The meaning behind Zara and Mike Tindall's baby name
![Zara and Mike Tindall have named their new daughter [Photo: Getty]](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/BTHeEhqtNVQwDzwMAlyo7Q--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD02OTg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/homerun/feed_manager_auto_publish_494/e7863e84e5065c8720a0c348648c6c49)
Zara and Mike Tindall have named their second daughter Lena Elizabeth Tindall, a representative for the couple has revealed.
Zara, granddaughter to the Queen, gave birth to the baby, a younger sister to four-year-old Mia Grace, on 18 June at Stroud Maternity Unit weighing 9lbs and 3oz.
Until now the name has remained hidden, but a spokesperson has now confirmed the first and middle name of the newest addition to the royal family to Harpers Bazaar.
Like the moniker chosen for their eldest daughter, the couple have chosen a traditional name with a modern slant.
“Zara is a Royal with a modern twist and her choice for her new daughter perfectly reflects this,” explains ChannelMum.com baby names expert SJ Ljungstrom.
“Just like for first daughter Mia Grace, Zara and husband Mike Tindall have chosen an contemporary moniker for the baby’s first name and a heritage counterweight for the second name.”
According to Ljungstrom, Lena is a pretty and contemporary name, which is rocketing in popularity; up from 823rd to 138th in position in the last ONS figures. This is partly due to the popularity of millennial writer Lena Dunham and actress Lena Headey.
Of course, the choice of middle name offers a nod to Zara’s grandmother Queen Elizabeth II.
“Elizabeth is, of course, a homage to Zara’s grandmother the Queen and a traditional Royal name favoured for generations,” Ljungstrom continues.
“It adds weight and substance to the more contemporary choice of Lena. Elizabeth is always in the top 100 chart for girls names and although it has slipped from 26 to 38 in recent years, Zara’s choice should spark a mini revival by reminding people how elegant and versatile it is.”
“Zara has managed to please all camps at once – Royalists, modern mums and her own family, making this a perfect baby name choice.”
![Baby Lena Elizabeth joins big sister Mia Grace [Photo: Getty]](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/dgHjafPwW1bsQZjf_MNs6Q--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTYyMg--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/homerun/feed_manager_auto_publish_494/c8f070c541ccbcb7937e0dbd9eb18557)
According to Babycenter the name Lena is of Greek origin and means ‘light’.
“There’s some debate around the name origin and meaning. Some people claim it is of Greek heritage and means ‘light and shine’ which is so appropriate for a summer baby,” explains Ljungstrom.
“It’s also seen in Swedish, Finnish and even Hindi where it means “generous and kind”. It’s very popular in Hawaii where is it also spelt Lina and it recently topped the list as the most popular name for girls in Poland in 2013 which may explain it’s rise in the UK too.”
After news of the name was revealed, Zara’s husband Mike Tindall took to Twitter after fans raised some questions about the pronunciation of the newborn’s moniker.
Responding to a fan who asked how the name was pronounced, the 39-year-old former rugby player revealed it was “Lay-na” as opposed to “Lee-na”, as some fans suspected.
He also cleared up any confusion over the pronunciation of their first daughter’s name, Mia, explaining that it was “Me-a”, and not “My-ah”.
I’m a BIG fan of Lena Elizabeth – lovely choice by Zara and @miketindall13 for their #royalbaby https://t.co/pdkiwqi0n7
— Ann Gripper (@anngripper) June 27, 2018
The name reveal follows some controversy over the newborn’s official birth announcement.
Last week, the Palace confirmed the happy news via a statement released on Twitter, but some fans weren’t happy about the language used in the announcement, with some accusing it of being out-dated and ‘sexist’.
“Mrs Michael Tindall was safely delivered of a baby girl on 18th June, at Stroud Maternity Unit,” the statement read.
“Mr Tindall was present at the birth. The weight of the baby was 9lbs 3oz.”
The birth of little Lena follows that of Prince Louis, who was born back in April, the third child for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
And no doubt Lena won’t be far behind.
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