Bold statement: Even royal baby names aren’t immune to playful chaos, and Prince William apparently teased an offbeat shortlist that left palace staff stuttering. But here’s where it gets controversial: the couple wasn’t kidding about keeping the gender a surprise, and their naming hunt reveals a deeper mix of tradition and whimsy that fans love to debate.
A new biography, William and Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story, by Mirror royal editor Russell Myers, uncovers for the first time that William and Kate spent hours exploring potential names for their first child, with William frequently tossing out truly unusual options.
The couple welcomed their first son, Prince George, in 2013. In the months before his birth, they were busy brainstorming names for the heir to the throne, balancing royal expectations with personal preferences.
The book, which draws on exclusive access to palace insiders, offers fresh context on major royal moments. One standout scene is the moment they stepped onto the steps of St Mary’s Hospital to introduce their newborn to the world.
During the pregnancy, Catherine reached the five-month mark and the couple began buying neutral-colored baby clothes, keeping the baby’s gender a secret until birth as they had planned.
The book details a name debate: Catherine preferred Alexander for a boy or Alexandra for a girl (also Queen Elizabeth’s middle name). William, privately hoping for a girl, wanted a middle-name tribute to his late mother.
Kate had been bouncing ideas off close friends who’d recently had babies, and the couple found themselves circling back to names via a gifted baby-names book they spent long hours flipping through, often laughing at some far-out suggestions.
Royal sources say William would kick off meetings with his press team by blurting out names like “Rodney” or “Graham,” pausing for reactions, then dissolving into laughter. While one might expect a prince to favor tradition, these moments show a lighter, more spontaneous side.
Ultimately, William leaned toward a traditional path for his heir and settled on a short list of two boy names: George and Louis.
The biography also sheds light on how William protected his children during Catherine’s cancer diagnosis, how he managed tensions with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle amid their public disputes, and how he and his father, King Charles, navigated controversies surrounding his uncle, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
William and Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story, published February 26 by Ebury, Penguin Random House, is available for pre-order now. It traces their story from their first meeting at St Andrews University to their current roles and their vision for a modern monarchy amid considerable change.
Author Myers remarks that he spent nearly a decade following the couple and believes there is far more to them than the spectacle often shows. The book promises an intimate portrait—revealing not just who they are as individuals, but how they function as a couple and steer the royal family through a tumultuous era.
Discussion prompt: Do you think the royal tradition of naming should lean more toward historical symbolism or personal sentiment from the couple? Share your thoughts and examples in the comments.
Would you prefer this biography to emphasize more on their private life or more on their public duties and impact on modern monarchy?
