If you thought you'd seen the peak of royal baby frenzy back when Kate Middleton was first in the maternity ward, you're sorely mistaken. Meghan Markle, the newest most popular royal family member has just given birth to a bouncing baby boy. And this is officially all the internet will be talking about this week (at least until a new episode of Game of Thrones airs.) Especially when we consider what she's decided to name this newest royal: Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. No, not Archibald, just Archie. And no, he will not have a title, as the couple has decided to forgo a courtesy title from the Queen, meaning his drivers license application will be much easier to fill out.
MY DUCHESS IS A RIVERDALE FAN!!!!!!!!! COME ON, ARCHIE!!!
— mariah smith (@mRiah) May 8, 2019
But fans of the royals are reacting in all kinds of ways to this news, including with sheer joy that the name may be calling out the most famous Archie in the world right now: the one from Riverdale. But this seems like a stretch, no? Honestly, they can't possibly be naming royals after TV characters, can they?
Here's me with William & Harry pitching the idea of naming any future royal baby after their favorite #StarWars actor. Happy they chose Archie HARRISON Mountbatten-Windsor, but regret not being more specific. Should have pitched favorite #StarWars actor WHO PLAYED LUKE.🙄 pic.twitter.com/NFEy2YFIOC
— Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) May 8, 2019
Alright, well, Star Wars is a cultural institution the world over, and it's just a middle name. It's totally acceptable to go full fan boy over a middle name. Encouraged, even. If this turned out to be true, it'd be the kind of wildly relatable thing we've grown to love this particular branch of the royal family for.
Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor
— Carey Findley (@careywfindley) May 8, 2019
Let this fictional racist and rock music icon unite us all. pic.twitter.com/LBbhO0qfZ4
Actually, maybe we should hope they didn't choose to name him after a TV character, since not everyone watches Riverdale (even though it sometimes feels like they do) and so this name could have some extremely odd connotations for people.
So......Prince Harry (w/ ginger hair) and Duchess Meghan (w/ freckles) named their son Archie. I just don’t understand how no one pointed out there was already a cartoon about this. pic.twitter.com/jTaG1WD1Kx
— Kate Chastain (@Kate_Chastain) May 8, 2019
Again, we would hope that if this young royal is in fact named after a fictional character, it's at least a fictional television character on The CW. Though if the Sussexes were somehow fans of the Archie comics and not Riverdale the TV show that would be even more exciting. Nerd royals! They exist!
So they decided to name the royal baby Archie and not Jughead who wears an actual crown pic.twitter.com/aDoWy8saA2
— Henchwoman (@mallsta) May 8, 2019
This is indeed an interesting choice, as Jughead is even the narrator of Riverdale and therefore some could argue more of a main character than Archie himself. But again, if we're thinking these two are legitimate nerd royals who are constantly reading Archie comics and maybe refuse to even watch the TV adaptation... it's almost too weird to picture.
the royal baby settling into windsor #Archie pic.twitter.com/wtcEDbPAEU
— hellsbells (@helxn) May 8, 2019
Even if his parents are not the world's first genuine nerd royals, with a name like Archie they may in fact be setting their son up to take on that role. While he will likely grow up to be a total smoke show (like his parents before him), the age of the hot nerd may have officially dawned.
Ok I’m just gonna say it. Archie is a stupid name for a prince. Regular name, cool. But Prince Archie? Sorry Harry, I won’t be attending the christening.
— michael (@bisping) May 8, 2019
Reminder: he's not a prince! So don't throw out your invites so quickly. The Christening will probably have swag, for goodness sake.