A title is one or more words used before or after a person's name, in certain contexts. It may signify either generation, an official position, or a professional or academic qualification. In some languages, titles may be inserted between the first and last name (for example, ''
Graf
(feminine: ) is a historical title of the German nobility, usually translated as "count". Considered to be intermediate among noble ranks, the title is often treated as equivalent to the British title of "earl" (whose female version is "coun ...
'' in
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
**Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ger ...
,
Cardinal
Cardinal or The Cardinal may refer to:
Animals
* Cardinal (bird) or Cardinalidae, a family of North and South American birds
**''Cardinalis'', genus of cardinal in the family Cardinalidae
**''Cardinalis cardinalis'', or northern cardinal, the ...
in
Catholic
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
usage (
Richard Cardinal Cushing
Richard James Cushing (August 24, 1895 – November 2, 1970) was an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Boston from 1944 to 1970 and was made a cardinal in 1958. Cushing's main role was as fundraiser and builder ...
) or clerical titles such as
Archbishop
In Christian denominations, an archbishop is a bishop of higher rank or office. In most cases, such as the Catholic Church, there are many archbishops who either have jurisdiction over an ecclesiastical province in addition to their own archdi ...
). Some titles are
hereditary
Heredity, also called inheritance or biological inheritance, is the passing on of traits from parents to their offspring; either through asexual reproduction or sexual reproduction, the offspring cells or organisms acquire the genetic inform ...
.
Types
Titles include:
*
Honorific titles or
styles of address
A style of office or form of address, also called manner of address, is an official or legally recognized form of address for a person or other entity (such as a government or company), and may often be used in conjunction with a personal title. ...
, a phrase used to convey respect to the recipient of a communication, or to recognize an attribute such as:
**
Imperial, royal and noble ranks
Traditional rank amongst European royalty, peers, and nobility is rooted in Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages. Although they vary over time and among geographic regions (for example, one region's prince might be equal to another's grand duke), ...
**
Academic degree
An academic degree is a qualification awarded to students upon successful completion of a course of study in higher education, usually at a college or university. These institutions commonly offer degrees at various levels, usually including unde ...
**
Social title
A title is one or more words used before or after a person's name, in certain contexts. It may signify either generation, an official position, or a professional or academic qualification. In some languages, titles may be inserted between the f ...
s, prevalent among certain sections of society due to historic or other reasons.
** Other accomplishment, as with a
title of honor
A title of honor or honorary title is a title bestowed upon individuals or organizations as an award in recognition of their merits.
Sometimes the title bears the same or nearly the same name as a title of authority, but the person bestowed doe ...
*
Title of authority
Title of authority, title of office or title of command is the official designation of a position held in an organization (e.g. in government or corporation) associated with certain duties of authority.
Semi-formally, the title of office may be r ...
, an identifier that specifies the office or position held by an
official
An official is someone who holds an office (function or mandate, regardless whether it carries an actual working space with it) in an organization or government and participates in the exercise of authority, (either their own or that of their ...
Titles in English-speaking areas
Common titles
*
Mr.
''Mister'', usually written in its contracted form ''Mr.'' or ''Mr'', is a commonly used English honorific for men without a higher honorific, or professional title, or any of various designations of office. The title 'Mr' derived from earlier ...
– Adult man (regardless of marital status)
*
Ms.
Ms. (American English) or Ms (British English; normally , but also , or when unstressed)''Oxford English Dictionary'' online, Ms, ''n.2''. Etymology: "An orthographic and phonetic blend of Mrs ''n.1'' and miss ''n.2'' Compare mizz ''n.'' The pr ...
– Adult woman (regardless of marital status)
*
Mx.
Mx (usually pronounced , or and sometimes ) is an English language neologistic honorific that does not indicate gender. Developed as an alternative to gendered honorifics (such as Mr. and Ms.) in the late 1970s, it is the most common ge ...
– Adult person (regardless of marital status), can be used to refer to non-binary people
*
Mrs.
Mrs. (American English) or Mrs (British English; standard English pronunciation: ) is a commonly used English honorific for women, usually for those who are married and who do not instead use another title (or rank), such as ''Doctor'', ''Profe ...
– Married Adult woman (includes widows and divorcées)
*
Miss
Miss (pronounced ) is an English language honorific typically used for a girl, for an unmarried woman (when not using another title such as "Doctor" or "Dame"), or for a married woman retaining her maiden name. Originating in the 17th century, it ...
– Unmarried Adult Woman or Female child
*
Master
Master or masters may refer to:
Ranks or titles
* Ascended master, a term used in the Theosophical religious tradition to refer to spiritually enlightened beings who in past incarnations were ordinary humans
*Grandmaster (chess), National Master ...
– Male Child
*
Madam
Madam (), or madame ( or ), is a polite and formal form of address for Woman, women in the English language, often contracted to ma'am (pronounced in American English and this way but also in British English). The term derives from the French ...
(also Madame and Ma'am) – Formal form of address for an adult woman. Also used to denote a position of power or respect, opposite the usage of "Mister" for men, e.g. "Mister/Madam Ambassador".
Controversy around usage of common titles
Some people object to the usage of titles to denote marital status, age or gender. In 2018, a campaign named GoTitleFree was launched to encourage businesses to stop requesting, storing and using marital status titles in their registration forms, and when speaking with customers, launched on the grounds that titles often lead to assumptions about a woman's age or availability for marriage, and exclude non-binary people. This is in line with established practice advocated by the World Wide Web Consortium and the Government Digital Service which sets the standard for UK government online services. This in turn means that titles are optional on UK passports and driving licences.
Familial
Aunt
An aunt is a woman who is a sibling of a parent or married to a sibling of a parent. Aunts who are related by birth are second-degree relatives. Known alternate terms include auntie or aunty. Children in other cultures and families may refer ...
, Auntie, or
Uncle
An uncle is usually defined as a male relative who is a sibling of a parent or married to a sibling of a parent. Uncles who are related by birth are second-degree relatives. The female counterpart of an uncle is an aunt, and the reciprocal relat ...
may be used as titles by nieces and nephews, or by children to adults whom they know.
Legislative and executive titles
* Hon. (
Honourable
''The Honourable'' (British English) or ''The Honorable'' (American English; see spelling differences) (abbreviation: ''Hon.'', ''Hon'ble'', or variations) is an honorific style that is used as a prefix before the names or titles of certain ...
) (for younger sons and daughters of
baron
Baron is a rank of nobility or title of honour, often hereditary, in various European countries, either current or historical. The female equivalent is baroness. Typically, the title denotes an aristocrat who ranks higher than a lord or knig ...
s) and. Rt. Hon. (
Right Honourable
''The Right Honourable'' (abbreviation: ''Rt Hon.'' or variations) is an honorific style traditionally applied to certain persons and collective bodies in the United Kingdom, the former British Empire and the Commonwealth of Nations. The term is ...
) (for
Privy Councillor
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a state, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the mon ...
s), used in the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
Some job titles of members of the legislature and executive are used as titles.
*MP, for members of the Parliament
*MYP, for members of the
UK Youth Parliament
The UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) is a youth organisation in the United Kingdom, consisting of democratically elected members aged between 11 and 18.
