Princess Eugenie & Jack announced their baby’s name: August Philip Hawke Brooksbank

Eleven days after Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank welcomed their son, they finally announced the name of the child. I would love the inside story on why they waited eleven days! Some say that Eugenie and her baby got their thunder stolen by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announcing their baby news, some say that Eugenie was simply recovering from her C-section and not thinking about stolen thunder. I do think it’s kind of notable that Eugenie and Jack did announce the name about 24 hours after Buckingham Palace announced the formal Sussexit. Hmm…

As for the name… the child is named August Philip Hawke Brooksbank. In the Instagram announcement of the name, Eugenie and Jack wrote: “Thank you for so many wonderful messages. Our hearts are full of love for this little human, words can’t express. We are excited to be able to share these photos with you.⁣” The photo was taken “by our wonderful midwife. Thank you to the wonderful essential workers including our midwife who came to discharge our boy.”

On her IG Stories, Eugenie revealed the meaning behind the name: “On his grandfather’s birthday weekend, thinking of my grandfather, we are introducing our little boy. He is named after his great grandfather and both of his great x5 grandfathers.” August’s name announcement came on Prince Andrew’s “birthday weekend” (August’s grandfather) and he’s named after his great-grandfathers. Hm. I don’t have an issue with August as a name, and he will have some cute nicknames (Auggie, Gus), and I figured Eugenie would reference her grandfather rather than her father. Hawke is… unusual for a royal-adjacent baby!

Anyway, I’m happy for them. Their thunder was stolen and reclaimed and they were allowed the time and space to announce the birth and the baby name on their own schedule. I wish every royal woman was given that grace. Speaking of, Jennifer Behr sent out a promotional email identifying Eugenie’s headband as one of theirs. The headband retails for $225.

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Photos courtesy of Eugenie’s IG.

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114 Responses to “Princess Eugenie & Jack announced their baby’s name: August Philip Hawke Brooksbank”

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  1. Yoyo says:

    I think Harry told Eugenie, please don’t post pictures from inside Frogmore Cottage.
    No thunder was stolen from Eugenie, the BM barely covered the birth.
    Even with the name announced, check who is on the cover of British tabloids.

    • Love the post, love the photos outside Frogmore, and baby “Augie.” I hope Augie and Archie will be great mates.

      On the beauty of both of them with their beautiful baby: 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
      On the thunder stolen: None
      On the headband: Yuk.

  2. Esmom says:

    As the mom of an August myself, I approve. 🙂

    • Lizzie says:

      I’m a huge fan of August! My grandson has a Gus in his 2nd grade class and I am nuts about the name, and Gus too.

    • Pixelated says:

      If my husband and I have a boy, we’ve had August chosen for a long time! It’s a great name 🙂

    • Emm says:

      Aww, I love the name too and it was on our list for boys names with our one year old. Turned out to be a girl though so we went with another one.

      • SwirlmamaD says:

        I actually know of a girl August and it fits!

      • Emm says:

        That was a possibility for us and I love the idea and the name we gave her is actually unisex. I wanted August for Auggie and Gus Gus lol.

      • Lady D says:

        I was going to name a potential girl August or Summer. I chose a name for my son the day I found out I was pregnant. Took months and months to come up with a girls name.

      • Kate says:

        Lady D, I was the complete opposite, had a girl’s name firmly in mind when I found out I was pregnant and then had a son. It took until the day he was born for us to figure out a name for him, but now it suits him perfectly. Naming is a funny (and sometimes really hard!) thing!

    • Ann says:

      Nice choice. I wouldn’t have thought of it by I think it’s lovely, it’s has a nice sound and meaning and Gus is a great option for a nickname. I wonder where the Hawke came from? Cute baby. They look happy.

      • Julaine says:

        Hawke was from the 5 time great grandfather of Jack: Rev. Edward Hawke Brooksbank.

        So his first name was for Eugene’s 5 times grandfather Prince Albert who was christened Franz Albert August Karl Emmanuel

        His next was for Prince Philip

        And the finally for Jack’s 5 times grandfather the good Reverend.

