Charlotte Elizabeth Diana: The Meaning Behind Kate Middleton And Prince William’s Royal Baby Name

The Princess of Cambridge’s name has been revealed. Two days after Kate Middleton delivered her second child with Prince William, it has been confirmed that the girl will be named Her Royal Highness Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of Cambridge. So what is the meaning behind the child’s moniker? Here’s everything you need to know:

Charlotte, as it happens, is the female form of Charles, as in the Prince of Wales, Prince Charles, Prince William’s father. He is the current heir apparent to the throne. Charlotte is also Kate's 31-year-old sister Pippa Middleton's middle name. According to BabyCenter.com, Charlotte is a “common name for royalty” and has a “petite” and “feminine” quality. Two centuries ago, George III's wife was Queen Charlotte.

Elizabeth is, of course, the name of the reigning monarch. Queen Elizabeth II, 89, is Prince William’s grandmother and Charlotte’s great-grandmother. Kate and William were long speculated to be making Elizabeth one of the baby's names. In September, despite the royal baby’s sex being unknown, the expectant parents were rumored to have asked the queen for permission to use her name.

The child’s third name, Diana, is of course a tribute to Prince William and his brother Prince Harry’s mother, Princess Diana. Diana died at the age of 36 in a Paris car crash in 1997. Around the same time the Elizabeth baby name rumors emerged, reports that Diana would make it into the name also surfaced. Andrew Morton, a royal biographer, told the Daily Mail that William and Kate would most likely name their daughter Elizabeth Diana Windsor.

“They’re not too thrilled at the thought it would be shortened to Princess Di, but it won’t change their minds,” Morton said of the couple’s plans.

The infant Charlotte is now fourth in line to the British throne. Her father, William, is second in line. William and Kate’s first-born, 1-year-old HRH Prince George, is third. After a recent change in the succession law, Charlotte will not be bumped aside by any brother born later, as she would have been previously. Elizabeth became queen only because she had no brother.

Prince William and Kate, whose official title is Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, welcomed Charlotte at St. Mary’s Hospital’s Lindo Wing in London on Saturday. The couple and the princess made their grand debut the same day outside the facility.