Princess Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name 'Princess' has Latin origins, meaning noblewoman or female sovereign. It has evolved from 'principessa' in Latin to 'princesse' in Old French, and then to 'princes' in Middle English. The term reflects attributes of nobility and royalty, with no significant biblical relevance. It gained popularity in the Middle Ages and is often associated with elegance and fairy tales in modern culture.
The name Princess is most popular in Georgia, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation Alpha generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Princess has been stalled for female in MidWest, falling for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, falling for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Princess' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 15172nd out of 16616 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1868th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2013th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1364th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1277th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 774th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 837th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 879th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Princess' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Princess"
Pronunciation
/ˈprɪn.sɛs/
Origin
Latin
Etymology
The word 'princess' derives from the Latin 'principessa', which is a feminine form of 'princeps', meaning 'first' or 'chief'.
Meaning
noblewoman, female sovereign
Language Evolution
Latin: principessa, Old French: princesse, Middle English: princes
Historical Usage
The term gained popularity during the Middle Ages as monarchies became more established in Europe, and it has been in use since then to denote female royalty.
Variants & Derivatives
Princely, Princesse, Princesa
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, the term 'princess' often evokes images of fairy tales and royal families, symbolizing elegance and nobility. It is commonly associated with children's fiction and popular culture.
Famous People
Princess Diana, Princess Grace of Monaco, Princess Anne
Explore More Princess Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Princess"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Princess"
"Princess" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 15172nd of 16616 | 7 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 1868th of 9107 | 355 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 2013th of 9204 | 317 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 1364th of 12526 | 1,099 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 1277th of 19264 | 1,409 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 774th of 27321 | 3,962 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 837th of 35406 | 4,884 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 879th of 30306 | 3,711 |
Regional Popularity of "Princess" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - |
64.02% 3325th/5194 |
- |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Princess" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - |
75.87% 1795th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
66.32% 1477th/2227 |
66.58% 1618th/2430 |
37.82% 1079th/2853 |
67.10% 1862nd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
43.21% 1269th/2937 |
39.36% 1371st/3483 |
27.43% 965th/3518 |
41.32% 1671st/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
24.15% 890th/3685 |
15.73% 704th/4475 |
10.99% 571st/5194 |
19.20% 1213th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
23.02% 1055th/4582 |
15.36% 793rd/5164 |
9.33% 682nd/7313 |
13.79% 1029th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
21.96% 875th/3984 |
20.17% 905th/4487 |
10.33% 705th/6822 |
19.66% 1234th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Princess"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Princess" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.