Formed in 2000, the parliament has 369 members, who are elected to represent the views of young ...
*
Representative
Representative may refer to:
Politics
* Representative democracy, type of democracy in which elected officials represent a group of people
* House of Representatives, legislative body in various countries or sub-national entities
* Legislator, som ...
*
Senator
A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...
*
Speaker
Speaker may refer to:
Society and politics
* Speaker (politics), the presiding officer in a legislative assembly
* Public speaker, one who gives a speech or lecture
* A person producing speech: the producer of a given utterance, especially:
** I ...
*
President
President most commonly refers to:
*President (corporate title)
*President (education), a leader of a college or university
*President (government title)
President may also refer to:
Automobiles
* Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...
(from which comes such titles as
Deputy President
A vice president, also director in British English, is an officer in government or business who is below the president (chief executive officer) in rank. It can also refer to executive vice presidents, signifying that the vice president is on t ...
,
Executive Vice President
A vice president, also director in British English, is an officer in government or business who is below the president (chief executive officer) in rank. It can also refer to executive vice presidents, signifying that the vice president is on t ...
,
Lord President of the Council
The lord president of the Council is the presiding officer of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom and the fourth of the Great Officers of State (United Kingdom), Great Officers of State, ranking below the Lord High Treasurer but above the ...
, and
Vice President
A vice president, also director in British English, is an officer in government or business who is below the president (chief executive officer) in rank. It can also refer to executive vice presidents, signifying that the vice president is on t ...
)
*
Councillor
A councillor is an elected representative for a local government council in some countries.
Canada
Due to the control that the provinces have over their municipal governments, terms that councillors serve vary from province to province. Unl ...
* Youth Councillor (YC)
*
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a Municipal government, municipal assembly or council in many Jurisdiction, jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council membe ...
/
Selectman
* Delegate
*
Mayor
In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well a ...
and related terms such as
Lady Mayoress
Lady mayoress is an official female companion to the lord mayor of a major city in the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland, or a capital city of an Australian state. Traditionally this was the wife of a male mayor. It is not an elected office. L ...
and
Lord Mayor
*
Governor
A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
and
Lieutenant Governor
A lieutenant governor, lieutenant-governor, or vice governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction. Often a lieutenant governor is the deputy, or lieutenant, to or ranked under a governor — a "second-in-comm ...
*
Prefect
Prefect (from the Latin ''praefectus'', substantive adjectival form of ''praeficere'': "put in front", meaning in charge) is a magisterial title of varying definition, but essentially refers to the leader of an administrative area.
A prefect's ...
*
Prelate
A prelate () is a high-ranking member of the Christian clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin , the past participle of , which means 'carry before', 'be set above or over' or 'pref ...
*
Premier
Premier is a title for the head of government in central governments, state governments and local governments of some countries. A second in command to a premier is designated as a deputy premier.
A premier will normally be a head of governm ...
*
Burgess __NOTOC__
Burgess may refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Burgess (surname), a list of people and fictional characters
* Burgess (given name), a list of people
Places
* Burgess, Michigan, an unincorporated community
* Burgess, Missouri, U ...
*
Ambassador
An ambassador is an official envoy, especially a high-ranking diplomat who represents a state and is usually accredited to another sovereign state or to an international organization as the resident representative of their own government or sov ...
*
Envoy
Envoy or Envoys may refer to:
Diplomacy
* Diplomacy, in general
* Envoy (title)
* Special envoy, a type of diplomatic rank
Brands
*Airspeed Envoy, a 1930s British light transport aircraft
*Envoy (automobile), an automobile brand used to sell Bri ...
*
Secretary
A secretary, administrative professional, administrative assistant, executive assistant, administrative officer, administrative support specialist, clerk, military assistant, management assistant, office secretary, or personal assistant is a w ...
,
Cardinal Secretary of State
The Secretary of State of His Holiness (Latin: Secretarius Status Sanctitatis Suae,
it, Segretario di Stato di Sua Santità), commonly known as the Cardinal Secretary of State, presides over the Holy See's Secretariat of State, which is the ...
,
Foreign Secretary
The secretary of state for foreign, Commonwealth and development affairs, known as the foreign secretary, is a minister of the Crown of the Government of the United Kingdom and head of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Seen as ...
,
General Secretary
Secretary is a title often used in organizations to indicate a person having a certain amount of authority, power, or importance in the organization. Secretaries announce important events and communicate to the organization. The term is derived ...
,
Secretary of State, and other titles in the form "Secretary of..." in which Secretary means the same thing as Minister
*
Attaché
In diplomacy, an attaché is a person who is assigned ("to be attached") to the diplomatic or administrative staff of a higher placed person or another service or agency. Although a loanword from French, in English the word is not modified accor ...
*
Chargé d'affaires
A ''chargé d'affaires'' (), plural ''chargés d'affaires'', often shortened to ''chargé'' (French) and sometimes in colloquial English to ''charge-D'', is a diplomat who serves as an embassy's chief of mission in the absence of the ambassador ...
*
Provost
* Minister (from which comes such titles as Prime Minister and Health Minister)
Aristocratic titles
*
Prince
A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. Th ...
/
Princess
Princess is a regal rank and the feminine equivalent of prince (from Latin ''princeps'', meaning principal citizen). Most often, the term has been used for the consort of a prince, or for the daughter of a king or prince.
Princess as a subst ...
– From the
Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...
''
princeps
''Princeps'' (plural: ''principes'') is a Latin word meaning "first in time or order; the first, foremost, chief, the most eminent, distinguished, or noble; the first man, first person". As a title, ''princeps'' originated in the Roman Republic w ...
'', meaning "first person" or "first citizen". The title was originally used by
Augustus
Caesar Augustus (born Gaius Octavius; 23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14), also known as Octavian, was the first Roman emperor; he reigned from 27 BC until his death in AD 14. He is known for being the founder of the Roman Pri ...
at the establishment of the
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire ( la, Imperium Romanum ; grc-gre, Βασιλεία τῶν Ῥωμαίων, Basileía tôn Rhōmaíōn) was the post-Republican period of ancient Rome. As a polity, it included large territorial holdings around the Mediterr ...
to avoid the political risk of assuming the title ''Rex'' ("King") in what was technically still a republic. In modern times, the title is often given to the sons and daughters of ruling monarchs. Also a title of certain ruling monarchs under the
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a Polity, political entity in Western Europe, Western, Central Europe, Central, and Southern Europe that developed during the Early Middle Ages and continued until its Dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, dissolution i ...
and its subsidiary territories until 1918 which is still used in
Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein (), officially the Principality of Liechtenstein (german: link=no, Fürstentum Liechtenstein), is a German-speaking microstate located in the Alps between Austria and Switzerland. Liechtenstein is a semi-constitutional monarchy ...
, (
Monaco
Monaco (; ), officially the Principality of Monaco (french: Principauté de Monaco; Ligurian: ; oc, Principat de Mónegue), is a sovereign city-state and microstate on the French Riviera a few kilometres west of the Italian region of Lig ...
still uses the title Prince to this day, even though it was not a part of the Holy Roman Empire) and in
Imperial Russia
The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the List of Russian monarchs, Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended th ...
before 1917. The German title is
Fürst
' (, female form ', plural '; from Old High German ', "the first", a translation of the Latin ') is a German word for a ruler and is also a princely title. ' were, since the Middle Ages, members of the highest nobility who ruled over states of ...
