Prince Names

Leopold

German

"brave people"

An aristocratic and stately Germanic route to the popular Leo, Leopold is a royal name: Queen Victoria used it to honor a favorite uncle, King Leopold I of Belgium. These days, this royal tie may be…

Casimir

English; French, from Polish

"destroyer of peace"

Casimir, a traditional name of Polish kings, could do quite well these days as we see the rise of Caspian, Cassius, Castiel, et. al. Like Leopold and Laszlo, Casimir is strong and worth considering…

Marius

Latin, from a Roman family name related to Mars, the god of war

Marius, frequently heard in Germany and France, is a slightly fusty yet accessible name that has (Les Mis) to Anne Rice. With the rise in interest in such Latin names as Maximus and Atticus, Marius…

Frederik

Scandinavian and Dutch variation of Frederick, German

"peaceful ruler"

Frederik has been borne by numerous European royals, including kings of Denmark and Norway. The spelling variant with a 'k' rather than 'ck' is most common in Denmark, Norway, and the Netherlands.…

Friedrich

German variation of Frederick

"peaceful ruler"

One of the most familiar German names , with an upright Prussian image. Friedrich might just have been out for long enough to start coming back in.

Konstantinos

Greek variation of Constantine

"constant, steadfast"

Derived from the Latin Constantinus , this is the Greek form of Constantine or Constans. Conjuring up ideas of endurance and steadiness, Konstantinos has been borne by numerous Greek prime ministers…

Alexios

Greek

"defending men"

Very popular on its native turf, foreign-sounding here.

Armel

Welsh

"bear prince"

This Welsh name, also used in France, is the name of a 6th century saint who went to Brittany and established abbeys. Armel has a pleasant and familiar sound, making it easily used outside of Wales…

Rajah

Arabic and Sanskrit

"hope; ruler"

Indian princely title, more exciting than Prince or Duke, that is also a widely-used name for both genders. In the US, the names Rajah and Raja are uncommon: Ten baby boys were named Rajah last year…

Regulus

Latin

"prince"

The traditional name of the brightest star in the constellation Leo and a minor character in the "Harry Potter" series might be a good pick for parents interested in a regal name but turned off by…

Pieter

Dutch, German, and Afrikaans variation of Peter, Greek

"rock, stone"

Derived from the Greek name Petros, meaning 'rock' or 'stone,' it conveys qualities of strength, reliability, and steadfastness. The name has deep historical roots throughout Northern Europe,…

Valdemar

Nordic variation of Vladimir

Ten years ago we would have advised people to steer clear of this name (and maybe choose the similar sounding Walter instead); but with the rise of other Nordic and Eastern European names like Viggo…

Maurits

Dutch form of Maurice, English and French from Latin

"dark-skinned"

Historically, the name gained significance in the Netherlands through Maurice of Nassau (Maurits van Nassau), a key military leader during the Dutch Revolt against Spain in the 16th-17th centuries.…

Guillaume

French variation of William, German

"resolute protection"

An everyday name in France, a charismatic possibility elsewhere, Guillaume is a French form of the classic Germanic William. It's heyday was back in the 1980s and 90s, when it ranked in the French…

Sverre

Dutch, Norwegian

"wild"

An intriguingly wild alternative to Sven.

Geza

Hungarian

"little prince"

Spelled Géza in Hungarian, this is the modern form of Gyeücsa. It derives from a Hungarian noble title: gyeü , with a diminutive suffix. This was the name of a 10th-century leader of the Hungarians,…

Cadfael

Welsh

"battle prince"

A rare Welsh name with a wonderful meaning, Cadfael is the name of the detective monk character in Ellis Peters' medieval murder mysteries. It's usually pronounced CAD-vyle in Welsh, although Peters…

Brioc

Welsh diminutive

"mighty prince"

A Welsh saint who is the namesake of the village of St Breock in Cornwall, and is also venerated in Brittany. The name is a diminutive of Briafael ("mighty prince"). Variants include: Breock, Bryok,…

Bernhard

German

"strong, brave as a bear"

Popular throughout Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Scandinavia, Bernhard has maintained its classic appeal for centuries. Several notable figures have carried this distinguished name, including…

Baudouin

French variation of Baldwin, German

"brave friend"

Essentially the French equivalent of Baldwin, this name carries strong historical significance, particularly in Belgium where multiple kings have borne the name. The most notable was King Baudouin I…