What Will The Royal Baby's Name Be? These Are The Top Contenders

Following the news that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting their third child, people are already speculating about the royal baby’s name.

On Monday, Kensington Palace announced that Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, is pregnant again. Though the due date has not been announced, the press release noted that the duchess is suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum, which she experienced during her first two pregnancies.

With little other information about royal baby #3, many are asking ― what name will the monarchs choose for their new little prince or princess?

“If you look at the names of their two children ― 18th century Hanoverian names with George and Charlotte ― you see they’re very classic, very traditional,” Arianne Chernock, an associate professor of modern British history at Boston University, told HuffPost. “So I would expect them to maintain that deference to tradition. I don’t think they’re really going to make a radical choice.”

Prince George’s full name is George Alexander Louis and Princess Charlotte is Charlotte Elizabeth Diana.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting their third child. (Photo: POOL New / Reuters)
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting their third child. (Photo: POOL New / Reuters)

If the royal couple’s third child is a girl, Chernock guessed that names like Caroline or Alexandra would be in the running.

“These are queens who were very well liked in their time. Alexandra, the wife of Edward VII, was much loved. I could see them easily taking that kind of route,” Chernock said. “For a boy, I think they would also look to traditional revered monarchs of the past,” she added, suggesting Edward.

The British gambling company, Ladbrokes, is already taking bets about the royal baby name. So far, the odds are 7-1 for Alice, 10-1 for Victoria and 12-1 for Alexandra if the baby is a girl. For boy names, it’s 10-1 for Arthur, 14-1 for Albert and 14-1 for James.

The British gambling company, Ladbrokes, is already taking bets about the royal baby name. (Photo: Mark Cuthbert via Getty Images)
The British gambling company, Ladbrokes, is already taking bets about the royal baby name. (Photo: Mark Cuthbert via Getty Images)

In the past, Ladbrokes picks have been pretty accurate. George was the leading bet just before the prince’s birth, and Charlotte overtook Alice as bettors’ favorite when the duchess went into labor with her second child.

Other top predictions for the third royal baby include Philip, Henry, Frederick, William, Alexander and Charles for a boy and Diana, Elizabeth, Grace, Mary, Olivia, Caroline and Frances for a girl.

However, Chernock noted, Diana and Elizabeth would be unlikely choices given that they’ve already been selected for Princess Charlotte’s full name. The same goes for Alexander ― one of George’s middle names ― and William and Charles, the names of the baby’s father and grandfather. Prince Harry’s real name is Henry, so that could potentially disqualify that option.

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Top predictions for the baby's name include Alice, Arthur, Victoria and Albert.  (Photo: Franziska Krug via Getty Images)
Top predictions for the baby's name include Alice, Arthur, Victoria and Albert.  (Photo: Franziska Krug via Getty Images)

“Many names are taken right now,” Chernock said. “At this point, it’s all speculation, but it’ll be very interesting to see.”

One thing Chernock says we can know for sure is that they will choose a name that keeps with their tradition of honoring the royal family’s history.

“George and Charlotte are not going to have a baby sister named Mackenzie,” she said. “Or at least, I’d be shocked.”

Also on HuffPost

Prince William, 3, yawns during the wedding ceremony of Sarah Ferguson and the Duke of York on July 23, 1986.
Prince William, 3, yawns during the wedding ceremony of Sarah Ferguson and the Duke of York on July 23, 1986.
Prince William (R) peeks over at his brother Harry from his seat in Westminster Abbey.
Prince William (R) peeks over at his brother Harry from his seat in Westminster Abbey.
Prince William (R) stands on the balcony of Buckingham Palace at the wedding of Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew.
Prince William (R) stands on the balcony of Buckingham Palace at the wedding of Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew.
Prince William plays with Lady Davina Windsor.
Prince William plays with Lady Davina Windsor.
Prince William rides in a carriage with Prince Edward after the wedding of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson.
Prince William rides in a carriage with Prince Edward after the wedding of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson.
Prince William serves as a page boy at the society wedding of Camilla Dunne to Rupert Soames, a grandson of Winston Churchill. 
Prince William serves as a page boy at the society wedding of Camilla Dunne to Rupert Soames, a grandson of Winston Churchill. 
Prince William accompanies a young bridesmaid to the 1988 wedding in Hereford Cathedral.
Prince William accompanies a young bridesmaid to the 1988 wedding in Hereford Cathedral.
Prince William holds hands with a young bridesmaid. 
Prince William holds hands with a young bridesmaid. 
Princess Diana leads Prince William along as he waves to onlookers.
Princess Diana leads Prince William along as he waves to onlookers.
Prince Harry poses as a page boy in the wedding of his uncle Charles Spencer to Victoria Lockwood in 1989. 
Prince Harry poses as a page boy in the wedding of his uncle Charles Spencer to Victoria Lockwood in 1989. 
Prince Harry appeared in the wedding alongside his cousins Eleanor and Alexander Fellowes.
Prince Harry appeared in the wedding alongside his cousins Eleanor and Alexander Fellowes.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.