("first"), a translation of the Latin term; the equivalent Russian term is ''князь (knyaz)''.
*
Archduke
Archduke (feminine: Archduchess; German: ''Erzherzog'', feminine form: ''Erzherzogin'') was the title borne from 1358 by the Habsburg rulers of the Archduchy of Austria, and later by all senior members of that dynasty. It denotes a rank within ...
/
Archduchess
Archduke (feminine: Archduchess; German: ''Erzherzog'', feminine form: ''Erzherzogin'') was the title borne from 1358 by the Habsburg rulers of the Archduchy of Austria, and later by all senior members of that dynasty. It denotes a rank within ...
– A title derived from the
Greek
Greek may refer to:
Greece
Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe:
*Greeks, an ethnic group.
*Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family.
**Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...
''
Archon
''Archon'' ( gr, ἄρχων, árchōn, plural: ἄρχοντες, ''árchontes'') is a Greek word that means "ruler", frequently used as the title of a specific public office. It is the masculine present participle of the verb stem αρχ-, mean ...
'' ("ruler; higher") and the Latin ''
Dux
''Dux'' (; plural: ''ducēs'') is Latin for "leader" (from the noun ''dux, ducis'', "leader, general") and later for duke and its variant forms (doge, duce, etc.). During the Roman Republic and for the first centuries of the Roman Empire, ''dux' ...
''("leader"). It was used most notably by the
Habsburg Dynasty
The House of Habsburg (), alternatively spelled Hapsburg in Englishgerman: Haus Habsburg, ; es, Casa de Habsburgo; hu, Habsburg család, it, Casa di Asburgo, nl, Huis van Habsburg, pl, dom Habsburgów, pt, Casa de Habsburgo, la, Domus Hab ...
that ruled
Austria
Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...
and
Hungary
Hungary ( hu, Magyarország ) is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning of the Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia a ...
until 1918.
*
Grand Duke
Grand duke (feminine: grand duchess) is a European hereditary title, used either by certain monarchs or by members of certain monarchs' families. In status, a grand duke traditionally ranks in order of precedence below an emperor, as an approxi ...
/
Grand Duchess
Grand duke (feminine: grand duchess) is a European hereditary title, used either by certain monarchs or by members of certain monarchs' families. In status, a grand duke traditionally ranks in order of precedence below an emperor, as an approxi ...
– "Big; large" + Latin ''Dux'' (leader). A variant of "Archduke", used particularly in English translations
Romanov Dynasty
The House of Romanov (also transcribed Romanoff; rus, Романовы, Románovy, rɐˈmanəvɨ) was the reigning imperial house of Russia from 1613 to 1917. They achieved prominence after the Tsarina, Anastasia Romanova, was married to ...
Russian titles. Also used in various Germanic territories until
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
. Still survives in
Luxembourg
Luxembourg ( ; lb, Lëtzebuerg ; french: link=no, Luxembourg; german: link=no, Luxemburg), officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, ; french: link=no, Grand-Duché de Luxembourg ; german: link=no, Großherzogtum Luxemburg is a small lan ...
.
*
Duke
Duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy, or of a member of royalty, or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, grand princes, grand dukes, and sovereign princes. As royalty or nobility, they are ran ...
/
Duchess
Duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy, or of a member of royalty, or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, grand princes, grand dukes, and sovereign princes. As royalty or nobility, they are ranked ...
– From the Latin ''
Dux
''Dux'' (; plural: ''ducēs'') is Latin for "leader" (from the noun ''dux, ducis'', "leader, general") and later for duke and its variant forms (doge, duce, etc.). During the Roman Republic and for the first centuries of the Roman Empire, ''dux' ...
'', a military title used in the
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire ( la, Imperium Romanum ; grc-gre, Βασιλεία τῶν Ῥωμαίων, Basileía tôn Rhōmaíōn) was the post-Republican period of ancient Rome. As a polity, it included large territorial holdings around the Mediterr ...
, especially in its early
Byzantine period
The Byzantine Empire, also referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantium, was the continuation of the Roman Empire primarily in its eastern provinces during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, when its capital city was Constantinopl ...
when it designated the military commander for a specific zone.
*
Marquis
A marquess (; french: marquis ), es, marqués, pt, marquês. is a nobleman of high hereditary rank in various European peerages and in those of some of their former colonies. The German language equivalent is Markgraf (margrave). A woman wi ...
or
Marquess
A marquess (; french: marquis ), es, marqués, pt, marquês. is a nobleman of high hereditary rank in various European peerages and in those of some of their former colonies. The German language equivalent is Markgraf (margrave). A woman wi ...
/
Marquise or
Marchioness
A marquess (; french: marquis ), es, marqués, pt, marquês. is a nobleman of high hereditary rank in various European peerages and in those of some of their former colonies. The German language equivalent is Markgraf (margrave). A woman wi ...
– From the French ''marchis'', literally "ruler of a border area", (from Old French ''marche'' meaning "border"); exact English translation is "March Lord", or "Lord of the March".
*
Count
Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...
/
Countess
Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility.L. G. Pine, Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty'' ...
- From the Latin ''
comes
''Comes'' ( ), plural ''comites'' ( ), was a Roman title or office, and the origin Latin form of the medieval and modern title "count".
Before becoming a word for various types of title or office, the word originally meant "companion", either i ...
'' meaning "companion". The word was used by the Roman Empire in its Byzantine period as an honorific with a meaning roughly equivalent to modern English "peer". It became the title of those who commanded field armies in the Empire, as opposed to "Dux" which commanded locally based forces.
*
Earl
Earl () is a rank of the nobility in the United Kingdom. The title originates in the Old English word ''eorl'', meaning "a man of noble birth or rank". The word is cognate with the Scandinavian form ''jarl'', and meant "chieftain", particular ...
(used in the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
instead of
Count
Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...
, but the feminine equivalent is
Countess
Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility.L. G. Pine, Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty'' ...
) – From the Germanic ''jarl'', meaning "chieftain," the title was brought to the British Isles by the Anglo-Saxons and survives in use only there, having been superseded in Scandinavia and on the European continent.
*
Viscount
A viscount ( , for male) or viscountess (, for female) is a title used in certain European countries for a noble of varying status.
In many countries a viscount, and its historical equivalents, was a non-hereditary, administrative or judicial ...
/
Viscountess
A viscount ( , for male) or viscountess (, for female) is a title used in certain European countries for a noble of varying status.
In many countries a viscount, and its historical equivalents, was a non-hereditary, administrative or judicial ...
- From the Latin ''
vicarius
''Vicarius'' is a Latin word, meaning ''substitute'' or ''deputy''. It is the root of the English word "vicar".
History
Originally, in ancient Rome, this office was equivalent to the later English " vice-" (as in "deputy"), used as part of th ...
'' ("Deputy; substitute". Hence "vicar" and prefix "vice-") appended to Latin ''
comes
''Comes'' ( ), plural ''comites'' ( ), was a Roman title or office, and the origin Latin form of the medieval and modern title "count".