        Obviously a lot of thought went into the selection. Honoring traditions and family but giving him a name that is uniquely his own.

      • Courtney B says:

        Deleted

    • Megan says:

      In my daughter’s class there are three Augusts (2 go by Auggie and 1 by Gus). They are the only kids in the class who have to go by First Name Last Initial. I had no idea it was so popular!!

  3. Becks1 says:

    I like the name. Hawke is obviously unusual but for the third name it’s fine IMO. I like August too.

    I’m glad they were given privacy and time to announce the name when they wanted.

    • minx says:

      Yes. He’s an adorable baby! Jack always looks sincerely happy to me, I think Eugenie married a good guy.

      • Kate says:

        Yeah, that was my first thought too, he is SO STOKED to be a dad, which is very sweet.

      • sunny says:

        I think the photos are adorable. They look happy, excited, and a bit awkward(adjusting). I like the name as well. Sweet with lots of potential for nicknames.

      • Chanteloup says:

        1. That family looks adorably happy!
        2. Whoever told her to wear that headband hates her
        3. Maybe it was that Jennifer woman sending out the self-promoting emails.
        4. It was not Jack, or August, as they clearly adore her.
        5. This is an expert opinion provided by your local Certified Celebrity Body Language Photographic Analyst
        lol, no I’m not! 🙂

  4. Seraphina says:

    MY two cents: I like the name August, very regal too, that headband was no bueno with what she was wearing and I think there was no thunder stolen. Sometimes we outsiders (more so press) like to place people at odds when there are no issues.

    • Yoyo says:

      It’s good to see Eugenie looking healthy and happy with her family.

    • Becks1 says:

      The headband is not good, lol.

      I also don’t think any thunder was stolen. Eugenie strikes me as someone who is very aware of her place in the pecking order of public interest – I don’t that mean in a rude way, just more that she knows Harry will
      Always attract more interest than she does, and she’s fine with it. I also think pregnancy and childbirth have probably made her very thankful for that, since the press left her alone for the most part.

      Now, her parents are a different story, lol.

      • Lizzie says:

        I thought Kate stole her thunder by leaking she is trying for a four baby.

      • Digital Unicorn says:

        The royals need to stop making those awful head bands happen – they remind me of the head dresses worn by Tudor women, if you look at portraits of Anne Boleyn you will see what I mean. Talk about throw back fashion.

      • Seraphina says:

        @DU, hahahah, YES yes they do look like Tudor style headwear. I kinda like seeing the royals wear them, only because the average woman would not.

      • Lady D says:

        Those headbands are beyond fugly. I cannot believe she charges and gets that price for those things.

      • Nic919 says:

        I hate those headbands. They look stupid on every woman who wears them.

        That said, the baby was given an interesting name and not too ass kissy. And I really don’t think any thunder was stolen. The media barely cared the day the baby was born for five days later it was a non issue.

      • notasugarhere says:

        Headband is very strange. Almost like it is trying to be some form of tiara or give the image of a golden halo around the head of the Virgin Mary.

    • Chic says:

      Cut kid.
      Is that headband meant to distract from her gray hair or bring attention tO it? It does not look like lightning rather someone who hasn’t highlighted or dyed for several months.

      • Seraphina says:

        I have heard that when pregnant one should not color the hair. I stuck to that as well. And carrying a child and giving birth take tremendous toll on a woman’s body – hair, teeth and skin included. Having a baby does weird things – I am now allergic to red wine (which sucks). I just don’t like the color of the headband or the material.

      • BeanieBean says:

        I think she wanted a quick & easy dress-up element for her photo. I’m sure she had no idea what kind of angle the midwife would use for her photos. Definitely looks like grey hair for both Eugenie & Jack. No biggie.

    • Chica says:

      I disagree. She’s wearing neutral colors and her headband is a pop of muted color for her outfit and hair. She looks lovely.

  5. Petra says:

    Cute baby. I like the names picked. Congratulation once again to Eugenie and Jack.

  6. Eenie Googles says:

    I’ve always like that name.

  7. Aang says:

    My favorite name so far from this generation.

    • Ripley says:

      Me too (favorite name of the generation). I do love Charlotte too.

