Finding the right name for your little bundle can be frustrating. You may be naming a baby, but what you’re really doing is naming an adult, as the adult will live for (hopefully) another 70 odd years.
So, once you get to grips with that idea, it’s hard not to feel the pressure to get it right. And just when you think you found the perfect one, hubby vetoes it, your best friend reveals your choice as being her favourite, or worse, some Z list celebrity gets there before you do.
Now put yourself in the shoes of royal parents to be. When the whole world is eagerly awaiting their announcement, how difficult must it be for them? Hell, in Britain, people even place bets on the outcome.
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Divine inspiration for your baby’s name
Well, given that royals must seem to know what they’re doing, you can pretty much guarantee they have done their research.
So let’s just piggy-back on their hard work. Why not have a look at what the royals have named their offspring? Just for you we have researched the best royal baby girl names from around the world to inspire you and have selected the most unique ones. You never know, you might just find the perfect regal name for your own queen.
Our round up for the best royal baby girl names fit for a princess
1. Astrid
From: Belgium/Norway
Meaning: of Old Norse origin, Astrid means divinely beautiful
This name is shared by the Norwegian Princess Astrid (born 1932) and the beautiful but tragic Belgian Queen Astrid (1905-1935) who died in a car accident when she was only 29. Born a Swedish princess, she was popular and well loved in her new country after she moved to Belgium to marry King Leopold lll. She was pregnant with her fourth child when she died, leaving behind her husband and three children, Boudewijn, Albert ll and Grand Duchess Josephine Charlotte.
Why Astrid
Astrid is a lovely name for your own daughter. It would certainly double up as a royal and literary name as she would be sharing it with Astrid Lindgren, the famous writer of Pippy Longstocking. This is a great choice for parents with Scandinavian roots.
2. Alice
From: United Kingdom
Meaning: of nobility
Princess Alice (1843-1878) was the third child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. She married Prince Louis of Hesse in 1862, and bore several children, including Princess Elisabeth of Hesse. After nursing her own father, she developed a great interest in nursing. She also passionately supported women’s causes. Tragically, she died of a bacterial disease when she was only 34.
Why Alice
Just like Astrid, Alice is not only a royal, but also a great literary name. Who doesn’t love Alice in Wonderland? At number one in Sweden, but ranking only 71 in the US, don’t search any further if you’re looking for a well-known, but not overused name.
3. Alexia
From: The Netherlands
Meaning: derived from the Greek word Alexis, Alexia means ‘helper, defender’
The second daughter of King Willem-Alexander and Queen consort Maxima; Alexia was born in 2005. Still at a tender age, but already well liked for her quirky sense of style and her love of dancing.
Why Alexia
Because it’s a modern and lesser known alternative to Alexandra. A great choice indeed, if you prefer a unique baby name starting with an A. Not to be confused with Alexa, your home bot.
4. Beatrix
From: Netherlands
Meaning: blessed
Princess Beatrix (1938) is the name of the former queen of the Netherlands, mother of Willem-Alexander, and Alexia’s grandmother. After a successful, but formal reign, she abdicated in 2013 to make way for her son. In contrast, Willem-Alexander has a more modern and inclusive style of governing than his mother.
Why Beatrix
A charming royal name, and you can shorten it to Bea. The Beatrice version is ranking in the late 500’s in the US, and going up in popularity. Also, if you name your child Beatrix, she would share it with a rather famous writer named Potter, giving you another double whammy.
5. Helena
From: United Kingdom
Meaning: bright and shining one
Princess Helena of the United Kingdom (1843-1923) was the fifth child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and younger sister of Princess Alice. Just like her sister, Helena was interested in nursing and even founded a few nursing hospitals. She married a minor German prince with little money and lived near her mother, Queen Victoria, until her death in 1901.
Why Helena
A classic choice also shared with Helena of Troy. A great name if you’re into history. Also, it’s well-known, but not overused, seeing it doesn’t rank in the US nor English top 100.
6. Máxima
From: Argentina
Meaning: From Latin origin, Maxima means greatest
Argentinean born Máxima is the queen consort of the Netherlands since 2013. Having met husband-to-be, Willem-Alexander in Seville, she quickly became the most popular member of the Royal family after their wedding in 2002.