Before becoming a word for various types of title or office, the word originally meant "companion", either i ...
''. Literally: "Deputy Count".
*
Baron
Baron is a rank of nobility or title of honour, often hereditary, in various European countries, either current or historical. The female equivalent is baroness. Typically, the title denotes an aristocrat who ranks higher than a lord or knig ...
/
Baroness
Baron is a rank of nobility or title of honour, often Hereditary title, hereditary, in various European countries, either current or historical. The female equivalent is baroness. Typically, the title denotes an aristocrat who ranks higher th ...
- From the
Late Latin
Late Latin ( la, Latinitas serior) is the scholarly name for the form of Literary Latin of late antiquity.Roberts (1996), p. 537. English dictionary definitions of Late Latin date this period from the , and continuing into the 7th century in t ...
''Baro'', meaning "man, servant, soldier". The title originally designated the chief feudal tenant of a place, who was in vassalage to a greater lord.
In the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
, "Lord" and "Lady" are
used as titles for members of the nobility. Unlike titles such as "Mr" and "Mrs", they are not used before first names except in certain circumstances, for example as courtesy titles for younger sons, etc., of peers. In
Scotland
Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...
"
Lord of Parliament
A Lord of Parliament ( sco, Laird o Pairlament) was the holder of the lowest form of peerage, entitled as of right to take part in sessions of the pre-Union Parliament of Scotland. Since that Union in 1707, it has been the lowest rank of the P ...
" and "Lady of Parliament" are the equivalents of Baron and Baroness in
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
.
* Lord – From Old English ''hlāford, hlāfweard'', meaning, literally, "bread-keeper", from hlāf ("bread") + weard ("guardian, keeper") and by extension "husband, father, or chief". (From which comes modified titles such as First Sea Lord and Lord of the Manor.) The feminine equivalent is Lady from the related Old English ''hlǣfdīġe'' meaning, literally, "bread-kneader", from hlāf ("bread") + dīġe ("maid"), and by extension wife, daughter, or mistress of the house. (From which comes First Lady, the anachronistic Second Lady, etc.)
* Emperor/Empress – From the Latin ''Imperator'', meaning he/she who holds the authority to command (''imperium'').
* Monarch, King/Queen regnant, Queen – Derived from Old Norse/Germanic words. The original meaning of the root of "king" apparently meant "leader of the family" or "descendant of the leader of the family," and the original meaning of "queen," "wife". By the time the words came into English they already meant "ruler".
* Tsar/Tsarina (Tsaritsa) – Slavonic loan-word from Latin.
* Caesar – The name of Julius Caesar taken by his heir
Augustus
Caesar Augustus (born Gaius Octavius; 23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14), also known as Octavian, was the first Roman emperor; he reigned from 27 BC until his death in AD 14. He is known for being the founder of the Roman Pri ...
and thereafter by Augustus' successors as Roman Emperor through the fall of Constantinople in 1453. Loaned into German as Kaiser.
* Leadership, Leader – From Old English ''lædan'', meaning "to guide". The head of state of North Korea is titled Great Leader. The ''de facto'' head of state of Iran is titled Supreme Leader.
*Chieftain, Chief – A variation of the English "Prince", used as the short form of the word "Chieftain" (except for in
Scotland
Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...
, where "Chieftain" is a title held by a titleholder subordinate to a chief). Generally used to refer to a recognised leader within a chieftaincy system. From this come the variations paramount chief, clan chief and village headman, village chief. The feminine equivalent is Chieftain, Chieftess.
* The High Priestess, Popess
The title of a character found in Tarot cards based upon the Pope on the Roman Catholic Church. As the Bishop of Rome is an office always forbidden to women there is no formal feminine of Pope, which comes from the Latin word ''papa'' (an affectionate form of the Latin for ''father'').
The mythical Pope Joan, who was reportedly a woman, is always referred to with the masculine title ''Pope'', even when her female identity is known. Further, even if a woman were to become Bishop of Rome it is unclear if she would take the title ''Popess''. A parallel might be drawn with the Anglican Communion, whose female clergy use the masculine titles of ''priest'' and ''bishop'' as opposed to ''priestess'' or ''bishopess''.
Nonetheless some European languages, along with English, have formed a feminine form of the word ''pope'', such as the Italian ''papessa'', the French ''papesse'', the Portuguese ''papisa'', and the German ''Päpstin''.
Titles used by knights, dames, baronets and baronetesses
These do not confer nobility.
* Sir – Used by knights and baronets
* Dame (title), Dame – Used by dames and baronetesses
"Sir" and "Dame" differ from titles such as "Mr" and "Mrs" in that they can only be used before a person's first name, and not immediately before their surname.
* Chevalier (French)
* Cavaliere (Italian)
Judicial titles
* Advocate
* Advocate General AG
* wikt:attorney, Attorney
* Bailiff
* Barrister
* Chancellor of the High Court, Chancellor C (of the High Court of Justice, High Court)
* Judge and Admiralty Judge
* Judge, Justice J
** Lord Chief Justice CJ (of the judiciary)
** Lord Justice Clerk
** Lord Justice of Appeal LJ (of the Court of Appeal)
** Justice of the Peace
* Magistrate and Promagistrate
* Master of the Rolls MR (of the Court of Appeal)
* Member and Chairman, for members of quasi-judicial boards
* Mufti and Grand Mufti
* Notary
* President of the Queen's Bench Division, President P (of the King's Bench Division, Queen's/King's Bench Division) or President of the Family Division, President P (of the Family Division)
** Lord President of the Court of Session
* Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, Privy Counsellor (or Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, Privy Councillor) PC (of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council)
* Queen's Counsel QC (King's Counsel KC when monarch is male)
* Solicitor
Historical
* Lictor
* Reeve (England), Reeve
* Seneschal
* Tribune
Ecclesiastical titles (Christian)
Titles are used to show somebody's ordination as a priest or their membership in a religious order. Use of titles differs between Christian denomination, denominations.
Religious
* Abbess
* Abbot
* Caliph
* Brother (Christian), Brother – also for monk, monks
* Friar
* Mother, Abbess, Mother Superior, and Reverend Mother
* Reverend
* Sister – for Religious sister, religious sisters and nun, nuns
Priests
Christian priests often have their names prefixed with a title similar to The Reverend.
* Bishop (from which come
Archbishop
In Christian denominations, an archbishop is a bishop of higher rank or office. In most cases, such as the Catholic Church, there are many archbishops who either have jurisdiction over an ecclesiastical province in addition to their own archdi ...
, Boy Bishop, Lord Archbishop, Metropolitan Bishop, and Prince Bishop)
* Presbyter
* Priest (from which comes wikt:High Priest, High Priest. The feminine equivalent is Priestess.)
* Priest, Father (Fr.)
* Patriarch
* Pope
* Catholicos
* Vicar
* Chaplain
* Canon (priest), Canon
* Pastor
*
Prelate
A prelate () is a high-ranking member of the Christian clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin , the past participle of , which means 'carry before', 'be set above or over' or 'pref ...