      Archie has grown on me. I wish they had named him Archer Harrison with a nickname Archie; but that’s on me. Still a very cute name.

      • Aang says:

        Ripley me too! We must have similar tastes in names. I think Archer with Archie as a nickname is just more versatile. Giving diminutives as the only names can be an issue when a child grows up. But I’m sure with Archie’s connections and generational wealth his name will not be an impediment to opportunity.

      • Spanky says:

        I agree. I was surprised to hear that M&H had named the baby Archie. That’s a nickname in my family (for Archibald). My first thought was “why did they use a nickname for him?” I love Archer.

    • BeanieBean says:

      I think there’s just one name too many, although I recognize it’s a royal family thing.

      • My mother had 6 names. It’s just on the documentation, no one rattles it off in real life, except me, because it’s fun to say. But mostly it appeases lots of elderly family members of a certain generation.
        But I’m also a fan of Alexis Morell Carrington Colby Dexter Rowan.

  8. Belli says:

    I like the name! I was expecting Philip to be a middle name, but August is a sweet name that I never would have predicted. And he’s a very cute baby!

    Even though I’m glad that they’re not getting any heat for not doing a photocall, not giving the press pictures, waiting so long to announce… they aren’t the only ones who deserved that peace with their newborn. The contrast couldn’t be more stark.

  9. Harper says:

    Jack looks over the moon and Eugenie looks shell-shocked. The baby is adorable and the name seems very British.

  10. Over it says:

    Congrats to the family of 3 . Now on a vain note, are they both using the same color hair dye for the same exact spit on the top back part of their hair? Or it is my eyes? Lol

  11. February-Pisces says:

    Aww he’s so cute, they look very happy together. I like that they gave him a unique name, I’m loving Hawke as a middle name. I wonder if they will nickname him Gus?

    Anyway did anyone see that the daily mail leaked a few days earlier that his middle name was going to be …”Stamp”? Wtf? I think Eugenie was trolling Willie when he text her to ask what they were going to call him.

  12. Sofia says:

    I was expecting Philip. Didn’t think of August and Hawke but I get why and where they got the names from.

    I think the trend of royals who aren’t the heir giving their kids names which are a twist on the “classics” might continue.

  13. Drun says:

    I love the name and what great pictures! The headband???????

  14. Franklymydear... says:

    Cute baby. Cute parents. Ugly headband. If I had made that headband, I would not claim it or advertise it.

  15. Hell Nah! says:

    Congratulations to Eugenie and Jack. You’ve given your baby lovely names.

    As for the headband, um…Jennifer, please sit down. It ugly.

  16. L4frimaire says:

    Cute. I like the name. August is one of my favorite names and the middle names are nice. It’s nice no one is “ demanding “ anything of them and giving them space. Eugenie looks exactly like how someone who just gave birth and just home with a newborn looks. Tired and overjoyed, and a bit dazed.

  17. Ginger says:

    I love the name! August is adorable! And Jack looks over the moon.

  18. S808 says:

    I like the name August!

  19. FancyPants says:

    I like the name, and I don’t think anybody predicted that except for the Philip part. They look happy and Baby Gus is a cutie!

    • Q says:

      I did! I thought they were going to have a boy and name him August. First time I’ve been right about these sort of things lol I should have made a bet, could’ve won some money!

  20. Nev says:

    I caught your SHADE/READ in the last paragraph Kaiser. Well done.

  21. SarahCS says:

    I think the note that the pic was taken by their midwife is to try and make the point that they’re staying within the law and not having family visiting. Whether that is true is a whole other matter.

  22. BK says:

    He’s really cute. And no thunder was stolen. 2 people in the same family are allowed to share good news at the same time.

  23. Maggi says:

    That overpriced headband is remarkably unattractive. Although I guess it is somewhat thematic, given the color is a velveteen version of baby poop.

  24. tempest prognosticator says:

    It’s a strong, handsome name.

  25. Amy Bee says:

    BP gave her the all clear to announce the name yesterday. The baby will grow up as an aristocrat so the name is appropriate.

  26. Other Renee says:

    The baby is adorable and the name is nice. I like the name August much better than any possible nickname. What did he mean by “great x5 grandfathers?”

