How about King Dwayne?

Some Frenchman in Henry V refers to the English king as "the king of half an island."  That was true then and may be yet again, but between the 15th Century and this one the position included; Emperor of India, Defender of the Faith (the new one) Ruler of the Cinque Ports, and of the Dominions Beyond the Seas, etc.

All right.  The job has been downsized. 

There is a lot of talk in the fluttery press here and there about the modern inclinations of Will and Kate.  There is a good deal of discussion of nannies and the possibility that the Duke of Cambridge will be in the diaper changing bidness.  Hmmm!  I doubt that will be true after the first one.

The monarchist fifth column here in the United States is in full voice.  Bless them!  Are people out in the commonwealth as excited as the royalists are in the US?

Since we are so concerned with the intimate doings of our former imperial masters, I think that the least we colonials can do is suggest a name for the child.  I will welcome suggestions.  My own thoughts run to Dwayne, Canute, Ted (for the bear),  pl

Comments

[Abu Sinan]

I suggest "Billy Joe Jim Bob". It would be grand to read about "Billy Joe Jim Bob the First" in the text books.

[Tja]

A 'Knut' would be awesome, but 'Gervase' I'm afraid would be taken as homage to Ricky.

You've reminded me that Charles chose to name his second son Henry, that he might one day be called 'Prince Hal'. And yet must appear so surprised and disappointed when Harry behaves as though he were.

[Walter Moore]

It is strange how attached Americans seem to be to their former crown.. and have been since the gilded age..

Turns out even my wife is a Tory. I keep telling her my ancestors rebelled so I wouldn't have to care about royal babies.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/13256_570552812988003_1874266373_n.jpg

[Bobo]

Possibly BARZILLAI as a middle name in rememberance of
Barzillai Lew who fought for the Continental Army at Bunker Hill. His significance is that he he was one of a few Free African Americans fighting that day.

[steve g]

Since we gave them the shoe in
1776 I too cannot understand the
fawning. I nominate "Richard the T--d"

[Fred]

I was so looking forward to a girl, then we could have a Princess Katniss.

[steve]

Ethelred the Unready.

Regarding the US infatuation with the monarchy, I don't personally know anyone who has mentioned the birth or who seems at all interested.

[JohnH]

Alfred Newman II. Named after the first, of Mad Magazine fame, who ran many times for President, but lost out to dimmer lights...

[Fred]

If they are going to pick names of those who defeated the British they could stick with George; or he could go with Joseph, who was far more important to the Battle of Bunker Hill.
http://www.drjosephwarren.com/2013/06/killed-in-a-cowardly-manner-by-an-officer%e2%80%99s-servant/

[mo]

Its a multicultural Britian and as such he should without a doubt be named Mohamed....

[Buzz Meeks]

Future glorified welfare recipient. So many colorful names and spellings to choose from.

[Matthew]

Col: Thirty 30 years ago (in reference to Charles and Diana), George Will, I think, riduculed his fellow Washingtonians by noting that only in the capital of the Great Republic would its leading citizens so shamelessly suck up to monarchists. Unfortunately, I can't find the quote.

But for background, see http://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2011/03/charles-and-dianas-fairytale-visit-to-america-remembered-26-years-later/

[Maureen Lang]

Why not cut to the chase & name him King? King King has a certain rhythm to it...Joseph Heller would have loved it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwT-_uCEMiA

[Old Gun Pilot]

You have to wonder why the British keep around a family whose greatest accomplishment in the last several hundred years is that one of them managed to overcome stuttering.

[turcopolier]

Buzz Meeks

I always thought your name seemed familiar and then I was watching "LA Confidential" the other day. pl

[oofda]

Let's really go old school- how about Æthelred? Or Eadwig?

[David Habakkuk]

Fred,

My wife was saying this morning how relieved she was that it was a boy, not a girl. Following recent changes to the provisions for the succession, she -- had it been a girl -- would now have inherited, eventually. My wife thinks that this would have put her in an impossible position, as there would always have been comparisons with her great-grandmother.

The kind of devotion to duty, and self-abnegation, which has allowed Elizabeth – patently, like her father, our wartime King, a deeply shy person – to cope so marvellously with a life which would drive most people bat-shit crazy is not something bred into people today. So the comparisons might have been difficult to sustain.

It belongs to a vanished world, as does a famous comment by the commanding officer under whom her husband served, with distinction, at the Battle of Cape Matapan in March 1941 and the invasion of Sicily in November 1942. Between those two events, in May 1941, the Royal Navy sustained heavy losses at the hands of the Luftwaffe while supporting the evacuation of Crete. These prompted Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham to remark that ‘it takes the Navy three years to build a new ship … it will take 300 years to build a new tradition’.

[mbrenner]

The royals look to the future, not to the past. They also should hedge their bets.

Therefore: Rocky Chen - or Chen Rocky

[AK]

The Royals would just 'bastardize' it back to William Joseph James Robert, thereby thwarting all our good fun. Such is the imperial way. Perhaps Paddington? (also in homage to a bear [(in turn named in homage to train station...)], but a bear with a more aristocratic air to him, if I remember correctly). Also, the diminutive would likely be 'Paddy', making it Irish. So sweet.

[David Habakkuk]

All:

I have just watched the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge come out of the hospital. He said they were still 'working on a name', and referred to the assembled journalists -- and the public -- as 'you guys'.

It is quite clear to me from the comments on this thread that almost all Americans are as incomprehending of the tribal customs of the British as you are of the peoples of Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, etc etc. Likewise, almost all of you are utterly clueless and about the complex ways in which the dominant American culture and local cultures interact.

I doubt if I can begin to explain how much it hurts, when William -- and also the children of very old Jewish friends of ours -- call us 'guys'. It would require an exercise of imagination of whom I do not think more than tiny handful of you are capable.

Perhaps I can recommend to you a book published last year by the veteran Daily Mail commentator Andrew Alexander, under the title 'America and the Imperialism of Ignorance.'

[Fred]

Your wife makes a very good point. I am reminded of a Japanese expression I heard long ago (attributed to one of the Shogun, I believe) "Duty is like a Mountain". I can't imagine being thrust into the role of Atlas.

[turcopolier]

David Habakkuk

I am sorry if our attitude has offended you. I may know one or two things about your tribal customs. Some of them I like. Some I do not. Your maintenance of the present form of government I find baffling. Nevertheless, I find it regrettable that the DoC uses the vulgar neologism "guys." Down here we do not say that and the use of the "word" by a waiter or some such person is instantly identifying of someone from "up there." It is even worse than "youse." The process of offense works both ways across the pond. On "Chuck" Todd's morning political show today your ambassador told the host that American obsession with your monarchy reflected "buyer's remorse." I prefer DCI Morse. pl

[turcopolier]

David Habakkuk

I have withdrawn "Gervase" and "Nigel" as possibilities although "Gervase" would be a nice gesture toward Old Catholics. Surely they won't name him "Louis." pl

[Matthew]

OGP: Unity of the realm and tourism.

[Matthew]

Alfred.