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Royal baby name: What Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana's name means

HRH Princess Charlotte of Cambridge's name decoded

Helen Nianias
Monday 04 May 2015 12:46 EDT
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Royal fans celebrate outside the Lindo wing at St Mary's hospital after the news is passed that the second royal baby is a girl
Royal fans celebrate outside the Lindo wing at St Mary's hospital after the news is passed that the second royal baby is a girl (AFP)

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Just named, Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana is sure to spark millions of copycats across the world.

But what exactly does her name mean?

Charlotte is the feminine version of the name "Charles", which means "manly" or "free man". Common abbreviations are Charlie and Lottie. Charlotte came in at number 21 on a list of the most popular girls' names in the UK for 2013.

Diana - the name of Prince William's mother, Lady Diana Spencer - is the name of the Roman hunting goddess. In Roman mythology, she was the goddess of the hunt as well as of childbirth and the moon. Like Elizabeth, it's not among the most popular girls' names, but that can't stay the same for long.

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