--- title: Princess Charlotte: Royal Baby Name Costs Bookmakers Millions description: Bookmakers say they'll pay out $1.5 million in the U.K. after thousands placed bet on the name Charlotte canonical: https://time.com/3846254/princess-charlotte-royal-baby-name-guess/ author: Olivia B. Waxman article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-05-04T23:23:39.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-05-11T04:47:39.491Z og:title: Princess Charlotte: Royal Baby Name Costs Bookmakers Millions og:description: Thousands placed a bet on the name Charlotte og:url: https://time.com/3846254/princess-charlotte-royal-baby-name-guess/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt0fe8fe8dd929c3a3/6987ee49cd6848199409ddcb/4719987662.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: The Duke And Duchess Of Cambridge Depart The Lindo Wing With Their Daughter og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Princess Charlotte: Royal Baby Name Costs Bookmakers Millions twitter:description: Thousands placed a bet on the name Charlotte twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt0fe8fe8dd929c3a3/6987ee49cd6848199409ddcb/4719987662.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # How Did British Gamblers Guess the Royal Baby's Name?  by [Olivia B. Waxman](https://time.com/author/olivia-b-waxman/)  ## Olivia B. Waxman Staff Writer May 4, 2015 11:23 PM UTC  Catherine Duchess of Cambridge, wearing a Jenny Packham dress, and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge leave the Lindo Wing at St. Mary's Hospital with their new born baby daughter on May 02, 2015 in London, England. The Duchess of Cambridge safely delivered a daughter at 8:34am this morning weighing 8lbs 3oz. Catherine Duchess of Cambridge, wearing a Jenny Packham dress, and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge leave the Lindo Wing at St. Mary's Hospital with their new born baby daughter on May 02, 2015 in London, England. The Duchess of Cambridge safely delivered a daughter at 8:34am this morning weighing 8lbs 3oz.Anwar Hussein/WireImage—Getty Images  by [Olivia B. Waxman](https://time.com/author/olivia-b-waxman/)  ## Olivia B. Waxman Staff Writer May 4, 2015 11:23 PM UTC While many may have been surprised by the news that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Prince William and Catherine “Kate” Middleton named their newborn daughter Charlotte Elizabeth Diana ([especially people named Charlotte](http://time.com/3445327/charlotte-royal-baby-name/)), the news comes as no surprise to British bookmakers. The name Charlotte had been the odds-on favorite for several days — and bookmakers now estimate they will be forced to hand over about 1 million pounds ($1.5 million) to “punters” (a British term for gamblers). So why were the people so confident the name would be Charlotte? Bookmakers are not exactly sure, but some speculate that a rush to make bets on the name “Charlotte” in the last 8-10 days indicates someone on “the inside” knew what the name would be. “It sets off alarm bells that maybe there has been information leaked from the palace, and so the public followed the money,” says Nicola McGeady, a spokesperson for the bookmaker Coral, which saw more than 60% of bets on Charlotte in the last 24 hours, producing the company’s largest payout for this type of contest. Likewise, referring to bets made on the baby’s gender in the last six months, McGeady adds, “It should have been a coin toss, but the money was so lopsided in favor of the girl.” That said, Charlotte had always been spoken of as a favorite, as were the princess’s other names Elizabeth and Diana. It’s the female version of her grandfather’s name, after all — and the middle name of her aunt Pippa. Before the surge of betting on Charlotte, Alice was the favorite because the Duchess of Cambridge is [said to have written a dissertation on _Alice in Wonderland_ author Lewis Carroll](http://www.newsweek.com/kate-middleton-commoner-who-could-save-royal-family-66427), according to Rupert Adams, a spokesperson at William Hill. William Hill maintains it saw more bets surrounding the birth of Prince George, arguably because he is the heir to the throne. Over at rival Ladbrokes, however, betting on the princess was a record—the most individual bets on a royal baby, according to Jessica Bridges, a spokesperson for the gaming company. And people are wasting no time to make picks regarding the next member of the royal family. At William Hill, gamblers predict Will and Kate will stop at two kids — but if they have a third, then it will be a princess named Alice. ### A Prince George Photo Album: See Will and Kate's Firstborn Grow Up  Prince George, fourth left, stands with other flower boys and girls after the wedding of Pippa Middleton and James Matthews at St Mark's Church onMay 20, 2017 in Englefield, England. Pool/Getty Images  Britain's Prince George (R) waves as he leaves in a car after attending the wedding of his aunt, Pippa Middleton (L), to James Matthews at St