* Primate (bishop), Primate
* Dom (title), Dom – (from la, Dominus, "Lord") Used for Order of St. Benedict, Benedictine monks in solemn religious vows, but reserved for abbots among the Trappists. In Brazil, it is used for bishops.
*
Cardinal
Cardinal or The Cardinal may refer to:
Animals
* Cardinal (bird) or Cardinalidae, a family of North and South American birds
**''Cardinalis'', genus of cardinal in the family Cardinalidae
**''Cardinalis cardinalis'', or northern cardinal, the ...
* Ter (title) – Used by Armenian priests.
Used for deceased persons only
* Servant of God
* Venerable
* Beatification, Blessed
* Saint (abbreviated S. or St.)
Other
* Christ – Greek translation of Hebrew מָשִׁיחַ (or Messiah), commonly used to refer to Jesus of Nazareth
* Deacon and Archdeacon
* Acolyte
* Dean (religion), Dean
* Elder (Christianity), Elder
* Minister (Christianity), Minister
* Monsignor
* President of the Church (LDS Church), President (in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
* Reader (liturgy), Reader
* Almoner and Lord High Almoner (Christian)
* Apostle
* Prophet
* Teacher
* Seventy
* Evangelism, Evangelist
* High Priest
* Great (Lord) Father of all churches
Academic titles
* Dr. – Short for Doctor (title), doctor, a title used by those with doctoral degrees, such as DPhil, Doctor of Medicine, MD, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, DO, Dentist, DDS, Doctor of Philosophy, PhD, Doctor of Education, EdD, Doctor of Clinical Nutrition, DCN, Doctor of Business Administration, DBA, Doctor of Nursing Practice, DNP, Doctor of Pharmacy, PharmD, Veterinary education, DVM, and Legum Doctor, LLD. Those with Juris Doctor, JD degrees, although technically allowed, do not use this as a title by convention.
* Prof. – Professor
* Doc. – Docent
* Eur Ing – Short for European Engineer, an international professional qualification and title for highly qualified engineers used in over 32 European countries.
Military titles
Military ranks are used before names.
* Admiral (from which come Grand Admiral, Fleet Admiral, Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom, Lord High Admiral, Rear Admiral, and Vice Admiral)
* Brigadier
* Captain (land), Captain (from which comes Group Captain)
* Colonel (from which comes Lieutenant colonel, Lieutenant Colonel)
* Commander (from which come Commander-in-Chief, Lieutenant Commander, and Wing Commander (rank), Wing Commander)
* Commodore (rank), Commodore (from which comes Air Commodore)
* Corporal (from which come Lance Corporal and Staff Corporal)
* General is usually used as a sort of shorthand for "general military commander". The term's far-reaching connotation has provoked its use in a very broad range of titles, including Adjutant General, Attorney General, Captain General, Colonel General, Director General, Generalissimo, General of the Army, Governor General, Lieutenant General, Lord Justice General, Major General, Resident (title), Resident General, Secretary General, United States Solicitor General, Solicitor General, Surgeon General of the United States, Surgeon General and Vicar General
* Lieutenant (from which come First Lieutenant, Flight Lieutenant and Lord Lieutenant)
* Major
* Marshal (from which comes Air Chief Marshal, Air Marshal, Air Vice Marshal and Field Marshal)
* Chief Mate, Mate, more often titled as Chief Mate or First Mate
* Officer (armed forces), Officer, a generic sort of title whose use has spread in recent years into a wide array of mostly corporate and military titles. These include Air Officer, Chief Academic Officer, Chief analytics officer, Chief Business Development Officer, Chief Credit Officer, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Information Officer, Chief Information Security Officer, Chief Knowledge Officer, Chief Marketing Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Petty Officer, Chief Risk Officer, Chief Security Officer, Chief Strategy Officer, Chief Technical Officer, Chief Warrant Officer, Corporate officer, Customs officer, Field officer, Executive officer, First Officer, Flag Officer, Flying Officer, General Officer, Intelligence Officer, Junior Warrant Officer, Master Chief Petty Officer, Master Warrant Officer, Officer of State, Petty Officer, Pilot Officer, Police Officer, Political officer (military), Political Officer, Revenue Officer, Military rank#Field or senior officers, Senior Officer, Ship's Officer, Staff Officer, and Warrant Officer.
* Private (rank), Private, and many equivalent ranks depending on regiment.
* Sergeant (from which come Sergeant at Mace and Sergeant of Arms).
Maritime and seafarer's professions and ranks
The names of shipboard officers, certain shipping line employees and Maritime Academy faculty/staff are preceded by their title when acting in performance of their duties.
* Captain (nautical) – a ship's highest responsible officer acting on behalf of the ship's owner (Master) or a person who is responsible for the maintenance of the vessels of a shipping line, for their docking, the handling of cargo and for the hiring of personnel for deck departments (Port Captain).
* Chief – a licensed mariner in charge of the engineering (Chief Engineer) or deck (Chief Mate or Officer) department
* Mate – licensed member of the deck department of a merchant ship (see Second Mate & Third Mate)
* Cadet – unlicensed trainee mate/officer or engineer under training
Law enforcement
The names of police officers may be preceded by a title such as "Officer" or by their rank.
* Constable (from which come Lord High Constable (disambiguation), Lord High Constable and Senior Constable)
* wikt:agent, Agent
* Sergeant
* Officer
* Chief
Protected professional titles
In North America, several jurisdictions restrict the use of some professional titles to those individuals holding a valid and recognised license to practice. Individuals not authorised to use these reserved titles may be fined or jailed. Protected titles are often reserved to those professions that require a bachelor's degree or higher and a state, provincial, or national license.
* Professional Engineer, Registered Engineer
* Registered Nurse, Professional Nurse, Registered Nurse, Nurse
Other organizations
Some titles are used to show one's role or position in a society or organization.
* Principal (school), Principal
* Nanny
* Coach (sport), Coach
* Wizard, such as the Grand Wizard and Imperial Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan
* Brother or Sister
* Chief Scout (The Scout Association) – the head of The Scout Association
* King's Scout – title conferred upon a scout upon achieving highest attainable award achievable in the Scouting movement
* King's Guide (Girlguiding UK), King's Guide – title conferred upon a guide upon highest attainable award for members of the Girl Guiding movement
* Scout, Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America), Eagle Scout
Some titles are used in English to refer to the position of people in foreign political systems
* Citizen, First Citizen
* Comrade
Non-English speaking areas
Default titles in other languages
* Note: Titles are seldom used in Sweden; people are usually referred to by their first name.
Rajput social titles
Titles used in Rajasthan and other neighbourhood states of India in honour of Rajputs (only):
*Hukum – used in general to address any Rajput. Also used as suffix after following titles.
*Daata – used for highest male member of a Rajput family.
*Banna – used for Rajput boys.
*Baisa – used for Rajput girls.
*Babosa – used for eldest man of family.
*Bhabha – used for eldest woman of family.
Martial Arts
* Sensei - used for martial arts instructors
* Sempai - used for junior karate instructors and karate instructors in training
* Karate-ka - used for karate students
* Judge - used for the judges and referees at martial arts tournaments
* Master - used for kung-fu instructors or people who have studied the art their entire life
Academic
* Docent
* Doctorandus, abbreviated as ''drs.''
