Bess, Betsy, Liz and Lizzie, but more unusual nicknames like Buffy, Bizzy, Bitsy, Betta, Eli, Bette and Elise. There are countless spellings and interpretations such as Elisabeth, Elisabetta, Isobel, Isabella, to name a few. Elizabeth has been a top name for girls for over 100 years, proving that it’s a strong and powerful name for a little girl.
Eugenie: Princess Eugenie, granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II, is actually not the first Princess Eugenie in Europe—Prince Philip’s cousin was actually Princess Eugenie of Greece and Denmark. And Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III, was a Spanish countess before she was empress. It’s not surprising these royal women were named Eugenie, as it means “well-born” in Greek.
Emma: While you have to go all the way back to the 10th century to find a queen named Emma in Germany, the name is often been associated with British nobility, like Emma, the title character in Jane Austen’s “Emma.” It’s actually a nickname technically for Emmeline or Amelia, but it’s very commonplace now for girls to just be named Emma. Super common, in fact: Emma has consistently been a top name for little girls in the United States for the last several years.
Gisela: Perhaps you’ve never heard of the Hungarian Queen Consort Gisela of Hungary, but that doesn’t make Gisela any less beautiful or any less royal of a name. French for “sweet pledge,” it can also be spelled Giselle or Gisele. Cute modern nicknames for Gisela could be Gigi, Ela, Issie or Zellie.
Elena: There was a Queen Elena of Italy and a Princess Helena, proving that this name is royal. It’s also considered to be revered because of Helen of Troy, one of the most beautiful women in Greek mythology. There are many related names such as Helen, Elaine, Helene, Yelena and Ellen, plus Nell and Nellie.
Isabella: Throughout history, there have been over 20 queens with the name Isabella, which means “God is my oath” in Italian. It’s the Italian version of Elizabeth that carries a lot of adorable nicknames like Bella, Belle, Isa, Izzie, Izzy and even Abby.
Jane: There were two queens named Jane in the British Royal Family, and it’s remained a very popular and timeless name throughout the centuries. An alternate spelling is Jayne, and the nickname for Jane is Janie. Jane means “grace” in Hebrew and English.
Joanna: Joanna was Queen of Spain in the Middle Ages and the name is closely related to Jane. It means “God is gracious” in Hebrew and is the feminine version of one of the most popular male names, John. While there was only one Queen Joanna, there are countless nicknames and related names for the name Joanna, such as JoJo, Jo, Anna, Janet, Janice, Joan, Jean and Jan.
Madeleine: A current princess of Sweden, Princess Madeleine is bringing the name back into fashion. In Hebrew, it means “one who is elevated.” Princess Madeleine spells her name with an extra “e,” but it’s also commonly spelled Madeline. The name is derived from Magdalene. Adorable nicknames include Maddie, Maddi, Madi, Mads and Leine.
Margaret: Another very popular name, many think of Margaret and royalty and think of Princess Margaret, Queen Elizabeth II’s fun-loving sister. There have been plenty of royals named Margaret throughout European history, such as Margaret of Anjou, wife of Henry VI, and Queen Margaret of Denmark. Greek for “pearl,” it’s a classic name that comes with a long list of nicknames: Megs, Meggie, Maggie, Mari, Madge and even Peg and Peggy. (Fun fact: Marguerite is the French spelling, and it means Daisy, so Daisy is also a nickname for Margaret.)
Mary: Another classic female name, Mary is Hebrew for “sorrowful.” It’s a Biblical name, and over 20 queens and queen consorts throughout Europe have been named Mary. Nicknames for Mary exist, including May, Molly, Polly, Mitzi and Mamie. The French Marie is a related name—Marie Antoinette cannot be left off a royal list!
Matilda: There have been five European queens named Matilda or Mathilde, and they were most likely strong women, as the name means “battle maiden” in Old German. While it’s still not a common name, it could grow in popularity as many people return to naming their daughters old-fashioned names. A nickname for Matilda is Tilly or Tillie.
Sophia: There have been seven European queens named Sophia, Sofia or Sophie, including the current queen of Spain, Queen Sophia. Greek for “wise,” it has skyrocketed in popularity in the last 10 years. Sonia and Sonja are related names.