Mark's Church in Englefield, west of London, on May 20, 2017.TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images) Justin Tallis—AFP/Getty Images  Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge wave to wellwishers as they depart Victoria on October 1, 2016 in Victoria, Canada. Samir Hussein—Getty Images  Prince George of Cambridge attends a Christmas Day service at St. Marks Church in Englefield, England, on Dec. 25, 2016. Anwar Hussein—WireImage/Getty Images  In this October handout image provided by Kensington Palace on Dec. 18, 2015, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, pose for a portrait with their children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte. Chris Jelf—PA Wire/Press Association Images  Queen Elizabeth II with her five great-grandchildren and her two youngest grandchildren. She holds Princess Charlotte in her arms in this April 2016 photo. Annie Leibovitz—AP  The firstborn of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, is a busy toddler. Now three years old, Prince George has been photographed doing everything from helping his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II mark her 90th birthday to meeting President Obama in a bathrobe. Here's a look back at some of his most memorable moments. Prince George with the family pet dog, Lupo, at his home in Norfolk, Britain, in mid-July. Kensington Palace released the image to mark his third birthday on July 22, 2016. Matt Porteous—Handout/Reuters  Britain's Prince George points as he and his father, Prince William, look at a 'Squirrel' helicopter during a visit to the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford in western England on July 8, 2016. Richard Pohle—Pool/AFP/Getty Images  Prince George displays the robe from a rocking horse with the ease of a seasoned runway model as he meets the President and First Lady on April 22, 2016. The White House—Getty Images  Prince George meets President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama in April 2016\. The robe that he wore later sold out. The White House—Getty Images  In this image released by the Royal Mail on April 20, 2016, Britain's Prince George stands on foam blocks during a photo shoot in mid-2015 in the White Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace in London, for a stamp sheet to mark the 90th birthday of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II. He is photographed with Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth II and his father, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge. Ranald Mackechnie/Royal Mail—AP  Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, with their children, Princess Charlotte and Prince George, enjoy a short private skiing break in the French Alps on March 3, 2016. John Stillwel—WPA Pool/Getty Images  Prince George with his father, the Duke of Cambridge, in the gardens at Sandringham House, Norfolk, England, on July 5, 2015. Mario Testino—AP  Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge and Prince George of Cambridge arrive at the Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham Estate for the Christening of Princess Charlotte of Cambridge on July 5, 2015 in King's Lynn, England. Chris Jackson—Getty Images  Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince George of Cambridge attend the Gigaset Charity Polo Match at the Beaufort Polo Club on June 14, 2015 in Tetbury, England. Max Mumby—Getty Images  Britain's Camilla the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles, Prince Willian holding Prince George, Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge and Queen Elizabeth stand on the balcony at Buckingham Palace after attending the Trooping the Colour ceremony in London, June 13, 2015. Stefan Wermuth—Reuters  Prince George of Cambridge is held by his nanny Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo as he waves from the window of Buckingham Palace as he watches the Trooping The Colour ceremony on June 13, 2015 in London. Chris Jackson—Getty Images  File photo dated May 2, 2015 of the Duke of Cambridge with his son Prince George as he arrives at the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital in London, after the birth of his newborn daughter Princess Charlotte. Anthony Devlin—AP  Prince George and Princess Charlotte Kensington Palace  Britain's Prince George's first birthday at the Butterflies exhibition at the Natural History Museum in London on July 2, 2014. John Stillwell—AFP/Getty Images  Prince George of Cambridge walks holding his mother Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge's hand as they watch Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry play in the Jerudong Trophy charity polo match at Cirencester Park Polo Club on June 15, 2014 in Cirencester, England. Max Mumby—Indigo/Getty Images  Prince George of Cambridge plays with a football whilst holding his mother Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge's hand at Cirencester Park Polo Club on June 15, 2014 in Cirencester, England. Max Mumby—Indigo/Getty Images  From left: Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge along with baby Prince George visit Taronga Zoo on April 20, 2014 in Sydney. Michael Dunlea—Barcroft Media/Landov  Prince George of Cambridge, with his parents Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, receives a gift from the Governor-General, Sir Peter Cosgrove, at Admiralty House, on April 16, 2014 in Sydney. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are on a three-week tour of Australia and New Zealand, the first official trip overseas with their son, Prince George of Cambridge. David Foote—Admiralty House/Getty Images  Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, holds Prince George as they board a Royal Australian Airforce Jet heading to Sydney at an airport in Wellington, New Zealand, April 16, 2014\. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will be in Australia until April 25, 2014. Mark Coote—EPA  Britain's Prince George, center, plays during a visit to Plunket, a nurse and parents group at Government House in Wellington, New Zealand April 9, 2014. Marty Melville—AP  Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge holds Prince George during a Plunket nurse and parents group visit at Government House in Wellington United Kingdom on April 9, 2014. MARTY MELVILLE—AFP/Getty Images  Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince George of Cambridge arrive at Wellington Airport's military terminal for the start of their tour on April 7, 2014 in Wellington, New Zealand. Samir Hussein—WireImage  Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince George of Cambridge pose for an official family portrait at Kensington Palace, ahead of their tour to Australia and New Zealand, with their pet dog Lupo on March 18, 2014 in London. Jason Bell—Camera Press via Getty Image  The official portrait for the christening of Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge, photographed at Clarence House in London on October 23, 2013\. Prince George wears an outfit made of delicate Honiton lace and white satin - an exact replica of the one worn before him by every baby born to the British Royal family since 1841. Jason Bell—Camera Press/Redux  Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge pose for a photograph with their son, Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge in the garden of the Middleton family home in August, 2013, in Bucklebury, Berkshire. Michael Middleton—Kensington Palace via Getty Images  Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, depart The Lindo Wing with their newborn son, Prince George, at St Mary's Hospital in London on July 23, 2013. Dave J Hogan—Getty Images ### Charlotte Brontë  Charlotte Bronte Getty Images The eldest of the three literary Brontë sisters is best known for writing the classic novel, _Jane Eyre._ ### Charlotte York Goldenblatt  Kristin Davis as Charlotte York Goldenblatt in "Sex and the City." New Line Cinema The character of Charlotte, played by Kristen Davis, was considered the most traditional and romantic of the _Sex and the City_ foursome. ### Charlotte Perkins Gilman  Charlotte Perkins Gilman, circa 1896. Getty Images Gilman was a utopian feminist who agitated for social reform. She’s best known as the author of the short story _The Yellow Wallpaper,_ about postpartum depression. ### Charlotte Corday  Charlotte Corday Getty Images A moderate French revolutionary, Corday assassinated Jean-Paul Marat, who led the more radical wing of the revolution. She stabbed him in the bathtub, an incident that was later depicted in a famous Jacques-Louis David painting. Corday was later beheaded. ### Charlotte Church  Charlotte Church sings during the Tsunami Relief Concert at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, south Wales, on Jan. 22, 2005. Reuters Charlotte Church is a Welsh soprano who has sold over $10 million records worldwide. ### Charlotte d’Ambroise  Charlotte d'Amboise attends an after party marking the 7,486th performance of 'Chicago.' Noam Galai— Getty Images Charlotte d’Ambroise is a Broadway actress who has frequently starred as Roxie Hart in _Chicago._ She’s also starred in _Sweet Charity_ and _A Chorus Line._ ### Charlotte Hawkins Brown  Charlotte Hawkins Brown, founder of the Alice Freeman Palmer Memorial Institute in Sedalia, N.C., in 1902 The Charlotte Observer/MCT/Getty Images Brown was a prominent African-American educator in the early 20th century who started a school, the Palmer Institute, to educate black students in the south. ### Charlotte de Suave  The Marquise of Noirmoutier, Charlotte de Beaune Semblancay seeking to dissuade Henry I of Lorraine, Duke of Guise, called the Scarred, to go to the meeting of the States of Blois before his assassination at the Chateau de Blois. Leemage/Corbis Charlotte de Suave was a French noblewoman who became mistress of King Henry of Navarre in order to spy on him for Catherine de’Medici. 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