A short time ago it became known that Her Royal Highness Princess Sofia of Sweden has given birth to a healthy baby. Both mother and child are in good health.
Now there are two major questions. What will be the name of the little Prince or Princess be and what title will the newest member of the Swedish Royal Family have?
H.R.H. Prince Alexander’s christening at Drottningholm Palace Chapel, September 9, 2016. Parents: HRH Princess Sofia; HRH Prince Alexander; HRH Prince Carl Philip; Mr Erik Hellqvist; Mrs Marie Hellqvist, HM Queen Silvia HM, King Carl XVI Gustaf. Photo: Mattias Edwall, Kungahuset.se / Photo Mattias Edwall, The Royal Court, Sweden
Three or four names?
Prince Carl Philip broke with the tradition of his siblings when he and Princess Sofia gave their first child four names. While Prince Alexander has four names, all of his cousins in the Swedish Royal Family have only three names, except for Princess Estelle:
- Estelle Silvia Ewa Mary, Princess of Sweden, Duchess of Östergötland.
- Oscar Carl Olof, Prince of Sweden, Duke of Skåne.
- Leonore Lilian Maria, Princess of Sweden, Duchess of Gotland.
- Nicolas Paul Gustaf, Prince of Sweden, Duke of Ångermanland.
Nevertheless, Crown Princess Victoria, Princess Madeleine and the father of the new royal baby, Prince Carl Philip, have all four names each. I will be surprised if the next child is not given four names.
Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia of Sweden have just had their second child. Photo: The Royal Court, Sweden.
If it is a Princess?
It is a tradition that one of the names originates from the child’s grandparents on both sides of the family. We can, therefore, assume that a little Princess will either receive the name Marie or Britt after Princess Sofia’s mother. Grandmother Queen Silvia has only two names, Silvia Renate, and Princess Estelle has the name, Silvia, while Princess Madeleine’s daughter, Leonore, has neither of them.
When it comes to the remaining names, the royals have a little more playroom. The Royal House of Bernadotte has many excellent historical names, and I have the feeling that they will do like Victoria and choose at least one historical name.
My guess would be Louise, Josephine or Desirée.
The Prince/Princess will be appointed Knight of the Royal Order of the Seraphim at the baptism. Photo: Frankie Fouganthin via Wikimedia Commons.
If it is a Prince?
The grandfather of the coming child, the King of Sweden, is called Carl Gustaf Folke Hubertus. The King currently has three male grandchildren, each of whom has one of his names. The only name of the King which is currently not used by one the grandchildren is Folke.
So if it is a Prince, I am almost 100% sure that one of the names will be Folke.
Princess Sofia’s father is called Oscar Erik. Oscar is already in use by Prince Oscar, the second child of Crown Princess Victoria, and Prince Alexander has the name, Erik. I think that, if it is a Prince, the name will be Oscar, but then surely this will not be his first name.
Otherwise, I would argue that the following names are good candidates: Edmund, Carl or Johan.
Coronet of a Swedish Duke. Photo: Sodacan via Wikimedia Commons.
What title?
The Duchies of Skåne, Gotland, Östergötland, Västergötland, Södermanland, Värmland, Hälsingland, Gästrikland and Ångermanland, are currently in use by of other living members of the Swedish Royal Family. King Carl XVI Gustaf was Duke of Jämtland until he became King. Another 14 possible duchies remain.
I think it is unlikely that Jämtland will be handed out to the future Prince or Princess. It would obviously be a nice gesture to the Sami people to give the Prince or Princess the Duchy of Lapland, but I consider this to be the least likely option.
Princess Sofia has grown up in the Duchy of Dalarna. I would say there is a good possibility that this will be the chosen duchy. I would still like to consider the Duchies of Närke or Bohuslän because of their large population and importance for Sweden today.
Prince Carl Philip, Princess Sofia and Prince Alexander. Photo: The Royal Court, Sweden
My suggestion
All of this is, of course, nothing more than speculation and should not be perceived as something else than a history-based qualified guess.
To be even more speculative, I throw out the following name combination to a little Princess: Josephine Renate Marie Desirée.
And for a little Prince: Edmund Folke Oscar Johan.
When it comes to the duchy, I would say that a nice choice in honour of Princess Sofia’s family had been to give the baby the title of Duke/Duchess of Dalarna. Only time will tell how right or how wrong I am.
