With Kate Middleton's due date fast approaching, speculation surrounding the sex and potential baby names for her and Prince William's baby is rife. A poll of the British public reveals that Alexandra and Grace are the current preferences for a girl, while James is the top choice for a baby boy. The survey of 1,952 people, conducted by YouGov, did not show an overwhelming favourite but did contradict the British bookmakers' favourites. While betting markets have George as their favourite name for a baby boy, the research done by YouGov shows that James is the top name for nearly one-fifth of the British population.
Other popular girls names were Victoria, Charlotte, Elizabeth, Diana and Sophia. Louis, Richard, William and Spencer were also favourites. The name Diana, which topped the bookmakers' lists for a while, proved to be a popular choice with voters over 60 years of age but was not the top pick for younger generations. The public's preference for the name Alexandra matches the bookmakers' favourites.
Last week, Ladbrokes betting agency saw a flurry of bets on the name Alexandra and as a result, the odds dropped from 10/1 to 2/1 in the 24 hours. A spokesperson for the betting firm said the surge came "from nowhere" and suspected a royal leak. The bookies' odds are currently favouring William and Kate welcoming a baby girl too. While Kate, 31, was on a visit to Grimsby in March she was thought to have revealed her baby's sex. A member of the gathered crowd claimed that as the mum-to-be accepted a teddy bear from a well-wisher, she said "Thank you, I'll take that for my d..."After the alleged slip-up, gamblers raced to place their bets on the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge having a baby daughter.
Despite footage that later emerged showing that the pregnant duchess did not let slip the gender of her unborn child, the odds on a baby girl stand at 1/3 compared to 5/2 for a son. During her visit to the Irish Guards Parade on St Patrick's Day, Kate told one of the guards at the Aldershot barracks that she was hoping for a baby boy. The Duchess told of her and William's excitement and said that while she is hoping for a son, William is keen to have a daughter. When the pair visited a homeless shelter in Glasgow last week, the expectant brunette said "We have a shortlist for both (boy and girl), but it's very difficult. My friends keep texting me names!".
Alexandra is not a particularly common name within the royal family but one of the Queen's cousins and the youngest granddaughter of King George V is named Princess Alexandra. Whatever William and Kate chose, it is likely to set a big baby trend. Already the royal family have proved inspirational when it comes to names, especially for boys.
Both Prince William and Prince Harry are projected to be amongst the most popular baby names for 2013, and Henry - Harry's real moniker - is currently attracting more attention than it has done previously. Surprisingly, there seems to be less momentum for the girls when it comes to following royal tradition. Despite the royals' year in the spotlight in 2012, the name Catherine has not noticeably increased in popularity, while Elizabeth is expected to stay in the top 100 this year, but will probably remain outside the top 50.