Fairytale princess names sound just right trying on a glass slipper or singing with animated blue birds in the forest. They’re romantic, exotic, and almost entirely unexpected. Because for every Belle, we can list names like Cinderella (or the French Cendrillon), Rapunzel, and Merida.
And if you move beyond Disney? There’s Buttercup from The Princess Bride, Eilonwy from Lloyd Alexander’s The Chronicles of Prydain, and, of course, Game of Thrones’ Daenerys.
So let’s say we were put in charge of naming a fictional princess. What would rise to the top of the list? I’d favor fairytale princess names that blend the medieval and the fanciful. Some names lean more romantic; others, adventurous. But that suits the range of modern princesses, from Elena to Mulan. So callbacks to an earlier time work, but so do bold, unexpected modern finds. And they have to span all of Europe – perhaps even the globe.
These are my dozen picks for fictional fairytale princess names.
BELSANTE
It might be medieval variant of Elizabeth and Isabella, or maybe an old Germanic name. Either way, Belsante sounds right at home with Beauty and the Beast’s princess perfect Belle. And yet, the more elaborate form feels regal and throwback. Along the same lines, Isabeau seems like a name right at home in a medieval woodcut illustration.
BRIAR
Before Disney named Sleeping Beauty Aurora, the princess often answered to Briar Rose in tellings of her tale. Briar has that edgy, modern feel of modern nature names like Winter or Bay, but a long history of use in stories argues that it’s no novelty.
CLARIMOND
The first syllable probably comes from the Latin clarus, clear. Since fairy tale princess names are always noble and clear of purpose, any name related to Claire and company feels like a good fit.
DULCINEA
Dulcinea is Don Quixote’s fictional maiden fair, derived from the Spanish dulce – sweet. Similar names were in use in medieval England, and 90s indie rockers Toad the Wet Sprocket gave the name to their hit 1994 album. It would make a logical pick for a princess. A similar sounding option is the ancient Drusilla, though Joss Whedon gave it to an evil vampire. Factor in Dulcinea’s meaning, and it’s tough to believe this name hasn’t been drawn in a ballgown and tiara yet.
EVERILD
It’s the Latin version of a name worn by a seventh-century Anglo-Saxon saint, also written as Everilda and Averil. If you’re anticipating a happy ending, what’s better than having the word “ever” in your given name?
GWENLLIAN
A medieval Welsh name, Gwenllian combines elements meaning fair and flaxen. There’s a heroic twelfth century princess, known for her beauty and her bravery. Gwen makes it accessible, but Gwenllian shimmers with a mix of history and unexpected sounds.
JESSAMY
Jasmine found a whole new world with Aladdin. Why not this more elaborate form? It sounds both modern and old school at once, as does related name Jessamine.
KATRIN
Not every fairy tale name is frilly, and this Northern European short form of Katherine feels like one you might find in a Swedish fairy tale. The elaboration Katrinka also feels at home in an other-worldly story, one with plenty of ice and snow.
SVETLANA
Best for a Slavic character, of course, but there’s no shortage of those. Like a few other names on this list, she’s a relatively modern innovation, coined for an 1813 poem. But her meaning – from svet, light – is princess-perfect.
THALASSA
You might expect Thalassa to be the evil stepsister or faithful servant instead of the romantic lead. But Thalassa is a primordial Greek goddess of the oceans, making it every bit as seaworthy as the red-headed Ariel.
TOURMALINE
Most gemstone names feel fairly mainstream, from Ruby to Pearl. But Tourmaline – first brought to Europe by the Dutch East India Company – is seldom heard. The word wasn’t used in English until the mid-1700s, so perhaps Tourmaline would be out of place in a story set in the Middle Ages. But it still feels rich with poential.
VIVIENNE
One of the Jolie-Pitt twins and a name sometimes used in Arthurian legend for the Lady of the Lake, Vivienne is, far and away, the most popular name on this list. But there’s something powerful about names derived from the Latin vivus – alive.
