Baby names are a funny thing. Whether you’ve been thinking about them since you were young and imagining the future, or if a trendy name seems to fit your newborn, there are plenty of reasons why we choose the names we do. It’s even harder when you’re in the public eye, since there are plenty of people waiting to judge the selection when it’s announced. For Meghan Markle, who’s currently pregnant with her first child with Prince Harry, fans are already speculating.
Now, Markle hasn’t announced whether or not she’s expecting a boy or girl, even though she likely knows at this point. That is, unless the two are on Team Green and keeping it a secret. However, Prince Harry has mentioned before that he’d love having a little girl. And that’s probably why people are speculating at this point that it’s a girl, even though we’re all still in the dark. But this clue, found by Bustle’s Emma Lord, only strengthens that theory.
This is what Lord found out. On December 16th, a cookie recipe was released by the royal family which included photos of decorated gingerbread. One of those cookies, in particular, had a name written on it, and it’s not a name currently in use by the royal family.
That name? Emma. Thus, Lord — who admits she might be rooting extra hard for it since it’s her name as well — believes it may be a big clue.
Markle has been showcasing her fabulous baby bump more and more these days, so speculations are par for the course.
And it’s not just Lord who’s speculating. Fans everywhere have their own ideas of what Markle and Prince Harry will choose.
Meghan Markle better name that baby Diana even if it’s a boy!
— Pete Zias (@PeteZias) October 16, 2018
hope meghan markle n prince harry name their baby something nice n not pure boring like the rest of the royal babies
— becca (@rebeccalevison0) October 19, 2018
Some predictions happened even before they were married.
Kate Middleton went through the same speculation — three times, to be exact. Remember just a few months ago when everyone assumed that Prince Louis’s first name would be Arthur? (They weren’t that off, as it’s one of his middles.)
Princess Kate could have birthed 10 children in the time it’s taken for the baby’s name to be released 😩 I swear I will cry if I’ve waited days to hear it’s been called Arthur #royalbaby3 #KateMiddleton
— Terri 🇬🇧🤓🤦🏼♀️ (@TerriLovesCake) April 25, 2018
We're on royal baby watch! Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton is in labor. This will be the royal couple's 3rd child & will be 5th in line to the throne. We don't know if it's a boy or girl but 'Mary' is the most popular name- many thinking it's a girl. We shall see. #9news pic.twitter.com/cL0W2fqEKi
— Corey Rose (@CoreyRoseTV) April 23, 2018
What are the chances that the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton & Prince William will name the baby Stormy? 🤔#royalbaby #MondayMotivation
— nicki 🌊 (@nickiknowsnada) April 23, 2018
Come on guys, I'm getting pretty sick of calling it 'Untitled Kate Middleton baby'. Just name it Solo already and call it a day. https://t.co/lE0xg8jGyx
— Just Maddie (@SskeerMadness) October 18, 2017
So, since Markle is choosing to handle her pregnancy news in private, it seems like fans will likely be making predictions about the fine details until the baby is born. But still — the “Emma” cookie is a little weird, right?
Want to make your own special cookies this season?
Looking into it further, Bustle staffers realized that the royal family’s Head of Digital Engagement is named Emma. And since these photos were posted online, it’s possible that they created the cookie after her. But it’s still one name in a sea of blank cupcakes, and this seems like something Markle and Prince Harry might try to sneak in for their own amusement.
Also, Emma is a classy name that’s almost always in the top five most popular. That means, it’s as close to being universally approved as you can get.
Plus, according to BabyCenter, the name means “whole,” which isn’t the worst description. This baby will definitely be wholesome and very loved.