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 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!