William and Kate “In Fits of Laughter” Over Royal Baby Names

Prince William and Princess Kate discuss baby names — (Image credit: Getty Images)

Every couple goes through the first-time-parent experience of choosing the perfect baby name, but very few have the added pressure of naming a future king or queen. Knowing the pressure was on, Prince William and Princess Kate went through several baby names in 2013, before choosing the historically-royal name of Prince George Alexander Louis. According to The Mirror’s royal editor, Russell Myers, before they settled on Prince George’s historic name there were a few more humorous suggestions along the way.

According to Myers’ upcoming biography, William and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside Story, Prince William and Princess Kate had a hard time agreeing on a name, especially when the gender of their first baby was a surprise. “Catherine had her heart set on Alexander for a boy or Alexandra (also Queen Elizabeth’s middle name) for a girl,” Myers revealed in his book. “William had privately voiced his preference for having a girl, and was keen to incorporate a tribute to his late mother, most likely in the form of a middle name.”

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge leave The Lindo Wing with their newborn son at St Mary&amp;apos;s Hospital on July 23, 2013 in London, England. The Duchess of Cambridge yesterday gave birth to a boy at 16.24 BST and weighing 8lb 6oz, with Prince William at her side. The baby, as yet unnamed, is third in line to the throne and becomes the Prince of Cambridge. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images) — Prince William and Princess Kate struggled to decide on Prince George's name.

Russell Myers

William and Catherine: the Monarchy's New Era: the Inside Story

Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge's new-born baby boy seen in a car seat outside the Lindo Wing — Prince George Alexander Louis.

Luckily, a friend stepped in with a book of baby names to help with their decision. Russell Myers’ book reveals that the couple “spent hours thumbing through” the many choices listed in the baby name book. “They often ended up in fits of laughter after one or the other had presented a more left-field suggestion,” Myers shared in his book. According to royal sources, Prince William would tease his press team with outlandish name suggestions, joking with them by asking, “what do you think about Rodney for a boy, or maybe Graham?” These not-quite-royal names received laughs all around.

The royal couple eventually settled on a shortlist if the baby were a boy: George or Louis. Those names would eventually be a part of history books, as Prince George was born in 2013 and Prince Louis in 2018.

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Christine Ross is a freelancer writer, royal expert, broadcaster and podcaster. She's worked with news outlets including the BBC, Glamour, Talk TV, ET, PBS, CNN and 20/20 to cover the foremost royal events of the last decade, from Prince George’s birth to the coronation of King Charles III.

She previously served as co-host of Royally Us, a weekly royal podcast by Us Weekly. As a freelance writer and royal commentator she provides expert commentary, historical context and fashion analysis about royal families worldwide, with an emphasis on the British Royal Family.