Meghan and Harry baby name could be Italian ‘Allegra’

Meghan and Harry could give their baby the unusual Italian name ‘Allegra’ according to sudden flurry of bets – inspired by Princess Diana who ‘would have chosen it’ if she had a girl

  • Diana and Grace are favourites among bookmakers for the royal baby if it is a girl
  • Sudden flurry of bets have seen the name Allegra rise from 100/1 to odds of 12/1 
  • Previous reports claimed the late Princess Diana loved the unusual Italian name

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex could name their firstborn ‘Allegra’ if they have a girl, bookmakers have claimed. 

Prince Harry, 34, and Meghan, 37, are expecting the arrival of the royal baby any day now, though they have not announced the exact date or gender of the baby.

And according to Ladbrokes, Allegra is now the sixth most likely name in the royal baby betting after a flood of bets over the last 24 hours have seen the bookies slash odds from 100/1 down to just 12/1.

The name was said to be a favourite of Princess Diana – whose own name is still the favourite for Baby Sussex among punters- with reports in 2004 claiming the late Princess had wanted to have a little girl with the moniker.

 

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex could name their firstborn, due any day now, 'Allegra' if they have a girl, bookmakers have claimed. Harry, 34, and Meghan, 37, are seen in Morocco in February

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex could name their firstborn, due any day now, ‘Allegra’ if they have a girl, bookmakers have claimed. Harry, 34, and Meghan, 37, are seen in Morocco in February

The names Diana and Grace continue to head the betting at 6/1 apiece ahead of Arthur and Elizabeth 8/1.

Meanwhile traditional names Albert and Victoria are also in the betting, although they have a lower chance at 16/1.

Alex Apati of Ladbrokes said: ‘We’re scratching our heads as to why we’ve seen so much interest in Allegra, but the bets are coming in thick and fast and it’s been by far the most popular pick of the month with punters.’ 

Allegra was said to be a favourite of Princess Diana - whose own name is still the favourite for Baby Sussex among punters- with reports in 2004 claiming the late Princess had wanted to have a little girl with the moniker. Diana is seen with William in 1983

Allegra was said to be a favourite of Princess Diana – whose own name is still the favourite for Baby Sussex among punters- with reports in 2004 claiming the late Princess had wanted to have a little girl with the moniker. Diana is seen with William in 1983

The names Diana and Grace continue to head the betting at 6/1 apiece ahead of Arthur and Elizabeth 8/1. The late Diana is seen with Prince Harry Carrying A Plate Of Strawberries in the eighties

The names Diana and Grace continue to head the betting at 6/1 apiece ahead of Arthur and Elizabeth 8/1. The late Diana is seen with Prince Harry Carrying A Plate Of Strawberries in the eighties

In 2004 a report by The Evening Standard claimed Princess Diana was keen to have a baby girl with her rumoured surgeon boyfriend Hasnat Khan.

A source told the publication she hear pal Lady Annabel Goldsmith mention the name and thought it was ‘beautiful’.

The source claimed: ‘The princess was desperately in love with Hasnat Khan. She was even talking about marrying him and having his baby. It was her dream.

‘She thought of a name for her, Allegra, after her friend Lady Annabel Goldsmith mentioned it. She heard the name and thought it was beautiful.’

Prince Harry, 34, and Meghan, 37, are expecting the arrival of the royal baby any day now, though they have not announced the exact date or gender of the baby. They are seen in London in March

Prince Harry, 34, and Meghan, 37, are expecting the arrival of the royal baby any day now, though they have not announced the exact date or gender of the baby. They are seen in London in March

WHAT DOES THE NAME ALLEGRA MEAN AND WHO ELSE HAS IT? 

Allegra is an Italian name which means cheerful or lively.

It is related to the musical term allegro which distinguishes a movement that’s meant to be played very quickly or with a lively tempo.   

Other famous people who have been called Allegra include the poet Byron’s illegitimate daughter who was born in 1817.

There are several notable Allegra’s including British chef Allegra McEvedy and the American prima ballerina Allegra Kent.

Perhaps the most famous woman with the name is Allegra Versace, who is Donatella’s daughter and an heir to the family fashion empire. 

The name has also been used in popular culture. For example there was Allegra Sacrimoni in HBO’s The Sopranos and the character of Allegra Cole in the 2005 film Hitch. 

In October Harry revealed his hopes to have a baby girl with his wife The Duchess of Sussex, during their tour of Australia.

Harry was heard making the frank confession after a spectator congratulated him on the pregnancy at an Invictus Games event in Sydney.

In a candid moment captured on camera, a bystander was heard shouting: ‘Congratulations, I hope it’s a girl’, to which Harry responded: ‘So do I!’

The couple could be permitted to choose a more unique name for their baby, as second-in-line to the throne Prince William and his wife Kate have already given their three children traditional names.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are parents to Prince George, five, Princess Charlotte, three, and Prince Louis, who was born in April.

Carolyn Harris, author of Raising Royalty: 1,000 Years of Royal Parenting, previously told Vogue Australia: ‘The further down the line of succession, the more likely you are to have a more unique or untraditional name.’

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