When it comes to naming a baby, for many parents it's one of the toughest decisions there is – after all, last time checked a name is pretty permanent. Often when it comes to choosing names that pair well together for siblings, parents consider looking at themes (perhaps nature-inspired names, or names that both begin with the same letter). For Princess Beatrice's daughters, the siblings both have unique names with something unusual tying them together – and connecting them to their second cousin, Princess Charlotte.
Any guesses? Well, it's their middle name!
Back in September 2021, Princess Beatrice and her husband, Edo Mapelli Mozzi, welcomed their first daughter together, Sienna Elizabeth Mapelli Mozzi, whose middle name is a sweet tribute to Beatrice's late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.
Earlier this week, Beatrice and Edo announced that their family had grown again after they welcomed a second baby girl, Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi, on 22 January – and her name also serves as a mark of honour in memory of the late monarch.
While both first names are distinctive in their own special way, it's lovely that the siblings can share a middle name that firmly anchors their royal ties.
They're not the only royal kids to have the middle name Elizabeth either, in fact Prince William and Kate Middleton's daughter is named Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana and riffing on the same theme with a twist, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's daughter was named Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor (with Lilibet known to have been a nickname of Queen Elizabeth II as a child).
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Prince Edward and his wife, Sophie Wessex, also opted in for the middle name Elizabeth when naming their daughter Lady Louise and so did Mark Phillips (Princess Anne's son) and Autumn Kelly, for their daughter Isla (born 2012).
And last but certainly not least! Mike and Zara Tindall also chose Elizabeth as a middle name for their second daughter, Lena, born in 2018.
Cute, right?
Jennifer Savin is Cosmopolitan UK's multiple award-winning Features Editor, who was crowned Digital Journalist of the Year for her work tackling the issues most important to young women. She regularly covers breaking news, cultural trends, health, the royals and more, using her esteemed connections to access the best experts along the way. She's grilled everyone from high-profile politicians to A-list celebrities, and has sensitively interviewed hundreds of people about their real life stories. In addition to this, Jennifer is widely known for her own undercover investigations and campaign work, which includes successfully petitioning the government for change around topics like abortion rights and image-based sexual abuse. Jennifer is also a published author, documentary consultant (helping to create BBC’s Deepfake Porn: Could You Be Next?) and a patron for Y.E.S. (a youth services charity). Alongside Cosmopolitan, Jennifer has written for The Times, Women’s Health, ELLE and numerous other publications, appeared on podcasts, and spoken on (and hosted) panels for the Women of the World Festival, the University of Manchester and more. In her spare time, Jennifer is a big fan of lipstick, leopard print and over-ordering at dinner. Follow Jennifer on Instagram, X or LinkedIn.
