rince William had something of a left-field name choice for Prince George before his birth, a new book has claimed.

The name was so alternative that it reportedly left palace staff “stuttering”.
George could have had a different name thanks to his dad, a new book claims (Credit: Cover Images)

Prince William’s alternative name choice for Prince George

Back in July 2013, Prince George’s imminent arrival sent royal fans into overdrive as they attempted to predict what his name would be.

Two days after his birth, his full name was revealed for the world to see: George Alexander Louis.

However, if it had been up to Prince William, it seems the future king’s name could have been something very, very different.

A new book, titled William and Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story, written by The Mirror’s royal editor, Russell Myers, claims that William and Kate spent “hours” researching names for their firstborn.

However, Prince William reportedly kept coming out with left-field suggestions, which left palace staff stunned.
Kate and William kept George’s gender a surprise before his birth (Credit: Cover Images)

William and Kate in ‘fits of laughter’ over ‘left-field’ name suggestions

The book claims that William and Kate wanted to keep the gender of their newborn baby a surprise. This meant buying baby clothes in neutral colours.

According to the book, which is being serialised in The Mirror: “Catherine had her heart set on Alexander for a boy or Alexandra (also Queen Elizabeth’s middle name) for a girl. William had privately voiced his preference for having a girl, and was keen to incorporate a tribute to his late mother, most likely in the form of a middle name.”

Myers claims that after struggling to come up with a name, Kate was gifted a baby name book by her friends.

“The couple had been given a book of baby names by a close friend, which they spent hours thumbing through – they often ended up in fits of laughter after one or the other had presented a more left-field suggestion,” he writes.
George turns 13 this year (Credit: Cover Images)

Palace staff left ‘stuttering’ over William’s name choices

According to the royal sources Myers spoke to in the writing of his book, William would begin meetings with his press team by blurting out name choices.

Myers writes that William would start by asking: “What do you think about Rodney for a boy, or maybe Graham?” before bursting into laughter over his team’s stuttered responses.

Eventually, William and Kate reportedly settled on a shortlist of two names, George and Louis.

They opted for George in the end. Five years later, when they welcomed their third child – and second baby boy – they went for the other name on their shortlist, Louis.

Royal Insider has contacted Kensington Palace for comment.