Two weeks after welcoming her third child with husband Jack Brooksbank, Princess Eugenie shared her baby girl's name on Monday – and it has a "rare" royal link.
The royal revealed her newborn daughter is called Adelaide Elizabeth Annina Brooksbank; her middle name is a sweet tribute to Eugenie's late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. "Named after three people we love and admire past and present, including her Great-Grandmother who we hold close in our hearts. Her name is part of English and Portuguese history, two places we love and call home," Eugenie, who has lived in Portugal with her husband and sons since 2022 wrote.
The newborn's full name includes two more connections to the royal family tree, including one that means "noble," according to an expert.
© Princess EugenieRoyal history behind the name Adelaide
The name Adelaide in the British royal family dates back to the 19th century with Queen Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen, who was Queen Victoria's great-aunt. "Adelaide is used in English, Italian, and Portuguese (how appropriate, given this baby’s place of birth) and is a variation of the German name Adelheidis," Sophie Kihm, baby name expert and editor-in-chief at Nameberry, the world’s largest website devoted to baby names, tells HELLO!.
"It means "noble" and has royal history: the German princess Adelaide married Britain’s King William IV in the 1830s. She was such a beloved queen – known as "Good Queen Adelaide" – that she popularised her name in the early 19th century. The Australian city of Adelaide is named after her."
The name Adelaide is currently on the rise in the UK and ranked 342 last year, Sophie shares. "As with many royal baby names, we expect this one to rise significantly in years to come. Eugenie's daughter's name is partly inspired by Queen Adelaide and partly by Maria Adelaide, the name of two Portuguese women, a royal and a saint.
© Getty ImagesEugenie previously paid tribute to Queen Adelaide during her wedding reception when she wore two brooches that once belonged to the late royal and were handed down to her by Queen Elizabeth. "Queen Victoria’s Wheat-Ear Brooches were originally commissioned by William IV in 1830 for Queen Adelaide. They were passed down to Queen Victoria in 1837, and eventually to The Queen in 1952. Her Majesty has worn them as both hair slides and brooches," the Palace website wrote.
'Rare' middle name
Along with Adelaide's middle name being an ode to the late Queen, Sophie points out the name Elizabeth means "pledged to God".
Meanwhile, the young royal's second middle name, Annina, subtly links her to another relative and senior member of the royal family: Princess Anne.
"Annina is a rare Italian nickname derived from Anne or Anna. You could interpret it to mean "little Anne" or "grace," the meaning of Anne/Anna," Sophie tells us. "Anne is a frequent player in the British Royals family tree. Eugenie has an aunt Anne, and it is the name of six queens of England."
© UK Press via Getty ImagesEugenie and Jack's newest addition
Eugenie and Jack's baby girl was born on 3 August in a hospital in Lisbon, Portugal. Eugenie shared the news on Instagram alongside an adorable photo of her newborn daughter in a pink knitted romper. "We are beyond in love with our girlie," the royal wrote.
On 17 August, Eugenie announced her baby daughter's name and shared heartwarming photos from her private family album, including one of her sons, August, five, and Ernest, three, meeting their little sister.
"2 weeks ago today we welcomed our girl to the world. And since then we've had the most special, cosy and love-filled time," Eugenie wrote. "And since then we've had the most special, cosy and love-filled time."
She added: "Augie and Ernie are already the best big brothers."
