Royal baby names: 5 facts and figures

In this Dec. 9, 2014 file photo, Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, left, and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, walk in front of a mural by Jose Parla as the royal couple takes a tour of the lobby of new One World Trade Center following a visit to the nearby National September 11 Memorial and Museum, in New York. (AP / Shannon Stapleton, Pool, File)

With the arrival of the second child of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, excitement and speculation about the baby continues to ramp up across the pond.

In honour of the future monarch, we’ve compiled five facts you may not have known about royal baby names.

1. Welcome baby Elizabeth

According to OddsChecker, a British online betting website, odds are the newest royal will be a girl named "Elizabeth."

The second most likely name according to the site is "Charlotte," followed by "Alice" and "Victoria." If the royal baby is a boy, "James" is your best bet, followed by "Arthur."

Bet-maker Paddy Power also recently gave "Elizabeth" top odds, with "Charlotte" and "Victoria" coming in close behind.

2. Extra names

Members of the royal family are often given extra names in addition to their first to honour relatives. For example, Prince William's full name is William Arthur Philip Louis, and Prince Harry's full name is Henry Charles Albert David.

Prince George was only given a total of three names, making his official name George Alexander Louis.

3. Easel announcement

When a new heir to the throne is born, it is usually announced on a placard that's been signed by the doctors who delivered the child. This placard is then placed on an easel at the gates of Buckingham Palace, however it usually only announces the sex of the child and not the child's name.

The royals used this method to announce the births of Prince William and Prince George.

4. Guessing game

In the past, a royal baby's name was not always revealed to the public right away. For example, Princess Beatrice's full name was not disclosed until two weeks after she was born in 1988.

Similarly, Prince William's name was not announced until seven days after he was born in 1982.

Perhaps the longest amount of time the public waited to hear a royal name was about four weeks, after the birth of Prince Charles. His name was only disclosed ahead of his christening in December 1948, about a month after he was born.

5. Surnames

Before 1917, members of the royal family had no surname, using instead the name of their house or their dynasty. But in 1917, George V adopted the name "Windsor" as the name of his house, as well as his surname.

Now, members of the royal family who have the title HRH Prince or Princess do not need a surname. But if they do require one, that surname is Mountbatten-Windsor, reflecting the surnames of the Duke of Edinburgh and the Queen respectively.