A good Scots name: Welcoming Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor – leader comment

Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor is a bit of a departure from the norm.
Harry and Meghan leave after a photocall with their newborn son in St George's Hall at Windsor Castle (Picture: Dominic Lipinski/Pool via AP)Harry and Meghan leave after a photocall with their newborn son in St George's Hall at Windsor Castle (Picture: Dominic Lipinski/Pool via AP)
Harry and Meghan leave after a photocall with their newborn son in St George's Hall at Windsor Castle (Picture: Dominic Lipinski/Pool via AP)

And why not? The use of the short form of Archibald follows a modern trend for names like Alfie or Charlie, while Harrison is reportedly a reference to the fact that he is “Harry’s son”.

Also, although the infant is now seventh in line to the throne, his parents have decided not to give him a royal title for the moment at least.

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He will instead be known simply as “master”. Might he grow up to become simply a “mister”? Some speculated that the decision means Harry and Meghan do not want to bring up their son as a formal member of the royal family.

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Whatever they decide, their choice of name is likely to be popular in Scotland – not least because of Archie Gemmill’s goal against Argentina in the 1978 World Cup.

Archibald is used all over the world, but Scots have had a historic fondness for it. For a while, it was seen as old-fashioned, but Archie has come back into fashion, placing 17th on the list of most popular boys’ names last year.

And there are likely to be a few more Archies now.

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