Victoria: Queen Victoria might have been known for her small stature, but the origins of her name are Latin and mean “victorious.” She went by her nickname Drina in social circles, but the name Victoria has been synonymous with strength and beauty since her reign. Almost forty royal women throughout Europe have had the name Victoria somewhere in their given name, including the current Crown Princess of Sweden, Victoria. Vicki and Tori are both common nicknames.
Adelaide: Adelaide means “noble” or “serene” in German, so it’s very fitting that several royal women throughout history bore the name. There’s even a Saint Adelaide, who is the patron saint of parents, among other things. Nickname and variants for Adelaide include Addy, Addie, Addi, Adelina and even Heidi.
Alexandra: There have been several queens and princesses named Alexandra throughout European history, including Queen Alexandra of Denmark and Princess Alexandra, one of Queen Elizabeth II’s cousins. Greek for “defender of men,” it’s one of the most versatile names for great nicknames. Sasha, Sandy, Lexie, Alex, Ali, Alix, Xani, Xandra, and more—there are actually over 60 nicknames! Related names include Alejandra and Alessia, and Alexandrina, Queen Victoria of England’s given first name.
Alice: The name Alice applies to two British royals: Prince Philip’s mother, Princess Alice of Battenburg, and Prince Alice, Countess of Athlone, Queen Victoria’s last surviving grandchild. Alice means “truthful” and “noble,” and nicknames like Allie, Ali, Elsie and Lisa are all very popular.
Anne: Anne is one of the most popular names in England and it means “grace” or “peace” in Hebrew. More royal women have been named Anne than any other name. The most famous living Anne is Anne, Princess Royal, the daughter of Queen Elizabeth II. Variations of Anne include Annie, Anna and Annabelle.
Beatrice: While you might know of Princess Beatrice, Queen Elizabeth II’s granddaughter, there have also been several queens or queen consorts (someone who marries the king) named Beatrice in places such as Sweden, Portugal, Hungary and Sicily. Beatrice is French in origin and means “happy.”
Catherine: Catherine is the second most popular royal female name throughout history, with royals such as Catherine the Great, Catherine of Aragon and even Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge bringing the name even more popularity. Greek for “pure,” there are over 30 ways to spell it in different languages, plus countless related names and nicknames. A few to consider include Katrina, Katie, Caren, Ekaterina, Kaija, Kaja, Kyla and Karia.
Charlotte: Princess Charlotte was given a strong name—her full name is Charlotte Elizabeth Diana—and apparently she has the personality to carry it. While Princess Charlotte seems mischievous, the meaning of Charlotte is “feminine” and comes from the French male name Charles. Related names include Lola, Lottie, Charlie, Carlotta, Karolina and Carol (perhaps Princess Charlotte’s name is also a nod to her grandmother, Carol Middleton!).
Constance: Constance means “constant” or “faithful” and comes from Latin. Going way far back in British royal history, William the Conqueror had a daughter named Constance. King Arthur’s mother was named Constance as well, and there were several queens throughout European history named Constance. If you want something shorter, try the nickname Connie.
Diana: Latin for “divine,” one of the most famous women named Diana was Princess Diana, mother of Prince William and Prince Harry. Princess Charlotte bears her name as a middle name, as does Lilibet, Prince Harry’s daughter. Both are a lovely tribute to their grandmother. It can be shortened to Dee or Di.
Edith: While not currently a very popular name, Edith is the name of several royal family members in Europe, including a medieval queen. Meaning “a rich gift” in German, it’s a name that could rise in popularity thanks to the current trend of giving baby girls old-fashioned names. Edie, a nickname of Edith, is somewhat popular thanks to Edie Sedgwick and Big Edie and Little Edie from “Grey Gardens.”
Eleanor: Greek for “light,” Eleanor can also be spelled many different ways, including Elenor, Elenore, Eleanore and Elinor. It was a popular name in the Middle Ages, with many of the royal and noble daughters bearing the name. (Back then it was spelled Alienor in Old English, which is an interesting way to spell it now!) The most royal Eleanor was Eleanor of Aquitaine, a daughter of Henry II, a king of England. Nicknames are short and cute for Eleanor, such as Elle, Ellie, Ela, Ella, Nora, Nori, Ora, Lee and Leah.