Those are my dozen picks for fairytale princess names. What would you name a fictional character destined for a crown? And do any of these work for a real girl, too?
First published on November 3, 2011, this post was revised substantially on October 13, 2019.
I am writing a fairy tale and these names are very helpful. Thank you. They are all ver beautiful
Tourmaline I like, in fact it’s already on my list!
I think Belhonor is a wonderful princess name. Like Belsante, it’s of Medieval origin and it means ‘beautiful honor’. It’s kinda a virtue name too, but most importantly it can be used on a real girl. I get first dibs!!
Other names I think are pretty for a princess are mainly of Irish and Scotttish origins, such as…
Scottish:
Batrisch (ba-TREESH) – Scottish form of Beatrice. I love the ‘eesh’ sound!
Scota – fem. form of Scotland
Seasaidh (SHAY-see)
Siusaidh (SHOO-see) – sounds like Suzie
Irish:
Bedelia – with great ‘power and strength’ comes great responsibility, and who more than a princess can bare this name!
Caoimhe (KEE-vy)
Saoirse (SEER-sha) – with a great meaning like freedom I think it’s worthy for a princess.
Saorla (SAYR-la)
Searlait (SHEYR-let) – sounds similar to Charlotte, and even Sherlock!
I also like the name Patrice. Patrice (pah-TREES) is of French origin meaning ‘of noble descent’.
I am smitten with Svetlana! Do think there would be pronunciation issues?
Yes and no. Sv isn’t an ordinary combination in English, but the pronunciation is exactly as we’d expect it to be. So even though you’d probably get some hesitation and some surprised looks, I think the name would work well as others got to know it.
Valancy! Wouldn’t that be the perfect name for a valiant princess? I’d use it for a daughter but for the whole valance thing.
Late to mention, but one of my French friends has the middle name Ghyslaine (she’s late teens). My heart fluttered slightly when I found out 😉
I love Belsante (I’ve seen it spelled Bellisant) and Thalassa so much! Thalassa is awesome – I love names having to do with water. Tourmaline is surprsingly appealing – I’ve never thought of it as a name. Jessamy is so interesting, i’ve never heard of it before. I like it!
Such lovely names! Everild has been on my list for a long time (I can’t seem to sell DH on it), and Ghislaine is simply smashing! Belsante, Melisande, Eglantine, Lysandra — all great.
A few that come to my mind are:
Yslaine
Dagmara
Elbereth (stolen from Tolkien)
Veradis
Zipporah (my niece’s name)
Kamala
Oonagh
Geraldine (maybe a little less frilly than the others, but I think it would work)
Blanche
Eulalia
A few other thoughts: I really love a lot of those medieval names that begin with “God” (Godlieve, Godfrey, Godric), but I just don’t think they’d wear well today.
Although Disney’s Sleeping Beauty is named Aurora, while she’s hiding out with the good fairies she is called Briar Rose, a name that I always found incredibly attractive.
I’m adding to my old list:
Amaranth
Another good princess name, from the enlightened-young-lady fairy tale of the same name: Petronella (she was supposed to have been born a boy, you see — the royal family of Skyclear Mountain ALWAYS has three sons — and all third sons in the royal house are named Peter…)
I think Millicent would be beautiful on a fairy tale princess, and I don’t think the Sleeping Beauty Maleficent connection ruins it. Let’s face it, most fairy tale princesses are supposed to be innocent so I don’t think you can go wrong with a name that sounds like the word innocent 🙂 And while I favor at least 3-syllable names for princesses, Primrose would be kind of perfect too. Princess Primrose – love it!
Very Euro-centric (except for Tourmaline).
I’d love to see princesses and names from Asia (Sachiko, Chun-Li), Latin America (Carina, Esperanza), Africa (Binta, Jamilah), Polynesia (Kailani, Nanihi) and the Middle East (Noorah, Hamidah).
