Prince Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: prints /prɪnts/
Origin: Latin; English
Meaning: Latin: prince; English: royal son
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Prince originates from the Latin word "princeps," which means "first" or "chief." This term was used in ancient Rome to denote a leader or ruler, particularly in reference to the emperor. The Latin term evolved into the Old French "prince," which carried the same meaning and was adopted into Middle English as "prince" during the 12th century, following the Norman Conquest of England.
The transition into English solidified the term's association with nobility and leadership, reflecting its roots in the hierarchical structures of medieval society. Historically, the title of prince has been significant across various cultures and eras.
In biblical contexts, the term is often used to refer to leaders or figures of authority, such as the "Prince of Peace" in Christian theology, referring to Jesus Christ. The name has also been borne by numerous royal figures throughout history, including various European princes who played pivotal roles in the politics of their time.
The use of the name in literature and historical texts has further cemented its association with nobility and valor, contributing to its enduring presence in cultural narratives. Culturally, the name Prince carries connotations of leadership, honor, and prestige.
It has been used in various traditions and folklore to symbolize a noble character or a heroic figure. The name's resonance is enhanced by its use in literature and the arts, where characters named Prince often embody ideals of bravery and virtue.
Additionally, diminutive forms such as "Prinny" have emerged in informal contexts, reflecting the name's adaptability and affectionate use in familial or close-knit settings. Overall, the name Prince encapsulates a rich historical and cultural legacy that underscores its significance across different societies.
Famous people named Prince
In this section, you will find notable people named Prince. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Prince who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Prince who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Prince is a musician best known for Purple Rain, 1999, and When Doves Cry.
Prince Rogers Nelson is a singer-songwriter best known for his eclectic work and influence in the music industry.
Fictional characters named Prince
The following list of fictional characters named Prince is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Prince Zuko is a fictional character from the animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender. He is a conflicted prince of the Fire Nation who seeks to restore his honor and ultimately becomes a key ally to the protagonists.
Prince Eric is a fictional character from the animated film The Little Mermaid. He is a human prince who falls in love with Ariel, the mermaid, and plays a crucial role in her quest to become human.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Prince, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Prince. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Prince was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Prince has ranked as high as #537 nationally, which occurred in 2019, and has been most popular in New York, Florida, Texas, California, and Georgia.
In the past 5 years the name Prince has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Prince is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Prince was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Prince (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 94 | |
| FL | 65 | |
| NY | 56 | |
| CA | 55 | |
| NC | 42 | |
| GA | 41 | |
| IL | 33 | |
| PA | 31 | |
| OH | 26 | |
| MI | 24 | |
| MO | 21 | |
| AL | 20 | |
| SC | 20 | |
| IN | 18 | |
| VA | 18 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Prince.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 797 |
| 2023 | 893 |
| 2022 | 943 |
| 2021 | 978 |
| 2020 | 1,051 |
| 2019 | 1,162 |
| 2018 | 1,066 |
| 2017 | 988 |
| 2016 | 1,012 |
| 2015 | 830 |
| 2014 | 755 |
| 2013 | 634 |
| 2012 | 594 |
| 2011 | 551 |
| 2010 | 500 |
| 2009 | 351 |
| 2008 | 302 |
| 2007 | 273 |
| 2006 | 247 |
| 2005 | 232 |
| 2004 | 228 |
| 2003 | 202 |
| 2002 | 161 |
| 2001 | 164 |
| 2000 | 176 |
| 1999 | 152 |
| 1998 | 172 |
| 1997 | 123 |
| 1996 | 96 |
| 1995 | 105 |
| 1994 | 95 |
| 1993 | 118 |
| 1992 | 129 |
| 1991 | 135 |
| 1990 | 126 |
| 1989 | 134 |
| 1988 | 138 |
| 1987 | 122 |
| 1986 | 150 |
| 1985 | 195 |
| 1984 | 206 |
| 1983 | 167 |
| 1982 | 137 |
| 1981 | 146 |
| 1980 | 131 |
| 1979 | 92 |
| 1978 | 73 |
| 1977 | 59 |
| 1976 | 65 |
| 1975 | 39 |
| 1974 | 59 |
| 1973 | 63 |
| 1972 | 49 |
| 1971 | 52 |
| 1970 | 51 |
| 1969 | 44 |
| 1968 | 55 |
| 1967 | 45 |
| 1966 | 46 |
| 1965 | 48 |
| 1964 | 70 |
| 1963 | 64 |
| 1962 | 63 |
| 1961 | 55 |
| 1960 | 61 |
| 1959 | 64 |
| 1958 | 55 |
| 1957 | 81 |
| 1956 | 74 |
| 1955 | 75 |
| 1954 | 73 |
| 1953 | 71 |
| 1952 | 58 |
| 1951 | 66 |
| 1950 | 52 |
| 1949 | 77 |
| 1948 | 58 |
| 1947 | 67 |
| 1946 | 64 |
| 1945 | 52 |
| 1944 | 54 |
| 1943 | 62 |
| 1942 | 45 |
| 1941 | 51 |
| 1940 | 60 |
| 1939 | 56 |
| 1938 | 66 |
| 1937 | 62 |
| 1936 | 55 |
| 1935 | 59 |
| 1934 | 49 |
| 1933 | 51 |
| 1932 | 63 |
| 1931 | 49 |
| 1930 | 63 |
| 1929 | 64 |
| 1928 | 70 |
| 1927 | 69 |
| 1926 | 73 |
| 1925 | 75 |
| 1924 | 96 |
| 1923 | 66 |
| 1922 | 97 |
| 1921 | 82 |
| 1920 | 80 |
| 1919 | 80 |
| 1918 | 90 |
| 1917 | 86 |
| 1916 | 85 |
| 1915 | 80 |
| 1914 | 69 |
| 1913 | 50 |
| 1912 | 49 |
| 1911 | 31 |
| 1910 | 38 |
| 1909 | 30 |
| 1908 | 25 |
| 1907 | 17 |
| 1906 | 20 |
| 1905 | 24 |
| 1904 | 29 |
| 1903 | 23 |
| 1902 | 21 |
| 1901 | 29 |
| 1900 | 22 |
| 1899 | 15 |
| 1898 | 14 |
| 1897 | 19 |
| 1896 | 26 |
| 1895 | 18 |
| 1894 | 13 |
| 1893 | 14 |
| 1892 | 19 |
| 1891 | 26 |
| 1890 | 18 |
| 1889 | 14 |
| 1888 | 19 |
| 1887 | 18 |
| 1886 | 22 |
| 1885 | 21 |
| 1884 | 17 |
| 1883 | 18 |
| 1882 | 18 |
| 1881 | 17 |
| 1880 | 16 |