Elizabeth: Is Elizabeth the most royal name? There’s no scientific proof of this, but given that two of the three most famous Queens of England were named Elizabeth, there’s a good chance that’s true. Queen Elizabeth II is the longest-reigning monarch in the history of the British Royal Family, and many royal and royal-adjacent relatives bear her name. One of the best parts about the name Elizabeth (which has Hebrew, Spanish and German roots) is the seemingly endless number of nicknames. There’s the classic Eliza, Ellie, Beth, Bess, Betsy, Liz and Lizzie, but more unusual nicknames like Buffy, Bizzy, Bitsy, Betta, Eli, Bette and Elise. There are countless spellings and interpretations such as Elisabeth, Elisabetta, Isobel, Isabella, to name a few. Elizabeth has been a top name for girls for over 100 years, proving that it’s a strong and powerful name for a little girl.
Eugenie: Princess Eugenie, granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II, is actually not the first Princess Eugenie in Europe—Prince Philip’s cousin was actually Princess Eugenie of Greece and Denmark. And Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III, was a Spanish countess before she was empress. It’s not surprising these royal women were named Eugenie, as it means “well-born” in Greek.
Emma: While you have to go all the way back to the 10th century to find a queen named Emma in Germany, the name is often been associated with British nobility, like Emma, the title character in Jane Austen’s “Emma.” It’s actually a nickname technically for Emmeline or Amelia, but it’s very commonplace now for girls to just be named Emma. Super common, in fact: Emma has consistently been a top name for little girls in the United States for the last several years.
Gisela: Perhaps you’ve never heard of the Hungarian Queen Consort Gisela of Hungary, but that doesn’t make Gisela any less beautiful or any less royal of a name. French for “sweet pledge,” it can also be spelled Giselle or Gisele. Cute modern nicknames for Gisela could be Gigi, Ela, Issie or Zellie.
Elena: There was a Queen Elena of Italy and a Princess Helena, proving that this name is royal. It’s also considered to be revered because of Helen of Troy, one of the most beautiful women in Greek mythology. There are many related names such as Helen, Elaine, Helene, Yelena and Ellen, plus Nell and Nellie.
Isabella: Throughout history, there have been over 20 queens with the name Isabella, which means “God is my oath” in Italian. It’s the Italian version of Elizabeth that carries a lot of adorable nicknames like Bella, Belle, Isa, Izzie, Izzy and even Abby.
Jane: There were two queens named Jane in the British Royal Family, and it’s remained a very popular and timeless name throughout the centuries. An alternate spelling is Jayne, and the nickname for Jane is Janie. Jane means “grace” in Hebrew and English.
Joanna: Joanna was Queen of Spain in the Middle Ages and the name is closely related to Jane. It means “God is gracious” in Hebrew and is the feminine version of one of the most popular male names, John. While there was only one Queen Joanna, there are countless nicknames and related names for the name Joanna, such as JoJo, Jo, Anna, Janet, Janice, Joan, Jean and Jan.
Madeleine: A current princess of Sweden, Princess Madeleine is bringing the name back into fashion. In Hebrew, it means “one who is elevated.” Princess Madeleine spells her name with an extra “e,” but it’s also commonly spelled Madeline. The name is derived from Magdalene. Adorable nicknames include Maddie, Maddi, Madi, Mads and Leine.
Margaret: Another very popular name, many think of Margaret and royalty and think of Princess Margaret, Queen Elizabeth II’s fun-loving sister. There have been plenty of royals named Margaret throughout European history, such as Margaret of Anjou, wife of Henry VI, and Queen Margaret of Denmark. Greek for “pearl,” it’s a classic name that comes with a long list of nicknames: Megs, Meggie, Maggie, Mari, Madge and even Peg and Peggy. (Fun fact: Marguerite is the French spelling, and it means Daisy, so Daisy is also a nickname for Margaret.)
Mary: Another classic female name, Mary is Hebrew for “sorrowful.” It’s a Biblical name, and over 20 queens and queen consorts throughout Europe have been named Mary. Nicknames for Mary exist, including May, Molly, Polly, Mitzi and Mamie. The French Marie is a related name—Marie Antoinette cannot be left off a royal list!
