Royal Baby Name: The World's Obsession Has Only Just Begun

Culture

It is no news that the public is fascinated by the Royal Family or even by Kate Middleton. Ever since she married into the clan, becoming the Duchess of Cambridge, she has served as both a fashion icon and adored personality. But as Kate's due date gets closer, the obsession has only intensified; she is carrying the future of the Royal Family, and the world's attention is narrowing in. 

Ever since the Buckingham Palace announced news of the pregnancy last December 3, the Royal Baby has been at the center of attention. The public anxiously followed the news as the mother-to-be was admitted to the hospital in the early stages for "hyperemesis gravidarum, an acute morning sickness which requires supplementary hydration and nutrients." 

The unprecedented discussion about the Royal Baby makes Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's pregnancy look like a big nothing in comparison. We entertained ourselves speculating over North West, but the two-week old celebrity baby is already old news ... we're eagerly awaiting Kate and William's birth announcement. 

According to France 24, onlookers are taking their predictions for the Royal Baby to the betting arena. In fact, "wagers on the arrival of Prince William and Catherine's first child will outstrip those for the couple's wedding in 2011, previously the biggest market for so-called novelty bets."

People are waging on everything about the future royal heir; the baby's sex, hair color, eye color, weight and even whether Kate will have a natural birth or Cesarean section are on the table. 

Moreover, the bets are not confined to Britain's borders. "It's a global market," said William Hill, a spokesman for British bookies. This shouldn't come as too much of a surprise. Most of the world and the U.S especially adores the royal family. When it comes to the future of the Royal Family, you can expect that the world will tune in to follow.

The biggest question is what Kate and William will decide to name the future monarch. Given the long list of recycled royal names, betters have a solid starting point. 

According to France 24, most people are expecting the duo to chose a traditional name, lead by Alexandra, Charlotte, Elizabeth, Diana, and Victoria for girls' names and George, James and Louis if the baby is a boy. 

Mirror News also suggested that Mary and Alice are possible girls' names, and added Alexander, Philip, Richard, Edward and Charles as contenders for a boy's name. 

Ladbrokes, a British-based gaming company, has given Alexandra and George the respective odds of 4 to 1 and 10 to 1 as the future baby girl or boy's name, according to CTV News.

In case you aren't up to date with your Royal Family trivia, Queen Elizabeth II's middle name is Alexandra, Charlotte is both King George III's wife name and the middle name of Kate's sister Pippa. Of course, Victoria would pay a tribute to the late Queen Victoria, the longest-serving Queen.  

While Kate and William will most likely appease their family and opt for a traditional name, some betters have discussed the possibility that will "modern" couple will vie for a unique name. The Telegraph declared that "Kate should go for it and choose a quirky non-name" given the royal baby's instant and inevitable claim to fame.  

The birthday of the baby is another hot topic for debate; last January, the Palace announced that "their Royal Highness the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are delighted to confirm they are expecting a baby in July," according to BBC News. Next, the Daily Mail announced a more specific due date, set for July 13. Now, many are betting that Middleton will give birth ahead of schedule during the first week of July. 

In any case, the wait is almost over as the first week of July is drawing to a close and Kate's due date is approaching. The press is watching like a hawk for the first details; in fact, paparazzi has already started to allot spots outside of St. Mary's Hospital, where Kate will give birth, according to the Daily Mail. While we await more details, there's one thing we do know for sure: this is just the beginning of the Royal Baby's life in the spotlight.