Royal baby name: The history behind George Alexander Louis
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have named their son George Alexander Louis
- George, many bookies' favorite, was also the name of the queen's father, George VI
- The name "Alexander" is derived from Latin, meaning "defender of men"
- "Louis" can be translated as "renowned warrior"
The baby boy is third in
line to the throne, after grandfather Prince Charles and father Prince
William. Here's some of the history behind the young prince's three
names:
George
"George" -- the
front-runner before the announcement, according to many UK bookmakers --
was the name of Queen Elizabeth's father, King George VI, who reigned
from 1936 until his death in 1952. He assumed the throne on the
abdication of his brother, Edward VIII. His life was depicted in the
Oscar-winning movie "The King's Speech."
Baby's name is steeped in royal history
The royal aunt and uncle
Excited crowds welcome royal baby boy
Photos: Other famous Georges
George I, born in
Germany, became king in 1714. He was followed by a line of kings with
the same name, including George III, who was known for his bouts of
insanity.
The name is also a
patriotic choice for many in the UK: Saint George, patron saint of
England, is known for his legendary defeat of a dragon in the third
century. His feast day is celebrated on April 23, (the date also
associated with the birth of William Shakespeare, England's most revered
writer).
Despite its royal
connections, George has humble origins, derived as it is from the Greek
name "georgios" meaning "earth worker" or "farmer."
Other historical Georges:
composer George Frideric Handel (1685-1759), first president of the
United States George Washington (1732-1799), and the Pacific explorer
George Vancouver (1757-1798). Authors Mary Anne Evans and Eric Arthur
Blair also chose George as their pen names: George Eliot (1819-1880) and
George Orwell (1903-1950) respectively.
Alexander
This gallant title means
"defender of men," from the Latin form of the Greek name "Alexandros."
Alexander III of Macedon (356-323 B.C.), better known as Alexander the
Great, courageously ruled and conquered many parts of the world before
his untimely death at age 32.
The name "Alexander" is a feature of the Dutch royal family: Willem-Alexander ascended to the throne after the abdication of his mother Queen Beatrix earlier this year.
Other historical
Alexanders: English poet Alexander Pope (1688-1744), American statesman
Alexander Hamilton (1755-1804), Scottish-Canadian explorer Alexander
MacKenzie (1764-1820), Russian poet Alexander Pushkin (1799-1837) and
Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922), the Scottish-born inventor of the
telephone.
Louis
The name "Louis"
originates from the English and French interpretations of the German
name Ludwig, which can be interpreted as "renowned warrior."
Louis was the first name
of Lord Mountbatten, uncle of George's great-grandfather Prince Philip,
Duke of Edinburgh, and mentor to Prince Charles. He was killed by the
IRA while holidaying in Ireland in 1979.
No British monarch has
been named Louis, but it is very popular across the English Channel in
France, where 18 kings have taken the name from 814 onward. Louis XIV,
the Sun King, reigned from 1643 until 1715 and was hailed by many as the
greatest monarch of his age because of the growth in French power and
the opulence of his court, which included the Palace of Versailles.
Louis XVI was the king
of France from 1774 until 1792, when he was found guilty of treason
after the revolution and executed in 1793.
Other historical figures
named Louis: French scientist Louis Pasteur (1822-1895); Métis leader
Louis Riel (1844-1885), who led a rebellion against Canada; and Scottish
author Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894), who wrote "Treasure Island"
and "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde."
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