The Danish royals set the trend for future kings' names

It's a pretty exclusive club, being a future European monarch, but do the names of the current heirs in waiting give us any clues as to what the Cambridges might pick for their baby?  With five girls and one boy lined up to take their country's thrones in a couple of generations time there are already plenty of ideas around for names judged appropriate for 21st century monarchs.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the Trooping of the Colour on June 10th 2013.  It was Kate's last official public appearance before the birth of her baby, due this Saturday, July 13th 2013.

(photo Carfax2)

Let's start with the most exclusive club of all - the men who will be king.  This future monarch is flying solo - thanks mostly to changes in laws right across the old continent that mean that firstborn girls can become queen regardless of little brothers.  Christian of Denmark is, at the moment, the only male heir among the primary school prince and princess club of Europe.  And his name was by far the easiest to predict.  The kings of Denmark have been called either Frederick or Christian since 1513. 

King John of Denmark, who ruled from 1481 to 1513.  He was the last male monarch of his country not to be called Frederick or Christian.

The royal house alternates between the name according to the generations so when the current Crown Prince, Frederick, and his wife, Mary, had their first child in October 2005 there were no surprises when he ended up called Christian.  The royal couple added to the suspense a little by following the Danish royal tradition of not announcing the name until the baby's christening but when they stepped up to the font in the Chapel of the Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen in January 2006 they stuck with tradition.

Prince Christian of Denmark waves from the balcony of the royal palace in Copenhagen.  He is the only future king among the young generation of Europe's royals.

So if future Queen Consort, Kate Middleton, has a boy then the European royal trend points to an ultra traditional name that's already been used by several kings and that could mean the bookies are spot on with their prediction of George for a little prince of Cambridge.