Loved for her warmth, her great wit, and intelligence, Máxima is one of the few members of royal families anywhere in the world to be an open supporter of gay rights. She was also the first member of a royal family to attend an LGBT rights conference. She has three daughters with Willem-Alexander; Amalia, Alexia, and Ariana (how’s that for best royal baby girl names starting with an A?) and is a member of the Committee for Enterprise and Finance. Never one to just cut ribbons and turn up for photoshoots, she’s also Global Agenda Trustee for the World Economic Forum’s Global Challenge Initiative on the Future of the Global Financial System.
Why Máxima
Indeed why not let your daughter share your name with a great role model? A versatile name, as it can be shortened to Max, and, let’s be honest, who wouldn’t grow up with abundant confidence with a super meaning like ‘the greatest’?
7 & 8 Eleanor/ Eléonore
From: France/UK/Belgium
Meaning: bright, shining one
And again, two versions of the same name. First, Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122 – 1204) was first queen consort of France before becoming queen consort of England in 1154 when she married King Henry, her distant cousin after the annulment of her first marriage. In total she bore ten children, only two of which were daughters from her first marriage.
Second, Princess Eléonore is the fourth child of the Belgian royal couple and was born in 2008 in Anderlecht.
Why Eleanor/ Eléonore
Both regal sounding, they are surely the perfect fit if you’re looking for a classic moniker. In fact, if you’re planning an academic future for your child, Eleanor is a perfect choice, according to Gregory Clark. In his book
The Son Also Rises: Surnames and the History of Social Mobility, the
the economist even argues that an Eleanor is 100 times more likely to go to Oxford than a Jade.
9. Estelle
From: Sweden
Meaning: shining star
Born in 2012, Estelle Silvia Ewa Mary, Princess of Sweden, is the first child of the Swedish Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel. After her mother, she is second in line of succession to the Swedish throne.
Why Estelle?
Surely a wonderful option, if you’re after a unique name with soft sounds for a newborn, but which works well for an adult, too. Only ranking in the 800’s in the US baby name chart; you won’t have to worry about too many peers sharing your daughter’s name.
10. Ewa
From: Poland/Sweden
Meaning: Of Hebrew origin, it means life
The third name of Estelle and the name of her paternal grandmother, we like this name so much, we think it merits a special entry.
Why Ewa?
A Polish variation on Eva, this cute name is certainly the way to go if you’re looking for a simple and unique name with Hebrew roots. Short and sweet, it would also make a fabulous middle name.
11. Lillian
From: Belgium and Sweden
Meaning: there are a few different meanings of Lillian. In Hebrew: God is a vow, in Latin: lilies.
First, Princess Lilian of Sweden was working as a model when she met her future royal husband, Prince Bertil. She joined the Swedish royal family in 1976 by marriage.
Second, Princess Lilian of Belgium (1916 -2002), better known as Lilian, Princess of Réthy, the second wife of King Leopold of Belgium, widower of Princess Astrid. Their courtship and subsequent marriage were not without controversy. In fact, Lillian fell in love with the young widower during her visits with him when he was under house arrest by the Germans. When the couple opted to have a secret religious marriage ceremony before their official wedding, most of Belgium was outraged. They felt it wasn’t appropriate for them to get married when their subjects were suffering during the war.
Why Lillian?
A lovely vintage name, Lillian is a sweet flower name for your daughter. Unique, but still familiar, you can’t go wrong with this one. Not to be confused with Lillith, Frasier’s scary ex-wife in the self-titled hit 90’s sitcom.
12. Salma
From: Jordan
Meaning: “Safe or Secure” in Arabic
Princess Salma bint Abdullah is the second daughter of King Abdulla ll and Queen Rania of Jordan. Born in 2000, she recently graduated from the prestigious Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst and is looking at a bright future.
Why Salma?
A popular name in the Middle East. So, go for it if you or your partner have Arabic roots.
So there you have it, our round-up of the best royal baby girl names. We hope you found something of interest there. If not, keep your eyes peeled for our other baby name lists, such as our 15 favorite Irish names for girls. If you’re not sure of the gender yet, or you rather name your child a non-gender-specific name, read our guide to unisex names.