Religious
* Ayatollah
* Bodhisattva
* Druid and Archdruid
* Hakham
* Buddhahood, Buddha
* Hajji
* Imam
* Kohen
* Lama and the related Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama
* Mahatma
* Mahdi
* Mullah
* Nath
* Pastor
* Rabbi
* Rebbe
* Reverend
* Rosh HaYeshiva
* Saoshyant
* Sardar
* Sardarni
* Tirthankar
* Vardapet
Honorary titles
* Mahatma
* Oknha
* Pandit
* Sant (religion), Sant
* Sheikh
* Swami
* Ustad
Rulers
* Chancellor (from which come Lord Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor)
* "Dear Leader" and "Supreme Leader" referred to Kim Jong-il as chief of North Korea. The title now refers to his son and successor Kim Jong-un. (친애하는 지도자, ch'inaehanŭn jidoja)
* Elder (administrative title), Elder
* Emir/Emira – Arabic Prince/Princess
* Eze
* Maharajah
* Rajah
* Rai (title), Rai
* Malay styles and titles, Dato
* Mwami
* Nizam
* Oba (ruler), Oba
* Obi (ruler), Obi
* Sultan/Sultana (title) – Arabic for "powerful ruler"
* Tor Tiv of Tiv
* Tribal chief, Chief – origin of Chief of Staff, Chieftain, Clan Chief, Hereditary Chief, and Warlord, War Chief. The present head of Samoa is titled a Paramount Chief
* Vizier and Grand Vizier
*Stadtholder
Historical titles for heads of state
The following are no longer officially in use, though some may be claimed by former regnal dynasties.
=Appointed
=
* Caesar (title), Caesar (an honorific family name passed through Roman emperors by adoption)
* Legate
* Satrap
* Tetrarch
=Elected or popularly declared
=
* Archon
*Augustus (title)
* Caudillo
* Consul
* Decemvir
* Doge
* Duce
* Führer
* Imperator
* Lord Protector
* Roman dictator
* Triumvir
=Hereditary
=
* Basileus
* Caliph
* Khagan
* Khan (title), Khan
* King-Emperor (the feminine equivalent is Queen-Empress)
* Malik
* Maharajah
* Rajah
* Rai (title), Rai
* Emperor of Japan, Mikado
* Mirza (noble), Mirza
* Nawab
* Negus
* Patil (title), Patil
* Pharaoh
* Regina (the masculine form is Rex)
* Saopha
* Sapa Inca
* Shah
* Tsar
When a difference exists below, male titles are placed to the left and female titles are placed to the right of the slash.
* Africa
** Almami, Almamy – Fulani people of west Africa
** List of rulers of Asante, Asantehene – Ashanti people, Ashanti, title of the King of the Ashanti people, Ashanti People in Ghana
** Igbo people, Eze – Igbo people of Nigeria
** Kabaka of Buganda, Kabaka – Baganda people of Buganda in Uganda
** Mwami – Kings of Rwanda and Burundi
** Negus – Ethiopia
** Oba (king), Oba – Yoruba people of Nigeria
** Omukama – Bunyoro, title of some Emperors/kings in Uganda
** Pharaoh – ancient Egypt
* Asia
** Arasan/Arasi – Tamil Nadu (India), Sri Lanka
** Arqa/Thagavor – King of Armenia
** Bayin – The title given to the king of pre colonial Burma
**Maharajah/ Rajah/ Rai (title), Rai/ Chakarwarti Raja – India Sri Lanka
** Chogyal — "Divine Ruler" — ruled Sikkim until 1975
** Datu – pre-colonial Philippines
** Druk Gyalpo — hereditary title given to the king of Bhutan
** Engku or Ungku – Malaysia, to denote particular family lineage akin to royalty
*** Hari – Filipino title for king
*** List of Vietnamese monarchs, Hoang De – Self-styled Vietnamese "emperor"; unified Vietnam
** Emperor of China, Huángdì – Imperial China (Emperor)
*** List of Korean monarchs, Hwangje – Self-styled Korean "emperor"; states that unified Korea
** Maharajah, Maha raja/feminine form is Maharani – Emperor, Empress India, Sri Lanka
** Meurah – Aceh before Islam
** Mirza (noble), Mirza, Persian/Iranian, Indian and Afghanistan and Tajikistan King
*** Beg (title), Beg (Begzada or Begzadi, son-daughter of ''Beg''), Baig or Bey in Under ''Mirza'' & using King or Military title.
** Patil (title), Patil – meaning "head" or "chief" is an Indian title. The Patil is in effect the ruler of this territory as he was entitled to the revenues collected therefrom.
** Bhumibol Adulyadej, Phrabat Somdej Phrachaoyuhua – King of Thailand (Siam), the title literally means "The feet of the Greatest Lord who is on the heads (of his subjects)" (This royal title does not refer directly to the king himself but to his feet, according to traditions.)
*** Racha – Thailand, same meaning as Raja
*** Raja – pre-colonial Philippines
*** Raja – Malaysia, Raja denotes royalty in Perak and certain Selangor royal family lineages, is roughly equivalent to Prince or Princess
*** Raja/Rani – Nepal King
*** Rani – Nepali Queen
** Patabendige, Patabenda – Sub- king Sri Lanka
** Norodom Sihamoni, Preah Karuna Preah Bat Sâmdech Preah Bâromneath – King of Cambodia Khmer language, Khmer, the title literally means "The feet of the Greatest Lord who is on the heads (of his subjects)" (referring not directly to the king himself but to his feet, according to tradition)
** Khagan, Qaghan – Central Asian Tribes
** Saopha – Shan people, Shan, king of Shan people, Shan, today as a part of Myanmar
** Shahinshah or Padshah or Badshah- Persian/Iranian "King of Kings" or Persian rulers in Hindustan(India)
*** Shah – Persian/Iranian and Afghanistan and Tajikistan King
** Sheikh – Arabic traditional regional leader, principalities of (Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE)
** Sultan/Sultana (title), Sultana – Arabic King (present Oman and former Ottoman Empire)
*** Aceh, Brunei, Java, Oman, Malaysia, Sultan is the title of seven (Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Pahang, Perak, Selangor, and Terengganu) of the nine rulers of the Malay states.
** Rulers of Surakarta, Susuhanan – the Indonesian princely state of Surakarta until its abolition
** Syed – Islamic World, descendants of the Islamic prophet Muhammad
** Emperor of Japan, Tennō or Mikado – Japan
*** ''Shōgun'' – Japanese military dictator
*** Sumeramikoto, Okimi – Japan, king
** Tengku – Malaysia, Indonesia, Tengku (also spelled Tunku in Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Kedah and Deli Sultanate of Indonesia is roughly equivalent to Prince or Princess
** Veyndhan, ko/Arasi – Tamil Nadu(India)
** Chinese nobility#Emperor, Wang (King) – pre-Imperial China. In China, "king" is the usual translation for the term ''wang'', 王.