Matilda: There have been five European queens named Matilda or Mathilde, and they were most likely strong women, as the name means “battle maiden” in Old German. While it’s still not a common name, it could grow in popularity as many people return to naming their daughters old-fashioned names. A nickname for Matilda is Tilly or Tillie.
Sophia: There have been seven European queens named Sophia, Sofia or Sophie, including the current queen of Spain, Queen Sophia. Greek for “wise,” it has skyrocketed in popularity in the last 10 years. Sonia and Sonja are related names.
Victoria: Queen Victoria might have been known for her small stature, but the origins of her name are Latin and mean “victorious.” She went by her nickname Drina in social circles, but the name Victoria has been synonymous with strength and beauty since her reign. Almost forty royal women throughout Europe have had the name Victoria somewhere in their given name, including the current Crown Princess of Sweden, Victoria. Vicki and Tori are both common nicknames.
25 royal baby boy names
These royally-inspired baby boy names are fit for a king.
Albert: German for “noble and bright,” perhaps the best known Albert was Prince Albert, the Prince Consort and husband of Queen Victoria. Albert is also the name of the current Prince of Monaco, and the former Prince of Wales was named Albert, but famously went by Bertie as a nickname. (Yes, he is also the one known as the Duke of Windsor who also abdicated.) Other nicknames are Al, Albie, Alber, Alpert, and Bert.
Alexander: With a lofty meaning like “protector for all mankind,” the name Alexander carries definite weight. Over 50 rules throughout time have borne the name Alexander, including Alexander the Great and Alexander, King of Greece. Related names include Alex, Xander, Alexandre, Alejandro, Alessandro, Sasha and Lex.
Archibald: While the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s son is named Archie, it is not short for Archibald, which is a royal name. It means “bold prince” in Old English. Several noble Scottish men have been named Archibald, and while Archie is the most popular nickname, there is also Archer, Arch and Baldie.
Arthur: While it can’t be confirmed that King Arthur of Camelot was actually a person, there have been many princes named Arthur throughout British history. Arthur has had a small uptick in popularity, possibly attributed to Pippa Middleton, sister of the Duchess of Cambridge, naming her son Arthur. Prince William has Arthur as one of his middle names, as does his son Louis. Names like Art, Artie, Archie, Archer and Arturo, and the name means “noble” in Celtic.
Augustus: Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria, has a traditionally long royal name—and within it is the name Augustus, which means “sublime” in Latin. There have been several kings in Europe named Augustus, and the name is drawing more attention thanks to Princess Eugenie naming her son August, a shortened version. Auggie and Gus are two adorable nicknames for Augustus or August.
Christian: Greek for “follower of Christ,” there are variations on the name Christian in many languages, such as Karsten (Dutch), Christiaan (Afrikaans) and Cristiano (Italian). It’s been a very popular name for Scandinavian royalty. While Christian is a derivative of the Greek Christianus, there are also nicknames for Christian including Chris, Xian and Stan. The feminine version is Christina, which also has many variations, although Christian as a girl’s name has been gaining in popularity.
Christopher: Christopher is another popular royal Greek and Scandinavian name. Related to Christian, it has nicknames associated with it such as Chris, Topher, Toph, Stopher and Kit.
Charles: Besides the British Royal Family heir apparent to the throne, Prince Charles, the current Prince of Wales, there have been two British King Charles and countless King Charles throughout Europe. Charles is a timeless name that has been popular for centuries, and is Old English for “strong,” which is certainly fit for a king! There are dozens of nicknames for Charles including Charlie, Carl, Chuck, Chip, Chad and Chip, to name a few.
Dmitry: A popular Russian royal name, Dmitry can also be spelled Dmitri. It derives from the Greek name Demeter, the Greek goddess of agriculture. Variations occur in many languages, such as Demetrios, Demetrio, Dimitri, Dimitry, and Demi.
Edward: Besides the current Earl of Wessex, Prince Edward, Queen Elizabeth II’s youngest son, there have been 11 kings or heir apparents named Edward in England alone. Edward was the given name of King George V, who abdicated the throne. (He was also known as the Duke of Windsor.) Edward has a whole host of fun nicknames including Ed, Eddie, Ted, Teddy, Ned, Woody, Ward and Wardo, and related names include Eduardo (nickname: Edo). It means “guardian” in German.
