Fairy Tale Prince Names: Romantic Meets Strong

Whether you’re naming a fictional character or a real-life human baby, fairy tale prince names make an appealing bunch.

These aren’t necessarily names from classic fairy tale princes. Too many of those go nameless. Or we call them by generic titles, like Prince Charming from Cinderella. 

Disney fans might know that Snow White’s prince inspired Jonathan in the 2025 live action movie, but the original royal was sometimes Florian or Ferdinand. We eventually learn that the Beast was named Adam, and The Little Mermaid has always included Prince Eric.  

Actual princes, like William and George, answer to names so classic that they don’t necessarily feel regal.

Instead, this list is about names that could belong to a fictional prince. (Read the corresponding list of names for fairy tale princesses here.)

And fairy tale means daring and fanciful – at least a little bit.

Fairy tale prince names read masculine, but not always conventionally so. They’re dashing choices, equally suitable for Olympic fencing champions or romantic poets or real-life boys.

The names on this list are drawn from mythology and folklore, literature and pop culture. 

And while many of them remain undiscovered, every name on this list could be worn by a boy born today.

BAYARD

Bayard comes with the handy short form Bay. There’s something dashing about this name, maybe because history gives us a celebrated sixteenth century knight called the Chevalier de Bayard, much monumented in France and referred to in literary works over the years, too.

CASPIAN

Caspian is already a fictional prince, so maybe this one is too obvious. But Caspian, as in the sea and the Chronicles of Narnia royal, hits exactly the right note.

CHRISTIAN

Among the most popular names on this list, but one that works. Christian is a royal name in Denmark, but in the English-speaking world, this name is more mainstream.

COSMO

For plenty of parents, this is all Nickelodeon Fairly Oddparents. And yet it’s also a romantic, slightly offbeat name with a sense of adventure.

ESTEBAN

Steve is an ordinary guy, familiar from Blue’s Clues to Minecraft. But Esteban is an import, the Spanish version of the name, and it feels distinctive enough to be a fairytale prince name. Even rarer takes like Estavan or Estevan could work, too. Bonus? This name actually means crown.

EVERARD

The older form of Everett, Everard is quite rare today. But there’s something quite dashing about the name. If Ev- names are big for both genders, from the endless string of Evie names for girls to Everett and even Everest, Everard merits consideration, too.

FLYNN

Too Tangled? Too often mistaken for Finn?  Maybe. And yet Errol Flynn lends this surname name the exact degree of dashing that Fairytale Prince names require.

GALIEN, GALLIEN

Anglo-Norman English produced some fascinating names. Some stuck, while others faded away. Gallienus was Emperor of Rome in the third century, but he’s not exactly Julius Caesar. The name probably refers to Gaul. We love Adrian, Julian, and even Gabriel, as well as Gael, so Galien fits. 

GERVASE, GERVAIS

Saint Gervasius was an early martyr. Along with his twin brother Protasius, he’s the patron saint of Milan.  Gervais is the French form, though it is nearly extinct in France today. Gervasio is Italian; plenty of other European languages offer a form – including the English Gervase. Several spelling appear as surnames, too. Pronounce it jer VAYS and it’s wearable in English.

JERAH

This Old Testament name sounds like it’s straight out of fantasy. The name likely means moon, adding to its appeal. 

KENELM

Another obscure, but legitimate name from English history in the key of Everard – in fact the same noble families used both names over the generations.  Kenelm is less expected than former favorite Kenneth.  Plus that ‘elm’ ending lends just a hint of nature name. Though the name’s roots are Old English, from cene – bold and helm – helmet, which makes Kenelm a cousin to William.

LYSANDER

A name straight out of ancient history, Lysander feels like a update to the much-used Alexander and rising Evander. 

MACEO

Halle Berry’s baby boy received this obscure form of Matthew. I can imagine Maceo as a fierce revolutionary, a brilliant artist, or a fairy tale prince.

NOBLE

Too obvious? Probably. But if girls can be Mercy and Grace and Temperance, why can’t boys be Loyal and Noble and True?  It is certainly a princely quality.

OBERON

This has been worn by at least two fictional royals. In Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Oberon is King of the Fairies. Actor Pedro Pascal first rose to fame playing Prince Oberyn Martell in Game of Thrones.

OLIVIER

Top Ten Oliver feels like an every-boy kind of name. But Olivier? A little more romantic. Glitzier, even. While it’s sometimes used for fictional bad guys, Olivier is too dashing to leave him to the villains. 

ORION

The hunter from Greek myth is most famous as a constellation. But it’s also a popular boy name borrowed from the night sky. And I think it could be pitch perfect for a fairy tale prince.

PALADIN

In Charlemagne’s court, there were a dozen high-ranking knights known as paladins or peers. The word comes from a Latin term related to our word palace, and originally referred to a court official. Now the meaning is closer to warrior.  It’s obscure, but possibly a great choice for a son.

PERCIVAL

Perseus is a hero, and Percy Jackson puts another spin on the Percy names.  But Percival, borrowed from King Arthur’s Knights of the Round Table, has that out-of-our-time feeling that fits on this list of fairy tale prince names.

PEREGRINE

Also spelled Peregrin, it’s best known as the given name of Hobbit Pippin Took, one of Frodo’s companions in The Lord of the Rings. Yes, Peregrine is elaborate. But so is Alexander.  And Perry is a great nickname, and Pip is every bit as sweek.

RAFAEL, RAPHAEL

Rafael brings to mind an angel, a Renaissance master, and a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, too. Plus, a very small number of actual princes have answered to the name, which isn’t true for every one of the fairy tale prince names. A little bit dreamy, a little bit daring – Raphael screams fairy tale prince.

RAINIER

The most obviously real world princely name on this list comes from the late Prince Rainier III. He ruled the tiny nation of Monaco, and brought home Hollywood royal Grace Kelly to share his palace. Originally a Germanic name, it traveled through French to English. Rainier didn’t survive in English, but French is the official language of Monaco, where this name is a thoroughly princely pick.

ROBIN

Another name with ties to Shakespeare, Robin Goodfellow is another name for Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Both names were used for similar figures in literature and myth long before Shakespeare wrote. It’s also tied to Robin Hood, a figure that remains very much a fairy tale prince.

ROWAN

This gender-neutral nature name feels both 21st century-ready and borrowed from the past. In European folklore, the rowan tree was believed to protect against evil. Maybe that’s why this name feels gently, enduringly heroic. 

SEBASTIAN

Yes, Sebastian is a popular choice for non-royal, real boys today. The name has ranked in the US Top 100 every year since 2000. But there’s something romantic and imaginative about this name, which puts it on the list.

VALOR

Like Noble, this name feels a bit obvious. But ever since Emile Hirsch named his son Valor in 2013, it has seemed like a possible up-and-comer.  If Victor is a classic, is Valor such a stretch? 

ZEPHYR

In Greek myth, Zephyros personifies the west wind. Zephyr feels slightly more familiar, while still retaining plenty of surprise. 

What would you name a fairy tale prince?

Originally published on July 11, 2014, this post was revised and re-published on March 3, 2020; July 15, 2024; and July 16, 2026.