Royal baby named George Alexander Louis
Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge show their newborn baby boy, George Alexander Louis, to the world's media outside the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital in London. (July 23, 2013) Credit: Getty Images
William and Kate have named their little prince, George Alexander Louis. And I'm sure as any new parents can attest, coming up with the perfect name wasn't an easy task. After all, it's the first big responsibility you have as a parent.
Many newbie moms and dads often think long and hard about what to name their little one -- and I'm sure it was no different for the royal baby. So why did Will and Kate name the little prince, George, and what is the meaning behind it? Let's take a look.
When you look up the name George, it's apparent why they chose it. According to Nameberry.com, a popular baby naming site, the name George means strong, solid, royal and saintly. "George was the name of the king of Britain for 116 straight years, as well as the patron saint of England, Saint George, who, by slaying the dragon became a symbol of good conquering evil."
Baby George was likely named after his great-great-grandfather King George V! (Queen Elizabeth's father), although one of William's cousins on Diana's side is also called George, according to BabyCenter.com.
The U.S. Government Social Security Administration in 2012 ranked the name George at 166, and according to BehindtheName.com, in England and Wales, George came in at number 12 in popularity.
There are many famous George's as well: the first president of the United States George Washington, the Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw, Beatles guitarist George Harrison, comedian George Carlin, director George Lucas and actor George Clooney, to name a few.
A few celebrities also named their sons George, including Kristin Scott Thomas, Jane Kaczmarek and Eva Herzigova. According to Nameberry.com, George Forman NAMED all five of his sons George, as well.
And let's not forget pop culture references to the name George: "Curious George," "George of the Jungle," George Costanza from "Seinfeld," George Jetson and George Jefferson.
Will the name George take off in the United States? Linda Murray, global editor-in-chief of BabyCenter.com predicts a rise in popularity for the name. "Like many young new parents today, Will and Kate have picked a name with retro appeal. George was a beloved king and the name is strong and traditional so it's a perfect choice for the future king."
On the other hand, Elena Mauer, deputy editor of TheBump.com has a different opinion. "We're going to see a lot of Americans wanting the stroller, diaper bag, car seat and other accessories that Kate uses for the royal baby, but I don't think the name George will be one that Americans will be into," she said. "It’s a powerful name that maybe seems like it comes with a lot of responsibility. It doesn’t have a modern ring to it, and there aren’t really any nicknames for it. Alexander, on the other hand, is already a popular boy’s name and falls in the top 10 names according to the Social Security Administration, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see it spike even more in popularity."
The royals are famous for their family nicknames -- Will is Wombat, Harry is Ginger. Murray said: "It will be fun to see what they end up calling George at home. Might I suggest Galaxy? It's a fun blend of George and Alex."