*** List of Korean monarchs, Wang – States of Korea that did not have control over the entire peninsula.
*** List of Vietnamese monarchs, Vuong – States in Vietnam that did not control the entire realm.
** Yang di-Pertuan Agong – Monarch of Malaysia, elected each five years among the reigning Sultan of each Malaysian state
* Europe
**Autocrator – Greek term for the Byzantine Emperor
** Basileus – Greek ruler
** Despot (court title), Despot, a Byzantine court title, also granted in the states under Byzantine influence, such as the Latin Empire, Bulgaria, Serbia, and the Empire of Trebizond.
** Domn (in Romanian)/Gospodar (in Old Slavonian) – Medieval Romania (Moldova, Wallachia)
** Fejedelem – Ancient/Medieval Hungarian
** Germanic king
** Großbürger/Großbürgerin (English: Grand Burgher) – historical German title acquired or inherited by persons and family descendants of the ruling class in autonomous German-speaking cities and towns of Central Europe, origin under the
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a Polity, political entity in Western Europe, Western, Central Europe, Central, and Southern Europe that developed during the Early Middle Ages and continued until its Dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, dissolution i ...
, ceased after 1919 along with all titles of German nobility.
** Kaiser/Kaiserin – Imperial rulers of Germany and of Austria-Hungary
** Kniaz'/Knyaginya/Knez/Knjeginja (generally translated as "prince") – Kievan Rus'/Serbia
** Kunigaikshtis (Kunigaikštis) – Lithuanian, duke as in Grand Duchy of Lithuania.
** Rí, Rí túaithe, Ruiri, Rí ruireach, and Ard Rí – King, local king, regional overking, (provincial) king of overkings, and High King in Gaels, Gaelic Ireland, also Scotland
** Tsar/Tsarina – the ruler of Imperial Russia
** Tsar/Tsaritsa – Bulgaria, pre-imperial Russia, Serbia
** Vezér – Ancient Hungarian
** Voivode, Vojvoda (Serbian)/Voivode, Vajda (Hungarian) – Serbian/Hungarian/Romani people, Romany title
** Župan, sometimes Veliki Župan (Grand Župan) – Serbia, Croatia
* Oceania
** tribal chief, Chieftain – Leader of a tribe or clan.
** 'eiki, houeiki, fa'amatai, matai, ali'i, alii, tūlafale, tavana, ariki – usually translated as "chief" in various Polynesian countries.
** "Mo'i" – normally translated as King, used by Hawaiian monarchs since unification in 1810. The last person to hold that title was Queen Lili'uokalani.
** ''Tui'' or ''tui'' – there were/are also kings in Oceania (i.e. Samoa, Tonga, Wallis and Futuna, Nauru)
Aristocratic
Historical
Russian:
* Boyarin
* Dyak (clerk), Dyak
* Knyaz (and Grand Prince, Veliky Knyaz)
* Namestnik
* Okolnichy
* Posadnik
* Voivode, Voyevoda
German:
* Burggraf
*
Graf
(feminine: ) is a historical title of the German nobility, usually translated as "count". Considered to be intermediate among noble ranks, the title is often treated as equivalent to the British title of "earl" (whose female version is "coun ...
* Freigraf
* Landgrave, Landgraf
* Markgraf
* Pfalzgraf
* Reichsgraf
Spanish:
* Don (honorific), Don
* Hidalgo (Spanish nobility), Hidalgo
Others:
* Augusta (honorific), Augusta (Feminine equivalent of
Augustus
Caesar Augustus (born Gaius Octavius; 23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14), also known as Octavian, was the first Roman emperor; he reigned from 27 BC until his death in AD 14. He is known for being the founder of the Roman Pri ...
)
* Bitwoded (translates as Beloved)
* Comes
* Concubine (The Chinese imperial system, for instance, had a vastly complex hierarchy of titled concubines and wives to the emperor)
* Dejazmach (translates as Commander of the Gate)
* Fitawrari (translates as Leader of the Vanguard)
* Gentleman (used as a title in such forms as Gentleman at Arms, Gentleman of the Bedchamber, and Gentleman Usher. The feminine equivalent is Gentlewoman, or, in some circumstances, Lady.)
* Gerazmach (translates as Commander of the Left)
* Kenyazmach (translates as Commander of the Right)
* Ras (translates as Head)
* Sahib
Other
* Commissioner (from which come First Church Estates Commissioner and High Commissioner)
* Comptroller (from which Comptroller, Comptroller General and Comptroller of the Household)
* Courtier
* Curator
* Doyen
* Edohen
* Ekegbian
* Elerunwon
* Forester or Master Forester
* Village head, Headman
* Intendant (and the related Superintendent)
* Lamido
* Marcher Lord, Marcher or Lady Marcher
* Matriarch or Patriarch
* Prior, Lord Prior
* Pursuivant
* Rangatira
* Ranger
* Registrar General, Registrar (in a variant spelling in the title Lord Clerk Register)
* Seigneur (from which come Monsignor and the French common polite term Monsieur, equivalent to Mr, Mister)
* Sharif
* Shehu
* Sheikh
* Sheriff (from which comes High Sheriff)
* Subaltern (military), Subaltern
* Subedar
* Sysselmann
* Timi
* Treasurer, Master Treasurer and Secretary Treasurer
* Verderer
* wikt:Warden, Warden, Hereditary Warden, Lord Warden
* Woodman
* Bearer, such as Hereditary Banner Bearer, Standard Bearer, or Swordbearer (ceremonial), Swordbearer
* Sayyid
* Apprentice
* Journeyman
* Adept
* Akhoond
* Arhat
* Bwana
* Goodman (title), Goodman and Goodwife
* Grand Bard
* Mullah
* Sri
* Baba (honorific), Baba
* Effendi
* Giani or Gyani
* Guru
* Siddha
* Pir (Sufism), Pir, Murshid
Historical
* Abuna
* Aedile
* Ali'i
* Aqabe sa'at (translates as Guardian of the Church Hours)
* Balambaras (translates as Fortress Commander)
* Ban (title), Bán
* Baig
* Bey
* Boyar
* Castellan
* Cellarer
* Censor (ancient Rome), Censor
* Centurion
* Circuitor
* Commissar, often as People's Commissar
* Conquistador
* ''Daimyō''
* Dey
*
Dux
''Dux'' (; plural: ''ducēs'') is Latin for "leader" (from the noun ''dux, ducis'', "leader, general") and later for duke and its variant forms (doge, duce, etc.). During the Roman Republic and for the first centuries of the Roman Empire, ''dux' ...
* Prince-elector, Elector
* Gauleiter
* Guardian
* Ichege
* Infirmerer
* Inquisitor and Grand Inquisitor
* Jemadar
* Kitchener
* Magic (paranormal), Mage
* Magister Militum
* Majordomo
* Maid (title), Maid – Archaic title denoting an unmarried woman, such as the character Maid Marian. Should not be confused with the general term for a young domestic worker, domestic worker housemaid girl.
* Margrave
* Viceroy, Naib
* Officium
* Pasha
* Palatine (Ancient Rome, the Roman Catholic Church, Palatine of Hungary, Hungary (nádor), etc.)
