Alfie and Alexandra are frontrunners in betting on names for Sussex baby

The names Alfie and Alexandra are the favourites with one bookmaker to be picked by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for their baby.

Harry and Meghan already have a young son called Archie, and the announcement they are expecting their second child has prompted royal fans to pick other names starting with the letter A.

Ladbrokes has Alfie and Alexandra as frontrunners, both with odds of 4-1, and the betting on the baby’s sex has seen both a boy and girl priced at 10-11.

Alex Apati, of Ladbrokes, said: “Huge congratulations to Harry and Meghan on the news of their pregnancy – of course all attention will now turn to the name game, and as things stand it’s Alfie and Alexandra leading the way in the betting.”

He added: “Archie was a modern twist on a traditional name, so it’s no surprise Charles/Charlie are up there as things stand at 5-1 apiece.”

Other names favoured by punters include Elizabeth and Philip – the names of Harry’s grandparents the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh – with odds of 6-1, while Diana, the name of the duke’s mother, is priced at 10-1.

Diana is the joint favourite with bookmaker Coral with odds of 10-1 alongside Thomas, the moniker of Meghan’s father Thomas Markle.

The firm has priced Spencer at 12-1 and Albert, Philip and Elizabeth, all 16-1, are the other names near the top of Coral’s market.

“Baby number two is on the way for Harry and Meghan, and it’s the names of both of their parents that are the favourites in the betting for the name of the new arrival,” said Coral’s Harry Aitkenhead.

He added: “Spencer, Albert and Philip are all in the mix, whilst Alice and Emma are two outside picks for girls’ names.”

Oliver and Diana are the joint 8-1 favourites with Betfair for the new baby, with an outside bet the 25-1 name Doria – the moniker of Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland.

Betfair spokesperson Sam Rosbottom said: “Having picked Archie – a name that wasn’t even on our list, for their first child – the odds suggest Meghan and Prince Harry could opt for a more traditional name for their second with Oliver and Diana the joint 8/1 favourites with Betfair.

“Other names with royal connections are also towards the top of the betting including Arthur and Grace, both at 10-1, and Philip, Albert, George and Isabella all at 12-1.”