Names That Mean King, Queen, Ruler or Royal

  1. Meredith
    • Origin:

      Welsh
    • Meaning:

      "great ruler"
    • Description:

      Meredith is a soft, gentle-sounding name with subtle Welsh roots. Although originally a boys’ name , Meredith is used mainly for girls now.
  2. Aubrey
    • Origin:

      English from French version of German Alberic
    • Meaning:

      "elf ruler"
    • Description:

      Almost like a fusion between vintage Audrey, bubbly Ruby, and unisex Avery, Aubrey has been a popular choice for girls since the mid 2000’s.
  3. Hank
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Henry, German
    • Meaning:

      "estate ruler"
    • Description:

      Hank is a midcentury guy nickname (which actually dates back to the seventeenth century) of the Al/Hal/Dick school, which has been on recess from the playground for decades. Now it's just beginning to be given on its own again, appreciated for its earthy, sportsguy cool. Hanks Aaron and Greenberg (born Henry) and Hank Williams (born Hiram) Sr and Jr. are worthy namesakes.
  4. Derek
    • Origin:

      English from German form of Theodoric
    • Meaning:

      "the people's ruler"
    • Description:

      Derek started out as a sophisticated Brit, but the name became so common over the last decades of the twentieth century that it lost much of its English accent, along with its stylish edge. Derek was a Top 100 name in the U.S. for 25 years, from 1970 to 1995, after which it began to decline.
  5. Hattie
    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Harriet
    • Meaning:

      "estate ruler"
    • Description:

      In the USA, Hattie is one of those nicknames that is now more popular than its parent name, Harriet. In England, however, Harriet is still by far more popular than Hattie, while in Australia, Harriet is highly popular while no data exists on Hattie. In the US, we’d like to see Harriet get more usage but we’re happy to see Hattie again.
  6. Royal
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "royal"
    • Description:

      Even less subtle than Duke or Earl, this name shot up the popularity charts in 2013, the same year young Prince George was born and the craze for all things royal (and Royal) began. Today, it's a leading boys' name on Nameberry's own popularity charts.
  7. Rex
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "king"
    • Description:

      Now that many dogs are named Max, it's safe to use this sleek, solid, regal name again for your child. And with the charm of its final x, its regal meaning, and its offbeat simplicity, Rex is definitely one to consider.
  8. Rhiannon
    • Origin:

      Welsh
    • Meaning:

      "divine queen"
    • Description:

      Most of us had never heard this lovely Welsh name with links to the moon until we heard the 1976 smash hit Fleetwood Mac song of that name, with lyrics by Stevie Nicks. That same year it popped onto the U.S. Top 1000 at Number 593.
  9. Malik
    • Origin:

      Arabic; Greenlandic
    • Meaning:

      "king; owner; wave"
    • Description:

      A name with many spelling variations, including Malek, Melik, and Maliq, Malik is a popular name of Arabic and Semetic origin that is used internationally as both a given name and a surname. In terms of meaning, it can be considered a royal name meaning "king", though other sources suggest it is an alternative transcription of Maalik, making "owner, possessor" a more accurate meaning.
  10. Laszlo
    • Origin:

      Hungarian
    • Meaning:

      "glorious ruler"
    • Description:

      The Hungarian classic Laszlo, with its zippy 'z' middle and energetic 'o' ending, has become something of a hipster option, beginning to be considered by cutting-edge parents.
  11. Harold
    • Origin:

      Scandinavian
    • Meaning:

      "army ruler"
    • Description:

      The name of the last Anglo-Saxon king of England before the Norman conquest, and a name that's long been associated with a pipe-smoking, bespectacled grandpa or uncle.
  12. Darius
    • Origin:

      Latin from Greek and Persian
    • Meaning:

      "possessing goodness"
    • Description:

      Darius is a historic name via Emperor Darius the Great, a key figure in ancient Persian history, and several other Persian kings. His name today has an appealingly artistic image, which might well be found on a concert program or gallery announcement.
  13. Kinsley
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "king's meadow"
    • Description:

      Light and glittery, but with plenty of spirit, Kinsley has risen quickly into the US Top 100. Balanced between preppy and cutesy, it feels like a fresh alternative to Kelly, Kaitlyn, or Kimberly.
  14. Eulalia
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "sweetly speaking"
    • Description:

      Eulalia is a melodious name with a southern drawl, thanks to those lilting double Ls and similarity to similar Eudora and Eula. Familiar in the US in the early 20th century, it was also a popular choice in Brazil and Spain until the 60s when it fell out of style.
  15. Leroy
    • Origin:

      French
    • Meaning:

      "the king"
    • Description:

      Leroy's heyday was in the early twentieth century, when it was in the US Top 100 until 1949. As a result, it's now more frequently seen as a father or grandfather name. Nevertheless, it remains in the latter end of the US Top 1000, perhaps passed down from father to son, or similar enough to popular Levi that it still appeals.
  16. Zariah
    • Origin:

      Arabic, Hebrew, Russian
    • Meaning:

      "flower, God has helped, dawn"
    • Description:

      Zariah has three possible origins: the Arabic Zahrah which means ‘flower’, the Hebrew name Azariah, meaning ‘God has helped’, or the Russian word Zaria which means ‘sunrise/dawn’. Either way, it's a strong and striking name with a range of lovely meanings.
  17. Bodi
    • Origin:

      Hungarian, Slavic diminutive; variant of Bodhi "God protect the king; divine gift; enlightenment"
    • Meaning:

      "God protect the king; divine gift; enlightenment"
    • Description:

      Bodi is a succinct and friendly looking name, with a number of possible origins. One one hand, it could be a diminutive of the Hungarian Boldizsár, which ultimately derives from the Babylonian Belshazzar or Balthazar, in turn lending it a regal quality.
  18. Mael
    • Origin:

      French or Breton
    • Meaning:

      "chief or prince"
    • Description:

      The name of a fifth century Breton saint, Mael is a popular boys' name in contemporary France, though it is usually spelled with a diaeresis or umlaut - Maël. Mael is the Breton spelling, and the pronunciation is almost like the English word mile, with two distinctive syllables.
  19. Arnold
    • Origin:

      English from German
    • Meaning:

      "ruler, strong as an eagle"
    • Description:

      Strange as it may now seem, the venerable St. Arnold was a Greek by birth, a musician who became a member of the court of Charlemagne. The name is said to have been introduced into Britain by the Normans in the form Arnaud.
  20. Fritz
    • Origin:

      German, diminutive of Friedrich or Frederick
    • Meaning:

      "peaceful ruler"
    • Description:

      Since female cousins Mitzi and Fritzi have entered the realm of possibilities, there's a chance that Cousin Fritz could as well. Fritz is the name of several notables, from early German-born film director Lang to early footballer Fritz (born Frederick) Pollard, the first African-American to play in the Rose Bowl in 1916.

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