Meghan Markle's Daughter Has the Coolest Name

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry delighted the world with news of the arrival of their second child. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex released an official statement, in which a spokesperson confirmed that the baby girl was born on Friday, June 4, 2021, at 11:40 a.m. weighing 7 lbs. 11 oz. They also announced the heartfelt baby name Meghan and Harry chose.

"It is with great joy that Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, welcome their daughter, Lilibet "Lili" Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, to the world," the statement read. "Lili is named after her great-grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen, whose family nickname is Lilibet. Her middle name, Diana, was chosen to honor her beloved late grandmother, The Princess of Wales."

Lili Diana joined 2-year-old big brother Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor.

In their own "message of thanks" added below the official statement, the Duke and Duchess personally note, "We were blessed with the arrival of our daughter, Lili. She is more than we could have ever imagined, and we remain grateful for the love and prayers we've felt from across the globe. Thank you for your continued kindness and support during this very special time for our family."

Every family has its own tried and true method for choosing baby names. For example, it is not uncommon for some new parents to recycle names from the family tree to honor loved ones. Other families like to find unique names that buck annual baby naming trends. And some folks will simply look through a baby naming book and see what jumps out at them.

But if you're a British royal, baby-naming is something of a science. According to the British online newspaper, The Independent, there are five rules that all royals must follow when naming their children.

Royals have no surname

Before the year 1917, British royals didn't have surnames; instead, they were named after the royal house—or dynasty they came from. Think Harry Potter and the four Hogwarts houses. Before this shift, kings and princes took the name of the country or territory that they ruled over. But everything changed when King George V adopted the surname Windsor. Later, in 1960, Queen Elizabeth decided that her children needed a name that was distinct from Windsor, and that is how the surname Mountbatten-Windsor was born.

Royals have multiple names

Surnames aside, the royals love to have long names. The closer to the throne in the line of succession, the longer the name. The standard protocol is three names, but some have more. For example, Prince William is William Arthur Philip Louis Mountbatten-Windsor, talk about a mouthful!

Since Harry and Meghan were stripped of their titles after they stepped away from their royal duties, it is highly unlikely that they will ascend to the throne. However, title or not, Harry is still technically sixth in line to become king. That distance between Harry and the throne, however, means that his kids don't have to have three names. Their daughter, Lillibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, and son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, each have two names.

Unique names are frowned upon

Much like the rule of having three names, the closer a royal is to the throne, the more traditional the name they must have. That's why there have been 12 Albert's since 1819. Since Harry and Meghan aren't very close to the throne (or even living near the castle), they were able to choose unique names that closely match their taste and style.

The Queen plays a role in naming royal babies

While the Queen may not officially have to give her approval for royal names, she is the first person to be told what the name is before it is revealed to the public. If she is happy with the name, then it can stick. However, if the name doesn't meet her standards, you can bet that that name will change pretty quick.

Titles are given by the Queen

You might now know this, but titles are not always a guarantee just because a baby is born to a royal. Titles such as queen, king, prince, and princess are automatically assigned based on proximity to the throne. But once grandkids are born, things get a little tricky. Grandchildren born along the male line are given titles, but grandchildren born along a female line are not. Since William and Harry's kids are great-grandkids to the Queen, they were not given titles automatically. The Queen did give William and Kate's children titles of prince and princess, but she did not extend that privilege to Harry and Meghan's children.

Harry and Meghan don't have to adhere to the strict rules of baby naming, which means they get to choose some really cool, unique names. Lillibet Diana is absolutely adorable and warm reminder of the strong women in the royal family. And how cute is Archie Harrison? He sounds like a member of the Beatles.

Congratulations to Meghan, Harry, and Archie!