Royal baby name: print off the Telegraph's sweepstake and play

All eyes have been on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex throughout their royal romance - from the courtship, right through to their beautiful Windsor wedding. Now, with their first child on the way in late April or early May, we are eager for any news on the new royal arrival. 

A royal baby's birth is a time for celebration and fun. That's why we have created a sweepstake on the name of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's first child for you and your colleagues to enjoy.

Simply click on the image below to create a printable pdf file, then all you need is a pair of scissors, a pen and up to 40 willing colleagues.

We don’t yet know the gender of the baby, although most of us are putting our money on it being a girl, according to bookmaker William Hill. There were rumours that the baby would be raised as gender neutral, but those rumours have since been denied.

If the baby is a girl, she will likely be named Diana - at least, that's what the punters have been betting (with odds of 4-1). 

The most prominent Diana in royal history was, of course, the Princess of Wales. In May 2015, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge paid tribute to Prince William and Harry’s mother by naming their daughter Charlotte Elizabeth Diana.  

Alternatively, Meghan and Harry may opt for Victoria, a name with a long connection with the monarchy (and odds of 7-1).

Queen Victoria is the most iconic monarch that springs to mind, and it’s nice to think the royal couple could have been inspired by Jenna Coleman’s portrayal in the returning show.

However, Victoria was not, in fact, the queen’s real name, as she was born Alexandrina and her middle name was Victoria. She changed this after she ascended the throne in 1837.

Bookmaker William Hill have also included the following as probable girls’ names for the new royal baby: Alice (12-1), Isobella/Isabella (12-1), Grace (12-1) and Elizabeth (14-1).

If the baby is a boy, however, the bets are on him being called Arthur, at 16-1. According to the Office for National Statistics, this was one of the top 20 most popular boys’ names in England and Wales for 2017.

The name has a long and regal history. The most recent member of the royal family with this name was Queen Victoria’s son, Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn. Before him, there was Prince Arthur, the brother of Henry VIII, who died at the age of 15. The most famous regal Arthur, however, is the British romantic hero, King Arthur, who, with his Knights of the Round Table, protected the land from Saxon invaders.

Other possible boys’ names include James, Edward and Albert.