Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Nearly Named Archie Something Else
"Harry and Meghan couldn't decide..."

Speaking to a fan at the Invictus Games in the Netherlands, Meghan Markle revealed that she and Prince Harry almost gave their son Archie a different first name. When introduced to a little boy named Harrison, Meghan told Harrison's mom, Mandy, that she and Harry had nearly given their son the first name Harrison as well—ultimately deciding to give it to Archie as a middle name. "[My wife] was like ‘Harrison, that’s Archie’s middle name’, and Mandy was like ‘Yeah, I know’," said Mandy's wife, Sherry McBain, per PA. "They were just having a chat because Harry and Meghan couldn’t decide between Archie and Harrison for the first name.”
Ultimately, the decision to name their son Archie may have come down to the origins of the word. When Harry and Meghan announced Archewell, the organization the couple founded to continue their life of public service, they noted that they had been inspired by the Greek word "arche" for both Archewell and Archie. They said at the time: "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."
Traditionally used as a nickname for "Archibald," Archie has become a popular full name in and of itself, especially since Harry and Meghan used it for their first son. In England and Wales, "Archie" was the ninth most popular baby name in 2020 (although it doesn't come close to "George," the name of Archie's cousin, whose name is the second most-popular).
"Harrison" also has sentimental meaning for the couple—it means "son of Harry." The couple also chose a name with personal meaning for their second child, Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor: Lilibet has been Queen Elizabeth's family nickname for decades. Diana, of course, is a nod to Prince Harry's late mother, Princess Diana, who died in a car crash in Paris in 1997.
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
-
Prince Harry Wasn't Informed About King Charles's Hospitalization
"It looks like the duke only found out about his father's latest health update through the media."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Jennifer Lawrence Styles a $7,500 Outfit With $100 Sneakers
The actress paired Prada and Celine with her $100 footwear.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Meghan Markle and Her Makeup Artist Confirmed All Her Royal Wedding Beauty Products
And yes, you can shop them all here.
By Kayleigh Roberts Published
-
Prince Harry Wasn't Informed About King Charles's Hospitalization as Palace Didn't Want to "Cause Unnecessary Alarm"
"It looks like the duke only found out about his father's latest health update through the media."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Meghan Markle and Her Makeup Artist Confirmed All Her Royal Wedding Beauty Products
And yes, you can shop them all here.
By Kayleigh Roberts Published
-
Why Prince Harry Is So "Torn Apart" Over Resigning From His Charity
The Duke of Sussex co-founded Sentebale in honor of his mother in 2006.
By Lia Beck Published
-
Meghan Markle and Gwyneth Paltrow Open Up About Their "Rift" Over Pie
Expect a Goop x As Ever collab in three… two..
By Lia Beck Published
-
Meghan Markle Confirms Skinny Jeans Are Back by Finally Revealing Her Favorite Frame Denim
It's never been easier to dress like a duchess.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
New Prince Archie Photo Proves He Takes After Dad Prince Harry in Two Very Important Ways
Father and son have much more in common than their vibrant red hair.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Meghan Markle Shared a Rare Video Filmed by Prince Harry on Instagram
And she used her nickname for him in the shoutout she wrote in the video's caption.
By Kayleigh Roberts Published
-
Meghan Markle Sent a Handwritten Note to a Podcaster Who Said She Was "Scared" for the Royal Before Her Netflix Show Premiered
Mailing a handwritten note to reply to an Instagram comment might be the most Meghan Markle thing of all time.
By Kayleigh Roberts Published