Would be wonderful to see Disney add Pocahontas to their princess line-up, too. And what about a colonial (Prudence, Tabitha) or frontier (Ada, Susannah) American princess?
I’ve got a huge weakness for the names from The Tale of Genji, though they’re not usually princesses, but court ladies: Murasaki, of course, and Asagao, Tamakazura, Aoi. It’s a bit difficult sometimes in Asian cultures to know what the names of women in history actually were, since they all went by nicknames. The author of Genji is known as Murasaki, after one of the main characters, but her actual identity is somewhat unknown. The last empress of Korea, known as the Myeongseong Empress, only got that name postumously. She was also known as Queen Min, but Min was her family name, and if she had a name, it is unknown.
Fairytale princess names are my biggest group of guilty pleasures. I love Dulcinea, Clerimond, and Jessam(ine), though I’d probably never use them. Embarrassingly, I actually have an entire word document devoted to these types of names. Some off that list: Melusine, Crispina, Madelief, Ondine, Sophronia, Philomela, Silvana, Celandine, Alisande, Amaryllis, Corisande, Perdita, Amabel, Roselaine, Cordula, Amarantha, Isemay, Liviana, Calpurnia, Liadan, and Galatea. (Can you tell I’m a name nerd? 😉 )
Oooh, Roselaine and Isemay are just swoon-worthy.
Rosy, I think we all have various name word documents, don’t be embarrassed 😉 From your list Silvana is definitely my favorite and also I think the most wearable, especially with the nn Silvie. Liviana has a lot of potential too, as an evolution from the Olivia/Lilly/Ariana/Liliana popularity.
Oh, I just love Briar! Ever since I read the Brer Rabbit books as a kid and he had to hide in the briar patch, I have loved the word. And for some reason, the name Svetlana has been on my mind lately! It’s not my usual style, but I really like the name.
I do love Briar. It just sounds so romantic, but not overtly so.
And Artemisia Gentileschi is awesome. Several years ago, I had a teacher tell me she’s my alter ego and made me do a paper on her. I’m not sure what she meant by that, but she’s one of my favorite painters now.
I went to high school with a Briar. 🙂 Totally wearable, I never saw anyone bat an eye at it.
I quite like Tourmaline. I have an affinity for gemstone names… (still swooning over Peridot!)
Melusine is one of my favorite fairy tale names.
My eldest step-daughter is named Katrin! I have to forward this on to her… I wonder what she’ll think of having a fairy tale name.
Some princess names that came to mind is the French name Marjolaine (mar-ZHO-lain)..
I could really get into Tourmaline —
the first “maybe princess” name I thought of was Maximilla.
Now these names are more my style! How about Violante? Violante was historically used by Italian princesses, and there’s also Violaine.
KatieB: The witch in Sleeping Beauty is not named Millicent. It’s Maleficent, or something made up like that. Trust me, I know these things.
Ooh, I could very much imagine both a Violante and a Violaine havine daring, princess worthy adventures.
Isadora, I gotta say that I LOVE your name. It’d also make a great princess name as well as the dance reference!
Abby-Giselle was Amy Adams character in Enchanted, not Happily Ever After!
Anywho, I have been in love with Jessamine for ages, and has been on my list for that long as well. However, with a sister-in-law named Jessica, that one might not be as usable as it once was. I also adore Aurora, nicknamed Rory. Sleeping Beauty is my favorite fairy tale story. Other ideas: Corisande, Lysandra, Theodosia, Genevra, Sidonie, Leonora…
Abby…Amy Adams played Giselle in Enchanted…not Happily Ever After!
Anywho, I love Jessamine. It has been on my list forever! I am also madly in love with Aurora, nn Rory, as Sleeping Beauty is my favorite Disney Princess movie. Other ideas: Corisande, Lysandra, Theodosia, Genevra…
Ginevra got on my list after I found out it was Ginny Weasley’s first name.