Eric: Eric is a common Scandinavian name meaning “powerful,” so it’s only fitting that many Scandinavian royals have had the name Eric. Alternate spellings include Erik, Erick, and Erich.
Francis: Latin for “free man,” Francis was the name of two French kings. You might know the name Francis (not to be confused with the feminine Frances) as Frank, Francesco, Franz, Francois, Frankie, Fritz or Franco, all of which derive from Francis.
Frederick: There were nine kings of Denmark named Frederick alone, and even more throughout Europe. Frederick means “peaceful ruler” in German. Common nicknames are Fred, Freddy, Freddie, and Fritz.
George: A classic name associated with Britain, George means “farmer” in English. There have been six kings of England named George—and one to come, as the first-born son of Prince William is named George (full name: George Alexander Louis). There are almost 30 names associated with George, such as Georges, Yuri, Jurgen, Giorgio and Georgius. A cute nickname is Georgie, as is Geordie.
Gustav: A name not in use very much in the United States, Gustav means “staff of the gods” in Old Scandinavian. It can also be spelled as Gustaf. Eight kings of Sweden have been named Gustav, including the current king. The French spelling is Gustave, and a shortened version is Gus.
Henry: Did you know that this is Prince Harry’s given name? Henry has been used by eight British monarchs, including the infamous Henry VIII. It has been used by five kings of France and by almost 30 kings of various regions of Germany. The French spell is Henri, and the Germans spell it Henrik. Besides Harry, another cute nickname is Hank.
James: James is another name that has traveled through royal circles in Europe, including six kings of Scotland. James comes from the Hebrew Jacob, which means “supplanter.” There are many related names besides Jacob, such as Jakob, Jacques, Iago, Seamas, Giancomo and the nickname Jamie. While Jamie has been used as a unisex name, the name James is growing in popularity for girls as well as boys.
Leopold: Leopold is another name that states who you are—it means “bold leader” in Old German. There were three king Leopolds in Belgium, and many other royals and royal-adjacent men named Leopold, including Queen Victoria’s uncle. Leo, a nickname for Leopold, has become a name in its own right, as has Lee.
Louis: French for “famous in war,” Louis is a name with many interpretations. There are two ways to pronounce it: LOU-ee and Lou-IS. Prince Louis (full name: Louis Arthur Charles) is the third child of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and Louis is also one of Prince George’s middle names. It is also one of Prince William’s middle names, and one of Prince Edward’s middle names. There were a whopping 18 kings of France named Louis. A different way to spell it is Lewis, and there are several other names associated with Louis such as Lew, Lou, Louie, Luigi, Ludwig and Ludovic.
Nicholas: Meaning “victorious” in Greek, there were several rulers of Russia who had the name Nicholas, and a Prince of Greece and Denmark who also had the name. The name has evolved many times over the years and includes variations such as Nicolas, Nicholai, Klaus, Nicolo, Nick, Nicky, Nickolaus and Nickolaj.
Oscar: There are several monarchs in Scandinavia who had the name Oscar, which can also be spelled Oskar. English for “God’s spear,” the name has continued to rise in popularity, with the nickname Ozzie also a trendy option.
Philip: Philip is a Greek name, which makes sense as Prince Philip was Prince Philp of Greece and Denmark before he was Prince Consort to Queen Elizabeth II. Kings hailing from Belgium, France, Spain and Portugal, among other countries, have all had the name Philip, which can also be spelled with two l’s as Phillip. You might also recognize the names Felipe and Philippe, which are also forms of Philip. The name Philip has a few really cute nicknames, such as Pip, Phil, Flip and Pop.
Peter: Peter means “rock” in Latin. While a few lesser-known European kings have had the name Peter, perhaps the most well-known one is Peter the Great, Emperor of Russia. Many languages have variations on Peter, such as Pjeter, Pierre, Pieter, Pietro and Pedro.
Richard: There have been three English monarchs named Richard, which means “powerful ruler” in Old English, including Richard III, the title character in a Shakespeare play. Nicknames for Richard include Rich, Rick, Dick, Dickie, Richie and Rico.
