Royal Baby Name: Kate And Wills' Big Decision
The Duke and Duchess have remained silent about potential baby names, but they have plenty of options to draw upon - or avoid.5:54am UK, Tuesday 23 July 2013
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Bets on the baby name have been taken since Kate's pregnancy was announced



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By Paul Harrison, Royal Correspondent
It's one of the hottest questions around, but whatever William and Kate name their first-born, it will likely set a trend for the next generation of babies.

And on choosing the name for their new arrival, the royal couple will take the opportunity to pay tribute to those nearest and dearest to them, so long as it is a name that befits the future monarch.

William and Kate have plenty of names to draw on - members of the Royal Family often have three other names in addition to their Christian names: William Arthur Philip Louis is the Duke of Cambridge's full name.

At the end of an extraordinary few years for the Royal Family which have included celebrations surrounding the Diamond Jubilee and concern about the health of the monarch and her husband Prince Philip, the name Philip is one obvious contender.

The Duke and Duchess will notify the Queen of their chosen names more as a matter of courtesy than for her approval.

"The Queen is so down to earth that she is not likely to jump up and down and insist the baby be called George or Charles," explains royal writer Christopher Warwick.

"This isn't going to be 'Granny, do you approve?' but more 'These are the names we've chosen, do you like them?'."

Britain's Prince William, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge smile as they travel to Buckingham Palace after their wedding in Westminster Abbey in London
Prince William and Catherine married in April 2011
It hasn't always been such a relaxed affair. When the Duke and Duchess of York had their second daughter - Margaret Rose in 1930 - they were planning to call her Ann Margaret, but changed their mind after learning George V disliked the name Ann.

And Queen Victoria insisted that the name Albert be used as a middle name, if not a first name, in honour of her consort Prince Albert.

Royal baby names are not always revealed straight away often leaving the public to guess for days. It took a week to announce William's name and a whole month before the public found out the Prince of Wales would be Christened Charles.

There is no hard and fast rule over how quickly William and Kate will name their baby, but after Kensington Palace revealed the couple chose not to find out its gender beforehand, a choice of name may take a little longer than expected.