I love Jessamyn. Averil and Ghislaine are lovely too. Godfrey and Godlieve are two of my name nerd loves that I could never use on a child.
I have said it before and I will say it again, Belsante us a fabulous name!
I like most of these names and think they would work as an alternative to the popular Isabella, Gabrielle, Evangeline or Angelina because they are frilly and elaborate without being over used.
I have been considering Jessamine seriously lately, but probably for the middle spot since it doesn’t quite fit with a sister named Agatha.
The other day at an arts and crafts store I was served at the checkout by a young woman named Briar. I had to restrain myself, I wanted to know all about her name, I love seeing names like that in use! Unfortunately they were trying to close and I didn’t want to keep her late for such a thing.
I have a long-standing weakness for Artemisia, ever since reading about Artemisia Gentileschi in a history class. She was an artist, not a princess, but it’s certainly a princess-sounding name. Also, she was a certified badass and specialized in painting other badass women.
I actually do know a little girl IRL named Cinderella, sister to Ariel, Belle, and Aurora.
Oh, that’s just cruel about the sisters.
I know a Cinbrella with a b. Her sisters are Shandella and Priscilla.
one of my best friends has a sister-in-law named Tinkabell (and yes that’s her legal name)
Artemisia has been a long standing favorite of mine. I first saw a movie about Gentileschi and then did research becouse she is just so interesting.
Artemisia Gentileschi is one of my very favorite artists. I also love her name!
Artemisia of Caria was also the only female captain in the Battle of Salamis. Artemisia is pretty high on our list of middle names.
Katrin and Vivienne? Love! I also like Aurora, but it sounds weird with my and the boyfriend’s last name. Ella, as in Cinderella or Ella Enchanted us not overtly princessy, but still has that connection. I’ve also always found Melisande was regal-sounding.
Oh, princess-y names make my heart sing. My favorites:
Constantina, Artemisia, Corisande, Tourmaline, Opaline, Apollonia, Anastasia, Bellissa, Concordia, Coraline, Eglantine, Evangeline/Evangelina, Marcheline, Nessarose, Primrose
After reading this I am taken with Briar, as a middle name.
Me too! I especially love it as a subtle nod to my birth flower, the rose!
I have a longstanding love affair with the name Lucasta (a Lucy variant with a long and distinguished English Lit history). Araminta is another obscure but regal sounding name. Oh and Melisande. Love Melisande.
I didn’t read your post before I submitted mine! I am enthralled with Melisande, but the boyfriend HATES it. Sigh.
I love Melisande too. But Millicent was the evil witch in Sleeping Beauty, so it is somewhat taken. I thik Tourmaline, Everild and Clairmond are my favorites from this list. Clairmond brings to mind Prince Charmont “Char” from Ella Enchanted. Cordelia/Cornelia would be another good one though Cordelia was used by Joss in Buffy as well.
I read a fairy tale that was set in Transylvania, I loved the five sister’s names: Jenica, Tatiana, Iulia, Paula & Stela.
the original Cordelia was the youngest daughter of King Lear.
And I love Lettice!
Wasn’t the evil witch in Sleeping Beauty Maleficent?
I like some of the medieval French variant names: you have an Alys who was also known as Alais, an Isabella also called Avisa or Hadwisa, several princesses named simply Alix, and of course Berengaria. (Much, much later, Josephine’s granddaughter was named Theodolinde.) Charlemagne’s family tree is also wonderful for names: Rotrude, Alpaida, Desiderata, Fastrada, Theodrada, and Luitgard.
He did have a concubine named Regina, too, which seems like such a waste of a name for a queen. Like the other week, I saw someone’s Vespa, license plate Vespa. Like getting the word “person” tattooed on your forehead.
I have a great aunt named Araminta so it is on our list for muddled. I also have a great aunt Lettice.
Oops middle.
KatieB- The evil witch in Sleeping Beauty is Maleficent, not Millicent.