Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Consider Diana High Up On List Of Baby Names, States Royal Expert

Apr 26, 2021

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle dominated the news earlier this year after they sat down with Oprah Winfrey for a controversial interview in March. During the television special, the couple openly criticized the royal family and its culture. The interview was scheduled in light of another, earlier controversy — Harry and Markle's decision to move to California and step back as senior royals.

And in between, the former senior royal couple also announced that they were expecting another addition to their family. On Valentine's day in February, they announced that they are expecting their second child. Sharing the happy news on social media, the radiant couple looked joyful in a gorgeous black and white photograph that was able to evoke many emotions in the viewers.

The news came after Markle announced that she had suffered a miscarriage in July 2020 in an op-ed piece in the New York Times from November 2020. The couple already shares a son, Archie, who has come to resemble his father in many ways, much like how Prince Harry resembles his grandfather. 

Reacting to the news, Buckingham Palace released the following statement on Sunday, February 14, "Her Majesty, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince of Wales and entire family are 'delighted' and wish them well." According to Insider, it has been confirmed that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's second baby, and Archie's first sibling, will be a girl. 

Since this announcement, speculation has run wild about the new bundle of joy's name-to-be. While many names are in the running, experts and royal commentators have debated heavily about whether Diana could be a potential name choice. 

Opinions differ on whether Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will choose to honor Harry's mother by bestowing her name onto their daughter. From long-standing royal experts who have spent years covering and analyzing the royal family in the media to anonymous insider opinions, everybody seems to have something to say.

Page Six spoke to one such inside source back in March. The source was very clear on the fact that Diana would not even be in the running as a name, as the couple feared it would put too much media attention on their as of yet unborn child.

"They are highly unlikely to call their daughter Diana. Their biggest concern is that it would make her a bigger target for the media, and considerably increase public interest in the child's life.

Whatever anybody thinks, Harry and Meghan do value their privacy and want to shield their children from the intense media pressure they have endured."

As Meghan has sued tabloids for invading her privacy in the past and paparazzi are thought to have been one of the contributing factors to Princess Diana's death, these concerns and fears might be well-founded.

While it might be unlikely that the couple gives their daughter Diana as a first name, many sources believe there is a good chance it might become the girl's middle name. Katie Nicholl, royal correspondent and author of the book "Harry And Meghan," stated as much during a video call interview with Entertainment Tonight, as the Express reports. According to Nicholl, Diana is quite high up on the list of possible baby names.

She states:

"I absolutely think they will want to include Diana as perhaps one of the names for their little girl. Maybe not as her first name, but I'm sure it's very high up on the list in terms of a second Christian name. And I think that's quite simply because it would be for Harry a wonderful way to pay tribute to his mother."

Of course, Nicholl also mentioned that Prince William and Kate Middleton had already given Diana as a middle name to Princess Charlotte. However, she added that she doesn't "think that precludes Harry and Meghan from doing exactly the same thing."

Nicholl's opinion is not shared by other insiders and royal experts, though. The Page Six source explained that, while Diana as a middle name is certainly possible, the couple might not want to use it for a very different reason:

"They might consider Diana as a middle name, but Princess Charlotte already has Diana as a middle name, and Harry and Meghan have not enjoyed the feeling they have been compared to — and pitted against — William and Kate in the media and by the palace."

Considering the currently tense atmosphere between the royal brothers in the wake of Meghan and Harry's Oprah interview, this thought might well impact the couple's decision. Of course, Prince Harry's wish to honor his mother might also supersede any such concerns.

What do you think the couple's second child will be called? Tell us your thoughts on the matter and pass this along to fellow royal fans.