Royal Baby Names: From William to Archie
The British royal family has functioned as a de facto baby naming consultancy for centuries. When Queen Elizabeth II gave birth to Charles in 1948, the name climbed. When William was born in 1982, it soared. When Charlotte arrived in 2015, it went to #1. The pattern is consistent and the influence is real — royal names don't just reflect English naming culture, they actively shape it.
Right now, the House of Windsor is giving parents more material than ever. Archie and Lilibet (Harry and Meghan's children) have introduced genuinely fresh names. George, Charlotte, and Louis (William and Catherine's trio) have made a complete set of timeless classics feel current again. And the historical names — Victoria, Elizabeth, Albert — are experiencing their own quiet renaissance.
Let's look at the data behind the crowns.
The Current Generation: George, Charlotte & Louis
| Name | Gender | US Rank | Total Uses (All-Time) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| William | Boy | #10 | 4,189,004 | Prince of Wales |
| Charlotte | Girl | #4 | 439,944 | Princess of Wales |
| James | Boy | #5 | 5,238,570 | Timeless royal staple |
| Henry | Boy | #6 | 756,825 | Prince Harry's formal name |
| George | Boy | #124 | 1,484,412 | Prince George, heir to throne |
| Louis | Boy | #236 | 405,059 | Prince Louis |
| Archie | Boy | #333 | 55,109 | Prince Archie; rising fast |
| Lilibet | Girl | #4,953 | 134 | Brand new; Queen's nickname |
The Names of the Heirs
William — The Perennial Classic
William (#10) has been given to over 4.1 million Americans since SSA records began in 1880 — making it the fourth most popular name in American history. It peaked in 1947, dipped in the 1980s and 90s, and has been climbing again ever since Prince William came of age. It comes from the Germanic "Wilhelm," meaning "resolute protector" — a name that has served twenty-seven English kings and their descendants.
What's remarkable about William isn't that it's royal — it's that it would be a fine name even without that history. It's strong, classic, globally recognized, and produces excellent nicknames: Will, Liam, Bill, Billy.
George — The Prince and the Saint
George (#124) peaked in 1921 — the era of King George V — and has been on a slow decline ever since, but the birth of Prince George in 2013 gave it a meaningful boost. With over 1.4 million uses in American history, it's one of the great classic names. The patron saint of England, two American presidents (including the first), and a Beatle make it rich in associations beyond royalty.
George feels like the kind of name a child grows into effortlessly — playful as a boy, authoritative as an adult.
Charlotte — The Name That Has Everything
Charlotte (#4) became the #1 girl name in America in 2014 — the year before Princess Charlotte's birth — and has remained near the very top ever since. The royal association accelerated an already strong trend. It's the French feminine of Charles, meaning "free man" or "free woman," and it carries a refinement that feels both approachable and aspirational.
Henry and Archie — Harry's Names
Henry (#6) is Prince Harry's actual name — he was christened Henry Charles Albert David, with Harry as his nickname. Henry has never left the top 15 in recent SSA data and peaked in 2024, its highest ranking in modern history. Eight English kings have borne this name; Henry VIII cast the longest shadow, but the name has fully recovered from that particular association.
Archie (#333) is the name Harry and Meghan chose for their son — and it was a deliberate break from tradition. Archie is a diminutive of Archibald (meaning "genuine and bold") that had long been considered too casual for royal use. The Sussexes used it anyway, and it immediately started climbing in both the US and UK. Archie has a jaunty, friendly energy — this is not a name that takes itself too seriously.
The Historical Royals — Staging a Comeback
Elizabeth — The Name That Defined an Era
Elizabeth (#17) is perhaps the most significant royal name in English history. It's the name of two monarchs — Elizabeth I, who presided over the golden age of English exploration and literature, and Elizabeth II, who reigned for 70 years and became the longest-serving British monarch in history.
The name means "my God is abundance" in Hebrew and has been in near-continuous use in England since the 12th century. With over 1.68 million American uses since 1880, it's one of the most durable names in US history. It's currently at #17 — climbing slightly in the years following Queen Elizabeth II's death in 2022.
Victoria — The Empire's Name
Victoria (#48) means "victory" in Latin and was the name of the queen who gave her name to an entire era. Queen Victoria ruled from 1837 to 1901 — the longest reign in British history until her great-great-granddaughter surpassed it. The name peaked in America in 1993 and remains a top-50 staple. It's formal without being stiff, aspirational without being pretentious.
Margaret — The Pearl of the Family
Margaret (#119) comes from the Greek "margarites" meaning "pearl." It was the name of Queen Elizabeth's beloved sister, whose glamorous and slightly tragic life has become a cultural touchstone through the Netflix series The Crown. Margaret peaked in America in 1921 but has been climbing steadily — from outside the top 200 a decade ago to #119 today. Its nicknames — Maggie, Peggy, Margo, Meg — give it extraordinary flexibility.
Diana — Forever the People's Princess
Diana (#243) was Princess Diana's name — and the grief that followed her death in 1997 gave the name both a mournful beauty and an enduring cultural weight. The name means "divine" or "heavenly" in Latin and was the Roman goddess of the hunt and the moon. Diana peaked in 1957 and fell for decades, but the Netflix series The Crown and ongoing fascination with Princess Diana's legacy has driven a meaningful revival. Expect it to keep climbing.
Albert — The Victorian Patriarch
Albert (#606) was the beloved consort of Queen Victoria — and the name of several subsequent royals, most notably King George VI (christened Albert Frederick Arthur George). It means "noble and bright" from Old German. Albert is currently in the thick of the vintage names revival — Al, Albie, Bertie — all charming nicknames for a name that carries both royal and intellectual associations (Albert Einstein being equally responsible).
More Royal Names Worth Knowing
- Eleanor (#14, girl) — the name of medieval queens, including Eleanor of Aquitaine
- Arthur (#105, boy) — the legendary British king; also in the current royal family
- Catherine (#320, girl) — the Princess of Wales; Catherine of Aragon; Catherine the Great
- Edward (#228, boy) — eight English kings; still dignified and underused
- Anne (#649, girl) — the name of English queens and princesses across the centuries
- Alexandra (#221, girl) — Empress Alexandra of Russia; Queen Victoria's granddaughter
- Beatrice (#579, girl) — Princess Beatrice of York; Dante's muse
- Philip (#521, boy) — Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh; consort of Queen Elizabeth II
- Mary (#132, girl) — two Queens of England; the ultimate classic
Lilibet — The Newest Royal Name
Lilibet (#4,953) was Queen Elizabeth II's private family nickname from childhood. When Harry and Meghan named their daughter Lilibet Diana in 2021, they introduced a genuinely new name into American culture — one that's tender, personal, and carries enormous meaning within the royal family. At 134 total uses since SSA first recorded it, it's one of the rarest names on this list. But it's also one of the most emotionally resonant.
The Royal Effect on American Naming
The influence of the British royal family on American baby naming is one of the most measurable phenomena in SSA data. We covered this pattern in our celebrity naming guide — the royal family operates at the intersection of celebrity and institution, making their naming choices culturally significant in ways that transcend ordinary celebrity influence.
The pattern: a royal birth → immediate spike in the name's popularity → sustained elevation if the name has independent merit → gradual normalization as it becomes "just a name." Charlotte went through this perfectly. Archie is currently in the spike phase.
Explore the Royal Names
Browse current rankings for all these names at our rankings page. Compare the top royal names side by side at our comparison tool. See how William and Elizabeth have trended over 140 years of American history in our naming history guide. And for the vintage royals staging a comeback, our vintage names guide has the full picture.
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Analysis by NamesPop.