William: William has always been a popular name in history, perhaps because it means “determined protector.” Besides Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, who is second in line to the British throne, there have been five men named King William in England, plus a few more in other European countries. You might have heard of William I, also known as William the Conqueror. Many European variations exist on the name, such as Willem (Dutch), Guillaume (French), Wilhem (German) and Guillermo (Spanish). Prince William apparently goes by Wills, and there are other nicknames such as Will, Willy, Bill, Billy, Guy, Liam and Gill.
Albert: German for “noble and bright,” perhaps the best known Albert was Prince Albert, the Prince Consort and husband of Queen Victoria. Albert is also the name of the current Prince of Monaco, and the former Prince of Wales was named Albert, but famously went by Bertie as a nickname. (Yes, he is also the one known as the Duke of Windsor who also abdicated.) Other nicknames are Al, Albie, Alber, Alpert, and Bert.
Alexander: With a lofty meaning like “protector for all mankind,” the name Alexander carries definite weight. Over 50 rules throughout time have borne the name Alexander, including Alexander the Great and Alexander, King of Greece. Related names include Alex, Xander, Alexandre, Alejandro, Alessandro, Sasha and Lex.
Archibald: While the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s son is named Archie, it is not short for Archibald, which is a royal name. It means “bold prince” in Old English. Several noble Scottish men have been named Archibald, and while Archie is the most popular nickname, there is also Archer, Arch and Baldie.
Arthur: While it can’t be confirmed that King Arthur of Camelot was actually a person, there have been many princes named Arthur throughout British history. Arthur has had a small uptick in popularity, possibly attributed to Pippa Middleton, sister of the Duchess of Cambridge, naming her son Arthur. Prince William has Arthur as one of his middle names, as does his son Louis. Names like Art, Artie, Archie, Archer and Arturo, and the name means “noble” in Celtic.
Augustus: Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria, has a traditionally long royal name—and within it is the name Augustus, which means “sublime” in Latin. There have been several kings in Europe named Augustus, and the name is drawing more attention thanks to Princess Eugenie naming her son August, a shortened version. Auggie and Gus are two adorable nicknames for Augustus or August.
Christian: Greek for “follower of Christ,” there are variations on the name Christian in many languages, such as Karsten (Dutch), Christiaan (Afrikaans) and Cristiano (Italian). It’s been a very popular name for Scandinavian royalty. While Christian is a derivative of the Greek Christianus, there are also nicknames for Christian including Chris, Xian and Stan. The feminine version is Christina, which also has many variations, although Christian as a girl’s name has been gaining in popularity.
Christopher: Christopher is another popular royal Greek and Scandinavian name. Related to Christian, it has nicknames associated with it such as Chris, Topher, Toph, Stopher and Kit.
Charles: Besides the British Royal Family heir apparent to the throne, Prince Charles, the current Prince of Wales, there have been two British King Charles and countless King Charles throughout Europe. Charles is a timeless name that has been popular for centuries, and is Old English for “strong,” which is certainly fit for a king! There are dozens of nicknames for Charles including Charlie, Carl, Chuck, Chip, Chad and Chip, to name a few.
Dmitry: A popular Russian royal name, Dmitry can also be spelled Dmitri. It derives from the Greek name Demeter, the Greek goddess of agriculture. Variations occur in many languages, such as Demetrios, Demetrio, Dimitri, Dimitry, and Demi.
Edward: Besides the current Earl of Wessex, Prince Edward, Queen Elizabeth II’s youngest son, there have been 11 kings or heir apparents named Edward in England alone. Edward was the given name of King George V, who abdicated the throne. (He was also known as the Duke of Windsor.) Edward has a whole host of fun nicknames including Ed, Eddie, Ted, Teddy, Ned, Woody, Ward and Wardo, and related names include Eduardo (nickname: Edo). It means “guardian” in German.
Eric: Eric is a common Scandinavian name meaning “powerful,” so it’s only fitting that many Scandinavian royals have had the name Eric. Alternate spellings include Erik, Erick, and Erich.
Francis: Latin for “free man,” Francis was the name of two French kings. You might know the name Francis (not to be confused with the feminine Frances) as Frank, Francesco, Franz, Francois, Frankie, Fritz or Franco, all of which derive from Francis.
