Names of real princesses
These are the given names of actual princesses, past and present, from Diana to Leonor to Kate. Each one carries a real story of duty, grace, and public life lived partly in a fairy tale and partly in the spotlight.
Diana divine, heavenly (Roman goddess of the hunt and moon); Diana, Princess of Wales
Camilla feminine of Camillus; meaning uncertain; famously borne by Camilla, Queen Consort of the United Kingdom
Adelaide noble kind, nobility; famously borne by Queen Adelaide, consort of William IV (namesake of Adelaide, Australia)
Zita meaning uncertain, possibly linked to a medieval Italian saint; famously borne by Empress Zita, last Empress consort of Austria-Hungary
Eugenie well-born, noble; famously borne by Princess Eugenie of York
Leonor meaning debated, often linked to 'light' or 'compassion'; Leonor, Princess of Asturias, heir to the Spanish throne
Elena torch, shining light; famously borne by Infanta Elena of Spain
Charlene feminine diminutive of Charles (Germanic karl, 'man'); famously borne by Princess Charlene of Monaco
Grace grace, blessing; famously borne by Princess Grace of Monaco, born Grace Kelly
Caroline French feminine form of Charles (Germanic karl, 'man'); famously borne by Princess Caroline of Hanover, Monaco
Marie form of Mary; famously borne by Queen Marie of Romania, granddaughter of Queen Victoria
Olga holy, blessed (via Russian Olga); famously borne by Grand Duchess Olga Romanov of Russia
Tatiana from the Roman clan name Tatius; famously borne by Grand Duchess Tatiana Romanov of Russia
Masako child of correctness and elegance (kanji-dependent); famously borne by Empress Masako of Japan
Aiko love child, beloved child; famously borne by Princess Aiko of Japan
Mako meaning kanji-dependent, often glossed 'true, sincere child'; famously borne by former Princess Mako of Akishino, who relinquished her title in 2021
Kako meaning kanji-dependent, often glossed 'fragrant child'; famously borne by Princess Kako of Akishino
Michiko beautiful wisdom child (kanji-dependent); famously borne by Empress Emerita Michiko, first commoner to marry into Japan's Imperial family
Sirikit prosperity, glory (siri 'glory, splendor' + kit 'fame, deed'); famously borne by Queen Sirikit, queen mother of Thailand
Suthida beautiful goodness (approx.); famously borne by Queen Suthida of Thailand, current queen consort
Monineath meaning uncertain; famously borne by Queen Norodom Monineath of Cambodia, queen consort
Salma peaceful, safe (from salaam); famously borne by Princess Lalla Salma of Morocco
Haya modesty, life; famously borne by Princess Haya bint Hussein of Jordan, equestrian and former Sheikha of Dubai
Muna wishes, desires (plural of munya); famously borne by Princess Muna al-Hussein of Jordan, mother of King Abdullah II
Alia high, lofty, sublime; famously borne by Queen Alia of Jordan, third wife of King Hussein
Basma smile; famously borne by Princess Basma bint Talal of Jordan, human rights advocate
Iman faith; famously borne by Princess Iman bint Hussein of Jordan
Farida unique, precious gem; famously borne by Queen Farida of Egypt, first wife of King Farouk
Fawzia success, victory, triumph; famously borne by Princess Fawzia of Egypt, who became Queen of Iran as the Shah's first wife
Soraya the Pleiades (star cluster); famously borne by Queen Soraya of Iran, whose marriage to the Shah ended amid worldwide fascination
Roxelana the Ruthenian woman (an Ottoman epithet from the ancient Roxolani people); the enslaved-then-elevated queen consort of Suleiman the Magnificent, one of the most powerful women in Ottoman history
Nefertiti the beautiful one has come; famously borne by Queen Nefertiti, Great Royal Wife of Pharaoh Akhenaten
Pema lotus; famously borne by Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan
Saleha righteous, virtuous; famously borne by Queen Saleha of Brunei, queen consort
Aishwarya prosperity, wealth; famously borne by Queen Aishwarya of Nepal, the country's last reigning queen consort before the monarchy's abolition
Gayatri name of a sacred Vedic hymn and mantra; famously borne by Maharani Gayatri Devi of Jaipur, celebrated for her beauty and style
Wencheng cultured, accomplished (approx.); famously borne by Princess Wencheng of Tang China, who married Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo
Kaiulani traditionally glossed 'the royal one, the highest point'; famously borne by Princess Kaʻiulani, Crown Princess of the Kingdom of Hawaii
Isabel God is my oath; famously borne by Princess Isabel of Brazil, 'the Redemptress,' who signed the law abolishing slavery in 1888
Teresa harvester (traditional gloss); famously borne by Empress Teresa Cristina of Brazil, consort of Pedro II
Carlota Spanish and Portuguese form of Charlotte, from Charles (Germanic karl, 'man'); famously borne by Empress Carlota of Mexico, consort of Maximilian I
Martha lady, mistress; Princess Märtha Louise of Norway, and historically Crown Princess Märtha, celebrated for aiding Norwegian refugees during WWII
Benedikte blessed; famously borne by Princess Benedikte of Denmark, sister of Queen Margrethe II
Ingeborg Ing's protection (the god Ing + borg 'fortification'); borne by several medieval Scandinavian queens consort
Xenia hospitality, guest; famously borne by Grand Duchess Xenia of Russia, sister of Tsar Nicholas II
Amelie work, industriousness; famously borne by Queen Amélie of Portugal, the country's last queen consort
Madeleine woman from Magdala; famously borne by Princess Madeleine of Sweden
Josephine God will add, God increases; famously borne by Empress Joséphine, first wife of Napoleon Bonaparte; famously borne by Princess Josephine of Denmark
Yaa a day-name meaning 'born on Thursday'; famously borne by Yaa Asantewaa, Queen Mother of Ejisu who led the Ashanti war against British colonial rule
Nandi meaning debated, possibly 'the sweet one'; famously borne by Queen Nandi kaBhebhe, mother of the Zulu king Shaka
Taytu meaning debated; famously borne by Empress Taytu Betul of Ethiopia, wife of Menelik II and a key strategist at the Battle of Adwa
Zewditu meaning debated; famously borne by Empress Zewditu I of Ethiopia, first woman to reign as Empress in her own right
Salote Tongan form of Charlotte, from Charles (Germanic karl, 'man'); Queen Sālote Tupou III of Tonga, who famously rode uncovered through pouring rain in her open carriage at Elizabeth II's coronation to show respect
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