  27. ABritGuest says:

    Cute baby. Jack looks delighted. I like how natural Eugenie looks. I said ages ago that I didn’t think the big hospital photocall would still be a thing & I still think that would be the case even if it wasn’t the pandemic. Let’s see when its Beatrice’s turn though. The Sussexes lead- take the big hits and the others follow.

    I kinda like the name August and I totally predicted Philip would be in there. Apparently August was the name of the first Duke of Sussex

    • Nyro says:

      Meghan’s impact. If Beatrice also refuses to go out on the steps hours after giving birth, it’s over. And then if Kate has another one and does Lindo Wing, she’s going to look old fashioned, pathetic, and like a total handmaiden. Might as well start calling her Serena Joy.

      • Wiglet Watcher says:

        Nyro
        Kate has already accepted the old ways of doing things. She won’t modernize unless it protects her position. And she is the wife to the heir. Eugenie is far removed from that and it’s not expected of her.

      • mynameispearl says:

        I dont think Zara Tindall ever did a big reveal either, and shes about the same as Eugenie in the order of things. I dont know why it mattered when Meghan didnt do it either. Let the ladies do as they want, you wanna show your baby at the hospital? On you go! You wanna wait a few days/ weeks? Go for it!

      • notasugarhere says:

        Zara sold pics of her first baby to Hello, that was her ‘reveal’.

      • Nic919 says:

        Kate is the only one who acts like a Commander’s wife in Handmaid’s tale. All the other women act like they live in the 21st century. She is the exception and the one invested in maintaining the patriarchy. We need to stop pretending that she is a point of comparison for normal behaviour. She has never been. What other woman do you know who at 29 never held a job and just chased around a guy for ten years?

  28. Digital Unicorn says:

    Adorable baby and I like the name – so pleased for them. The both look like people just getting used to no sleep for the next 20 years.

  29. Lucylee says:

    I thought she was a natural redhead.

  30. Louise177 says:

    I like the name but the headband has to go.

  31. Nyro says:

    That’s a cute baby! And I really like the name August. Very powerful.

  32. Lesley says:

    Love the name August, Augutus is a well used name in the Swedish part of my name. I’m happy they could take their time in announcing the baby’s name. It must have put someone on their place if he was the one to leak the name “Stamp”, had a laugh there. But that headband needs to go, I can lend some matches if you need some Eugenie?

  33. Florence says:

    Who let Eugenie use that yellow foundation? Poor girl.

    • Nic919 says:

      I think the colour of the headband made it look worse. Remove the headband and I bet the foundation doesn’t look as yellow.

    • TeamAwesome says:

      Like, seriously, I know it is the baby that can have a problem with jaundice, but I was a tad concerned. But she did just have surgery.

  34. sara says:

    These two look very British. I can’t believe he’s only 35…..

  35. Charfromdarock says:

    She looks remarkably like her father here, I don’t think I’ve noticed it as much before.

    Cute name for a cute baby.

  36. LindaS says:

    My great grandson is named August. He gets called Auggie by pretty well everyone. Pictures of the little family are nice. Very cute baby.

  37. MsIam says:

    Congrats to them! And I’m sure they realize how lucky they are to be out of the line of fire of the tabloids. They have not done the York sisters any favors over the years.

  38. Amy Too says:

    I don’t really get why she felt the need to allude to her dad in the name announcement. And it was done in kind of a convoluted way that confused me anyways. I kept thinking it was Prince Philip’s birthday weekend but I knew that wasn’t right. It’s not like they included any other immediate family members in the statement (her mom, his parents) so why did they have to bring up Andrew? I always think that I like Eugenie, and that she’s distancing herself from her dad, and she isn’t her dad, and must not support what he’s accused of, but then she signals her support and attachment to him again and I get turned off.

    • Susan says:

      I’m no royal expert, but I highly suspect it’s black or white in that family: tow the line or you’re out. She probably has very mixed feelings about her dad—but I think we’ve seen lately what happens when you don’t tow the line exactly as dictated. The York girls strike me as people that do what they are told to stay in the exclusive club. And we all know that BP is 100 percent pro Andrew.