* Pontiff and Pontifex Maximus
* Praetor
* Prebendary
* Quaestor
* Sacrist
* Samurai
* ''Shōgun''
* Stadtholder
* Steward (office), Steward
* Thakur (title), Thakore
* Voivode
* Viceroy (the feminine equivalent is Vicereine)
Post-nominal letters
Members of legislatures often have post-nominal letters expressing this:
* Member of Congress MC
* Member of Parliament MP
* Member of Youth Parliament MYP
*Member of the European Parliament MEP
*Member of the Scottish Parliament MSP
* Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament MSYP
*Member of Provincial Parliament (Ontario), Member of Provincial Parliament MPP
* Member of the National Assembly#Other, National Assembly MNA
* Member of the House of Keys MHK
** Speaker of the House of Keys SHK
*Member of the Legislative Council MLC
*Member of the Legislative Assembly MLA
* Member of the House of Representatives Rep.
* Member of the House of Assembly MHA
University degrees
* Associate
** Associate of Arts, AA – Associate of Arts
** Associate of Applied Science, AAS – Associate of Applied Science
** Associate of Science, AS – Associate of Science
* Bachelor
** Bachelor of Arts, BA – Bachelor of Arts
** Bachelor of Architecture, BArch – Bachelor of Architecture
** Bachelor of Business Administration, BBA – Bachelor of Business Administration
** BSBA – Bachelor of Science of Business Administration
** Bachelor of Biotechnology, BBiotech – Bachelor of Biotechnology
** Bachelor of Dental Surgery, BDS / BChD – Bachelor of Dental Surgery
** BDentTech – Bachelor of Dental Technology
** BDes – Bachelor of Design
** Bachelor of Divinity, BD / BDiv – Bachelor of Divinity
** Bachelor of Education, BEd – Bachelor of Education
** Bachelor of Engineering, BEng – Bachelor of Engineering
** Environmental design, BEnvd – Bachelor of Environmental Design
** Bachelor of Fine Arts, BFA – Bachelor of Fine Arts
** Bachelor of Laws, LLB – Bachelor of Laws
** Bachelor of Mathematics, BMath – Bachelor of Mathematics
** Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, MB, ChB / MB, BS / BM, BCh / MB, BChir – Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery
** BMus – Bachelor of Music
** BN – Bachelor of Nursing
** Bachelor of Philosophy, BPhil – Bachelor of Philosophy
** Bachelor of Sacred Theology, STB – Bachelor of Sacred Theology
** Bachelor of Science, BSc – Bachelor of Science
** Bachelor of Science in Nursing, BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
** Bachelor of Social Work, BSW – Bachelor of Social Work
** Bachelor of Theology, BTh / ThB – Bachelor of Theology
** Bachelor of Veterinary Science, BVSc – Bachelor of Veterinary Science
* Designer [Dz]
* Doctor (title), Doctor
** Doctor of Arts, DA – Doctor of Arts
** Doctor of Business Administration, DBA – Doctor of Business Administration
** Doctor of Divinity, D.D. – Doctor of Divinity
** Doctor of Education, Ed.D. – Doctor of Education
** Engineering Doctorate, EngD or DEng – Doctor of Engineering
** Doctor of Fine Arts, DFA – Doctor of Fine Arts
** Doctor of Musical Arts, DMA – Doctor of Musical Arts
** Doctor of Ministry, D.Min. – Doctor of Ministry
** Doctor of Music, D.Mus. – Doctor of Music
** Doctor of Professional Studies, D.Prof – Doctor of Professional Studies
** Doctor of Public Administration, DPA – Doctor of Public Administration
** Doctor of Science, D.Sc. – Doctor of Science
** Doctor of Jurisprudence, JD – Doctor of Jurisprudence
** LL.D. – Doctor of Laws
** Doctor of Medicine, MD – Doctor of Medicine
** Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, DO – Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
** Doctor of Pharmacy, Pharm.D. – Doctor of Pharmacy
** Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D. / Doctor of Philosophy, D.Phil. – Doctor of Philosophy
** Doctor of Psychology, PsyD – Doctor of Psychology
** Doctor of Juridical Science, SJD – Doctor of Juridical Science
** Doctor of Theology, Th.D. – Doctor of Theology
** Doctorates within the field of medicine:
*** Doctor of Chiropractic, DC
*** Doctor of Dental Surgery, DDS – Doctor of Dental Surgery
*** Doctor of Dental Medicine, DMD – Doctor of Dental Medicine
*** Doctor of Optometry, O.D.
*** Doctor of Physical Therapy, DPT
*** Doctor of Podiatric Medicine, DPM
*** Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, DVM
* Master
** Master of Architecture, MArch – Master of Architecture
** Master of Arts, MA – Master of Arts
** Master of Arts, MAL – Master of Liberal Arts
** Master of Business Administration, MBA – Master of Business Administration
** Master of Public Administration, MPA – Master of Public Administration
** Master of Public Service, MPS – Master of Public Service
** Master of Planning, MPl – Master of Planning
** Master in Chemistry, MChem – Master in Chemistry
** MC – Master of Counselling
** Master of Design, M. Des – Master of Design
** Master of Divinity, M.Div. – Master of Divinity
** MDrama – Master of Drama
** Master of Dental Surgery, MDS – Master of Dental Surgery
** Master of Education, MEd – Master of Education
** Master of Educational Technology, MET – Master of Educational Technology
** Master of Engineering, MEng – Master of Engineering
** Master of Fine Arts, MFA – Master of Fine Arts
** Master of Healthcare Administration, MHA – Master of Healthcare Administration
** MHist – Master of History
** Master of Letters, MLitt - Master of Letters
** Master of Law, LL.M. – Master of Law
** Master of Landscape Architecture, MLA – Master of Landscape Architecture
** Master of Mathematics, MMath – Master of Mathematics
** Master of Philosophy, MPhil – Master of Philosophy
** Master of Research, MRes – Master of Research
** Master of Science, MSc – Master of Science
** MScBMC – Master of Biomedical Communications
** Master of Physics, MPhys – Master of Physics
** Master of Pharmacy, MPharm – Master of Pharmacy
** Master of Public Health, MPH – Master of Public Health
** Master of Science in Business Analytics, MSBA - Master of Science in Business Analytics
** Master of Science in Engineering, MSE – Master of Science in Engineering
** Master of Science in Real Estate, MSRE – Master of Science in Real Estate
** MSW – Master of Social Work
** Magister (degree), Magister – Magister
** Master of Sacred Theology, S.T.M. – Master of Sacred Theology
** Master of Theology, MTh/Th.M. – Master of Theology
** Master of Urban and Regional Planning, MURP – Master of Urban and Regional Planning
See also
* Byzantine aristocracy and bureaucracy
* Corporate title
* Ethiopian aristocratic and religious titles
* False titles of nobility
* Hereditary title
* Honorific
* Index of religious honorifics and titles
* List of titles
* Military rank
* Nobility
* Peerage
* Political institutions of Rome
* Post-nominal letters
* Pre-nominal letters
* Royal and noble ranks
* Royal and noble styles
* Suffix (name)
* Style (manner of address)
* Title of honor
* List of titles held only by one person, Titles held only by one person
Notes
References
Sources
* ''African Kings'' by Daniel Lainé
* ''Keepers of the Kingdom'' by Alastair Bruce, Julian Calder, and Mark Cator
* ''Master and Commander'', film directed by Peter Weir
External links
*
*
*
{{Social titles
Titles,