Royal Names

[morhange]

Something that just hit me earlier when I was reading hellomagazine's online article about the Luxembourg wedding anniversary.

All of the current Crown Princesses in Europe, and most of them are commoners, still have very regal names. You have Mary, Mathilde, Maxima, Letizia, Sophie, Maria Teresa (because she's a commoner, but her name is still very royal). The only one which sort of isn't is Mette-Marit, but it easily sounds just as regal and pretty, and it's very unique.

Very interesting that these princes chose to marry commoner ladies with such gloriously royal names. Thank goodness, otherwise we might be gossiping about Crown Princess Cindy of Denmark, or the Hereditary Princess Gretchen (not that there's anything wrong with these names, but I think you get what I mean)

[Lovelydiana]

I agree with you Morhange.

[KikkiB]

Originally Posted by morhange

Something that just hit me earlier when I was reading hellomagazine's online article about the Luxembourg wedding anniversary.

All of the current Crown Princesses in Europe, and most of them are commoners, still have very regal names. You have Mary, Mathilde, Maxima, Letizia, Sophie, Maria Teresa (because she's a commoner, but her name is still very royal). The only one which sort of isn't is Mette-Marit, but it easily sounds just as regal and pretty, and it's very unique.

Very interesting that these princes chose to marry commoner ladies with such gloriously royal names. Thank goodness, otherwise we might be gossiping about Crown Princess Cindy of Denmark, or the Hereditary Princess Gretchen (not that there's anything wrong with these names, but I think you get what I mean)

Before CP Haakon married CP Mette-Marit, my friends and I talked about how strange it would be if we got a princess called Bente (to no offence for those who have this name), which is a very common (16761 have this name) and not very unique Norwegian girls name. Thankfully, we didn't, but I guess you can't be blamed for the name your parents chose. Though, as you say, Mette-Marit is more unique, and it is only 23 women in Norway who has this exact name. Though, Mette (9881) and Marit (28526), seperately, are more common.

Statistics found at: www.ssb.no

[norwegianne]

Originally Posted by KikkiB

Before CP Haakon married CP Mette-Marit, my friends and I talked about how strange it would be if we got a princess called Bente (to no offence for those who have this name), which is a very common (16761 have this name) and not very unique Norwegian girls name. Thankfully, we didn't, but I guess you can't be blamed for the name your parents chose. Though, as you say, Mette-Marit is more unique, and it is only 23 women in Norway who has this exact name. Though, Mette (9881) and Marit (28526), seperately, are more common.

Statistics found at: www.ssb.no

The combination of Mette and Marit might be because of a series of books for young girls printed in the '50s and '60s - wherein the heroine was called Mette-Marit, and was a film-star and a ballerina and what-not...

The books were re-issued around the time of Haakon and Mette-Marit's wedding, but I don't think they caught on very well.

[norwegianne]

When Mette-Marit married Haakon, there was talk about getting her a more regal sounding name in one editorial or something like that.

The interesting part is that when Haakon's grandmother - Crown Princess Märtha married Crown Prince Olav - there were talk about giving her a more Norwegian-sounding name and, I can't remember which, at the moment, but either Mette or Marit were one of the names suggested. It should be noted that Märtha was Swedish and married Olav less than three decades after the union between Norway and Sweden was dissolved, thus feelings in Norway might've been suspected of being a bit tense towards Swedes...

I'm personally just thrilled that Sonja's spelling her name the way she is, and not an alternate Norwegian spelling - which is actually discouraged now, but there are people who spell their name that way - Sånnja. It's the way it is pronounced, yes, but it looks awful in writing, and not very regal.

I guess it is important with the recent influx in commoner brides - to consider what you name your child You never know where they'll be in the future.

[KikkiB]

Originally Posted by norwegianne

When Mette-Marit married Haakon, there was talk about getting her a more regal sounding name in one editorial or something like that.

The interesting part is that when Haakon's grandmother - Crown Princess Märtha married Crown Prince Olav - there were talk about giving her a more Norwegian-sounding name and, I can't remember which, at the moment, but either Mette or Marit were one of the names suggested. It should be noted that Märtha was Swedish and married Olav less than three decades after the union between Norway and Sweden was dissolved, thus feelings in Norway might've been suspected of being a bit tense towards Swedes...

I'm personally just thrilled that Sonja's spelling her name the way she is, and not an alternate Norwegian spelling - which is actually discouraged now, but there are people who spell their name that way - Sånnja. It's the way it is pronounced, yes, but it looks awful in writing, and not very regal.

I guess it is important with the recent influx in commoner brides - to consider what you name your child You never know where they'll be in the future.