      • Amy Too says:

        I’m now wondering if it was a way to sort of say Happy Birthday to her dad without having a whole separate post. Like maybe it was literally the least she could do to placate him while still trying to not make it all about him and her support of him. Hide an allusion to his birthday in your baby’s name reveal. It’s actually a bit clever if that’s what she was doing. I would still rather she not mention him at all but if she HAD TO allude to Andrew on or around his birthday, this seems an okay way to do it. But now she’s tying her sweet baby to Andrew. So… I don’t know how I feel.

    • Case says:

      I’m glad I’m not the only one — I had to re-read her explanation a couple times to understand, lol!

  39. gm says:

    I’m curious does the palace push her to do this kind of public reveal, does Zara and her brother
    (other royal grandkids beside direct line) do it? Is it she wants to to keep up her place as a royal princess or is it Andy/ Fergie who want her to do this?

    • Original Penguin says:

      It means they have control of the ‘first photo’ and removes the premium of getting the first photo from the paparazzi. Also she has to maintain her follower count on social media, (so she can get fancy headbands at cost etc)

  40. Chimney says:

    Eugenie looks sweet and exhausted but Jack looks ecstatic. His obvious love for Eugenie cracks me up, he was he same at the wedding, absolutely beaming. Good luck to them and their little family!

  41. Reece says:

    I really love the name August and Gus for a nickname. It’s so cute!
    The headband….she just gave birth, she gets a pass on fashion for now.

  42. Vera says:

    I found it funny how many people on twitter thought the baby is named after the month not the name Augustus

  43. Trillian says:

    Philip is an okay name, except I would never name a kid after Prince Philip for obvious reasons. August I don’t like, it seems such an old-timey name. And with that halo headband she looks like the Virgin Mary with Baby Jesus.

  44. Kalana says:

    The first Duke of Sussex was named Augustus. I’m not saying Eugenie named her child after him though.

    Great names for a very cute little guy. Jack seems like a nice guy and Eugenie looks lovely. I hope she’s doing well. The York sisters do love their cheeky headware.

    Edo is in the latest US Vanity Fair in the List Your Favorite Things column and plugging one of his projects.

    • MsIam says:

      I swear every Edo article I’ve ever read includes a list of his “favorites”. What is he an influencer now? Who gives a sh!t what he does and doesn’t like? I believe he gets comped by these brands in some way.

  45. Katebush says:

    I just thought of Anne Boleyn when I saw the headband .. why is she wearing it it’s horrible

  46. Watson says:

    I don’t mind the headband. Like the rest of humanity, I’m sure she just didn’t know what to do with herself after giving birth. Like your boobs are spewing, it hurts to walk, you’re sleep deprived and now you have to do a photo shoot? Headband it is!

    Note though: no one does the headband better than Amanda Gorman. No one.

  47. JanetDR says:

    Sweet little baby! Welcome August! (There’s 2 nice things so I can say that I don’t know what I dislike the most about the headband – shape or color , but yeah, post partum, you do what you can.

  48. Dee says:

    What happened to the name Stamp? Where’s the royal rota reporter who confidently told us that Stamp was going to be part of the name? Oh, Emily Andrews was so wrong.

  49. Nicolette says:

    Cute baby! August is a strong, charming name to me. Is there a nod to Sarah (FerGUSon)? Especially if they nickname him Gus?

  50. Christine says:

    My son is named William, after my Grandpa. You would think after I named him one of the most common names in the US, he would be flooded with peers with the same name. Nope, not at his school in LA. There are two Liams, in his class, which is a derivation of William. There ARE three Auggies! It’s so popular, I think the entire name they chose for him is kind of dashing! I imagine that August and Archie are going to be the go-to names for the next decade, for boys.

  51. nicegirl says:

    Gorgeous baby

  52. booboocita says:

    The headband reminds me of a French hood, something Anne Boleyn or the young Elizabeth I might have worn. Not to my taste, but she’s rocking it, so it’s cool. Eugenie and Jack look so marvelously fresh-faced and young, like grad students starting out in life. I love that photo.