Archie is the shortened version of Archibald, a traditionally Scottish name which is said to mean ‘true, bold and brave’.
Unlike many senior royals, Archie only has one middle name – Harrison – which is of Aboriginal origin and, in a fitting tribute to the baby’s father, means ‘son of Henry’ or ‘son of Harry’.
Many in Britain had expected a more traditional royal name, with bookies favouring James, Arthur, and Edward, with Archie sitting at around 100/1.
Famous Archies include red-haired cartoon character Archie Andrews from the Archie comics franchise in America, as well as NFL quarterback Archie Manning.
Two famous Archies in the form of Scottish football hero Archie Gemmill (left) and Archie Leach, the real name of Cary Grant
Archie Mitchell was a villain in the BBC soap EastEnders, Lawrence Olivier played Archie Rice in The Entertainer, and another famous Archie is jazz saxophonist Archie Shepp.
Other famous Archies include Scottish footballing hero Archie Gemmill, ventriloquist dummy Archie Andrews and Archie Leach, the real name of the Hollywood star Cary Grant.
Harrison, meanwhile, has largely been made popular thanks to Star Wars actor Harrison Ford.
The couple did not disclose why they had chosen the informal names but Archie is becoming increasingly popular in Britain and was among the top 20 most common boy’s names in 2017, according to the Office for National Statistics.
UK royal names are normally chosen from a relatively restricted pool of those used by past kings and queens.
But reports previously emerged that Meghan and Harry were considering an unusual name that was relevant to both Britain and the US.
Meghan also ignored tradition by keeping the birth and recovery process private, unlike sister-in-law Kate, who appeared before the cameras hours after giving birth.
A baby name expert said the ‘most modern Royal couple’ have chosen a ‘fresh, fun and very modern name that both reflects their new family makeup’.
SJ Ljungstrom from ChannelMum.com said: ‘Although both names are unusual in Royal circles… Archie is a wonderful choice as it encapsulates pomp and tradition while having all the cheeky chappie qualities of Harry himself.
‘Harrison also perfectly encapsulates the American and wider Commonwealth trend for using surnames as firstnames,’ she added.
‘The names work as they are noble and regal but also have the warm and caring common touch, just like the couple themselves.’
Ventriloquist dummy Archie Andrews, who appeared in radio and television shows in the UK in the 1950s and 1960s