I've also heard something about that, of Mette-Marit changing her name to something more royal (just didn't know how to put it in writing without sounding "republican" - so thank you :) ). Kind of stupid to ask someone to change their name just because it's too common, whatever that is I doubt that parents, in their wildest dreams, think of whether their children will become prince/princess when they think of names! But parents nowadays ought to, since there is a slight chance that their bundles of joys might end up at Skaugum or the Palace in 30 years time

[Princess Robijn]

Originally Posted by KikkiB

I've also heard something about that, of Mette-Marit changing her name to something more royal (just didn't know how to put it in writing without sounding "republican" - so thank you :) ). Kind of stupid to ask someone to change their name just because it's too common, whatever that is I doubt that parents, in their wildest dreams, think of whether their children will become prince/princess when they think of names! But parents nowadays ought to, since there is a slight chance that their bundles of joys might end up at Skaugum or the Palace in 30 years time

Didn't Pss Laurentien of the Netherlands changed her first name.. wasn't it Petra before she married Prince Constantijn??

[magnik]

Originally Posted by Princess Robijn

Didn't Pss Laurentien of the Netherlands changed her first name.. wasn't it Petra before she married Prince Constantijn??

Yes, Petra Laurentien Brinkhorst.

[RachelD]

Originally Posted by magnik

Yes, Petra Laurentien Brinkhorst.

Did she legally remove her first name, or does she still have it but goes by Laurentien?

[queenofcelts]

I agree with Morhange too.
If Albert will marry Charlene Wittstock, princess Charlene will sound quite regal too. Almost all crown princess have names started with M.

[Shadiyah2086]

If Prince Harry married Chelsy Davy (I'm praying he doesn't) would she have to change her name so that it would sound more regal cause Princess Chelsy doesn't really cut it for me.

[Mandy]

Originally Posted by Shadiyah2086

If Prince Harry married Chelsy Davy (I'm praying he doesn't) would she have to change her name so that it would sound more regal cause Princess Chelsy doesn't really cut it for me.

When and if Prince Harry marries, his wife will be known as Princess Henry of Wales unless HM the Queen gives him/them another title like she did when Sophie and Edward Wessex were married.

[magnik]

Mette-Marit - I found that the name Mette - is Danish and Norwegian pet form of Margaret; Marit - is Norwegian and Swedich form of Margaret. Than it's very royal name/names I think.

Sonja - German, Scandinavian, Finnish and Slovene form of Sonya [SON-ya, or SAWN-ya]- which is Russian pet form from Sophia.

Chelsy - Chelsie, Chelsey from Chelsea [CHEL-see] from the name of a district in London meaning "landing place for chalk or limestone" in Old English.

[Danielane]

Originally Posted by magnik

Mette-Marit - I found that the name Mette - is Danish and Norwegian pet form of Margaret; Marit - is Norwegian and Swedich form of Margaret. Than it's very royal name/names I think.

I found that Mette was a form of Mathilde/Maud.

[magnik]

Originally Posted by Danielane

I found that Mette was a form of Mathilde/Maud.

I check few sources Marit Mette came from Margareta, Margrethe, Margit, Margta, Margarthe. But I found that Mette came from as Low German form of Mathildis too.
http://www.20000-names.com/female_m_names_4.htm
http://www.gaminggeeks.org/Resources...eden/Greek.htm
http://www.behindthename.com/

Originally Posted by RachelD

So her name is still Petra Laurentien but she just prefers to be called Laurentien...cool! My full name is Rachel Elizabeth...so if I wanted to go by Elizabeth instead of Rachel, I'd be doing the same thing that Laurentien did, right?

But is it legal in USA, to go by this name just becouse instead of the other or maybe you should register that?

[Lady Jennifer]

Originally Posted by magnik

But is it legal in USA, to go by this name just becouse instead of the other or maybe you should register that?

Legally you'll still be known by your first name, but you can go by (with friends, family, the web, etc). your middle name or a nickname.
For example, my aunt's name is Mary Lynne, but she goes by Lynne. I hope I answered your question.

[RachelD]

Wow. Well, how would the public take it if thier crown prince married a woman that had a fairly common name?...for example Susan, Jessica, Nadine...would they mind if the new crown princess didn't change her name? Just imagine...Princess Rachel...that doesn't sound right. Now, I know I'd be carrying the husbands name and title and it wouldn't just be Princess and then my name...but I'm just imagining.

[Rebafan81]

What about Princess Mary, you can't more common then that. Has there ever been any talk about her changing her name? I think with the movement of royalty into the 21st century, your name should stay as it is. Just my opinion...

[magnik]

About Laurentien's names
"Before going to high school she decided she wanted to be called Laurentien, and so 'changed' her name." http://www.christinesroyalty.net/roy...aurentien.html

About CPss Mary's name, it's not common but popular. Mary was the name of many queens and princesses etc.

[norwegianne]

Originally Posted by Rebafan81

What about Princess Mary, you can't more common then that. Has there ever been any talk about her changing her name? I think with the movement of royalty into the 21st century, your name should stay as it is. Just my opinion...

Well, her father in law went from Henri to Henrik, but Denmark has become much more international since then. And as was mentioned, Mary is among the "royal" names, if not in Denmark then at least in the UK