The world finally knows how to address the latest addition to the British royal family : HRH Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge . The baby boy is third in line to the throne , after grandfather Prince Charles and father Prince William . Here 's some of the history behind the young prince 's three names : . Royal Baby : What 's next ? George . `` George '' -- the front-runner before the announcement , according to many UK bookmakers -- was the name of Queen Elizabeth 's father , King George VI , who reigned from 1936 until his death in 1952 . He assumed the throne on the abdication of his brother , Edward VIII . His life was depicted in the Oscar-winning movie `` The King 's Speech . '' George I , born in Germany , became king in 1714 . He was followed by a line of kings with the same name , including George III , who was known for his bouts of insanity . The name is also a patriotic choice for many in the UK : Saint George , patron saint of England , is known for his legendary defeat of a dragon in the third century . His feast day is celebrated on April 23 , ( the date also associated with the birth of William Shakespeare , England 's most revered writer ) . Despite its royal connections , George has humble origins , derived as it is from the Greek name `` georgios '' meaning `` earth worker '' or `` farmer . '' Other historical Georges : composer George Frideric Handel ( 1685-1759 ) , first president of the United States George Washington ( 1732-1799 ) , and the Pacific explorer George Vancouver ( 1757-1798 ) . Authors Mary Anne Evans and Eric Arthur Blair also chose George as their pen names : George Eliot ( 1819-1880 ) and George Orwell ( 1903-1950 ) respectively . Alexander . This gallant title means `` defender of men , '' from the Latin form of the Greek name `` Alexandros . '' Alexander III of Macedon ( 356-323 B.C . ) , better known as Alexander the Great , courageously ruled and conquered many parts of the world before his untimely death at age 32 . The name `` Alexander '' is a feature of the Dutch royal family : Willem-Alexander ascended to the throne after the abdication of his mother Queen Beatrix earlier this year . Other historical Alexanders : English poet Alexander Pope ( 1688-1744 ) , American statesman Alexander Hamilton ( 1755-1804 ) , Scottish-Canadian explorer Alexander MacKenzie ( 1764-1820 ) , Russian poet Alexander Pushkin ( 1799-1837 ) and Alexander Graham Bell ( 1847-1922 ) , the Scottish-born inventor of the telephone . Louis . The name `` Louis '' originates from the English and French interpretations of the German name Ludwig , which can be interpreted as `` renowned warrior . '' Louis was the first name of Lord Mountbatten , uncle of George 's great-grandfather Prince Philip , Duke of Edinburgh , and mentor to Prince Charles . He was killed by the IRA while holidaying in Ireland in 1979 . No British monarch has been named Louis , but it is very popular across the English Channel in France , where 18 kings have taken the name from 814 onward . Louis XIV , the Sun King , reigned from 1643 until 1715 and was hailed by many as the greatest monarch of his age because of the growth in French power and the opulence of his court , which included the Palace of Versailles . Louis XVI was the king of France from 1774 until 1792 , when he was found guilty of treason after the revolution and executed in 1793 . Other historical figures named Louis : French scientist Louis Pasteur ( 1822-1895 ) ; Métis leader Louis Riel ( 1844-1885 ) , who led a rebellion against Canada ; and Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson ( 1850-1894 ) , who wrote `` Treasure Island '' and `` Dr. Jekyll and Mr . Hyde . '' Royal babies : Five things you did n't know . Kate 's baby : Heir for a new century ?
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have named their son George Alexander Louis . He will be known as Prince George, the name he has been given since birth. The name `` Alexander '' is derived from Latin , meaning `` defender of men '' `` Louis '' can be translated as `` renowned warrior ''