Frederick: There were nine kings of Denmark named Frederick alone, and even more throughout Europe. Frederick means “peaceful ruler” in German. Common nicknames are Fred, Freddy, Freddie, and Fritz.
George: A classic name associated with Britain, George means “farmer” in English. There have been six kings of England named George—and one to come, as the first-born son of Prince William is named George (full name: George Alexander Louis). There are almost 30 names associated with George, such as Georges, Yuri, Jurgen, Giorgio and Georgius. A cute nickname is Georgie, as is Geordie.
Gustav: A name not in use very much in the United States, Gustav means “staff of the gods” in Old Scandinavian. It can also be spelled as Gustaf. Eight kings of Sweden have been named Gustav, including the current king. The French spelling is Gustave, and a shortened version is Gus.
Henry: Did you know that this is Prince Harry’s given name? Henry has been used by eight British monarchs, including the infamous Henry VIII. It has been used by five kings of France and by almost 30 kings of various regions of Germany. The French spell is Henri, and the Germans spell it Henrik. Besides Harry, another cute nickname is Hank.
James: James is another name that has traveled through royal circles in Europe, including six kings of Scotland. James comes from the Hebrew Jacob, which means “supplanter.” There are many related names besides Jacob, such as Jakob, Jacques, Iago, Seamas, Giancomo and the nickname Jamie. While Jamie has been used as a unisex name, the name James is growing in popularity for girls as well as boys.
Leopold: Leopold is another name that states who you are—it means “bold leader” in Old German. There were three king Leopolds in Belgium, and many other royals and royal-adjacent men named Leopold, including Queen Victoria’s uncle. Leo, a nickname for Leopold, has become a name in its own right, as has Lee.
Louis: French for “famous in war,” Louis is a name with many interpretations. There are two ways to pronounce it: LOU-ee and Lou-IS. Prince Louis (full name: Louis Arthur Charles) is the third child of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and Louis is also one of Prince George’s middle names. It is also one of Prince William’s middle names, and one of Prince Edward’s middle names. There were a whopping 18 kings of France named Louis. A different way to spell it is Lewis, and there are several other names associated with Louis such as Lew, Lou, Louie, Luigi, Ludwig and Ludovic.
Nicholas: Meaning “victorious” in Greek, there were several rulers of Russia who had the name Nicholas, and a Prince of Greece and Denmark who also had the name. The name has evolved many times over the years and includes variations such as Nicolas, Nicholai, Klaus, Nicolo, Nick, Nicky, Nickolaus and Nickolaj.
Oscar: There are several monarchs in Scandinavia who had the name Oscar, which can also be spelled Oskar. English for “God’s spear,” the name has continued to rise in popularity, with the nickname Ozzie also a trendy option.
Philip: Philip is a Greek name, which makes sense as Prince Philip was Prince Philp of Greece and Denmark before he was Prince Consort to Queen Elizabeth II. Kings hailing from Belgium, France, Spain and Portugal, among other countries, have all had the name Philip, which can also be spelled with two l’s as Phillip. You might also recognize the names Felipe and Philippe, which are also forms of Philip. The name Philip has a few really cute nicknames, such as Pip, Phil, Flip and Pop.
Peter: Peter means “rock” in Latin. While a few lesser-known European kings have had the name Peter, perhaps the most well-known one is Peter the Great, Emperor of Russia. Many languages have variations on Peter, such as Pjeter, Pierre, Pieter, Pietro and Pedro.
Richard: There have been three English monarchs named Richard, which means “powerful ruler” in Old English, including Richard III, the title character in a Shakespeare play. Nicknames for Richard include Rich, Rick, Dick, Dickie, Richie and Rico.
William: William has always been a popular name in history, perhaps because it means “determined protector.” Besides Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, who is second in line to the British throne, there have been five men named King William in England, plus a few more in other European countries. You might have heard of William I, also known as William the Conqueror. Many European variations exist on the name, such as Willem (Dutch), Guillaume (French), Wilhem (German) and Guillermo (Spanish). Prince William apparently goes by Wills, and there are other nicknames such as Will, Willy, Bill, Billy, Guy, Liam and Gill.
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