Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s Son Archie Almost Had This Name

Mamas Uncut

3 years ago

Ahead of his birth, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were contemplating Archie Harrison‘s name.

While attending a reading session for children at the Invictus Games The Hague this past weekend, Meghan struck up a conversation with a parent who had brought a son named Harrison to the event.

Sherry McBain, a nursing officer in the RAF competing in the Invictus Games, shared with PA how her wife Mandy spoke with Meghan at the event when they realized the commonality in their children’s names.

“[Meghan] was like ‘Harrison, that’s Archie’s middle name’, and Mandy was like ‘Yeah, I know,’ ” said McBain.

“They were just having a chat because Harry and Meghan couldn’t decide between Archie and Harrison for the first name.”

Copyright: Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Mandatory credit: Duke of Sussex/@SaveChildrenUK. NEWS EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO COMMERCIAL USE. NO MERCHANDISING, ADVERTISING, SOUVENIRS OR MEMORABILIA. This photograph is provided to you strictly on condition that you will make no charge for the supply, release or publication of it and that these conditions and restrictions will apply (and that you will pass these on) to any organisation to whom you supply it. The photographs must not be digitally enhanced, manipulated or modified in any manner or form and must include all of the individuals in the photograph when published. Not for use after 1/1/2021 without clearance from the office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Undated handout issued from a video posted on @SaveChildrenUK by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, taken by the Duke of Sussex showing the Duchess of Sussex reading “Duck! Rabbit!” to their son Archie who celebrates his first birthday today. The image is taken from a video published today on the @SaveChildrenUK campaign Instagram page. … Archie Mountbatten-Windsor 1st birthday … 06-05-2020 … California … Photo credit should read: Duke of Sussex/PA Media. Unique Reference No. 53648896 … Issue date: Wednesday May 6, 2020. The family is participating in the campaign across both the US and UK to help bring much-needed support to children who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As they celebrate this family moment, the Duke and Duchess wanted to continue to raise awareness around the urgency of bringing food and learning resources to millions of children. See PA story ROYAL Sussex. Photo credit should read: Duke of Sussex / @SaveChildrenUK

Copyright: Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Mandatory credit: Duke of Sussex/@SaveChildrenUK. NEWS EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO COMMERCIAL USE. NO MERCHANDISING, ADVERTISING, SOUVENIRS OR MEMORABILIA. This photograph is provided to you strictly on condition that you will make no charge for the supply, release or publication of it and that these conditions and restrictions will apply (and that you will pass these on) to any organisation to whom you supply it. The photographs must not be digitally enhanced, manipulated or modified in any manner or form and must include all of the individuals in the photograph when published. Not for use after 1/1/2021 without clearance from the office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Undated handout issued from a video posted on @SaveChildrenUK by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, taken by the Duke of Sussex showing the Duchess of Sussex reading “Duck! Rabbit!” to their son Archie who celebrates his first birthday today. The image is taken from a video published today on the @SaveChildrenUK campaign Instagram page. … Archie Mountbatten-Windsor 1st birthday … 06-05-2020 … California … Photo credit should read: Duke of Sussex/PA Media. Unique Reference No. 53648896 … Issue date: Wednesday May 6, 2020. The family is participating in the campaign across both the US and UK to help bring much-needed support to children who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As they celebrate this family moment, the Duke and Duchess wanted to continue to raise awareness around the urgency of bringing food and learning resources to millions of children. See PA story ROYAL Sussex. Photo credit should read: Duke of Sussex / @SaveChildrenUK

Meghan, 40, and Prince Harry, 37, welcomed Archie in May 2019, just one year following their royal wedding. The name choices surprised most, as British oddsmakers’ top picks for potential names included more traditional monikers, like Arthur, James, Philip and Albert.

Archie is a shortened version of the name Archibald, which is defined as genuine and bold or brave. Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll of Scotland was also an ancestor of Princess Diana’s.

And Archie’s middle name, Harrison, originated in the Middle Ages as a patronymic meaning “son of Henry” or “son of Harry.”

The couple later announced they were naming their foundation Archewell, explaining, “Before SussexRoyal came the idea of ‘arche’ — the Greek word meaning ‘source of action.’ We connected to this concept for the charitable organization we hoped to build one day, and it became the inspiration for our son’s name. To do something of meaning, to do something that matters. Archewell is a name that combines an ancient word for strength and action, and another that evokes the deep resources we each must draw upon.”

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex also decided on a heartfelt name for their daughter Lilibet Diana, born in June 2021.

Lilibet was a family nickname for Queen Elizabeth, while her middle name is after Harry’s late mother Princess Diana. The proud parents reveal that they plan to call their daughter “Lili.”