Disney Princess Name Types

Disney has created several princesses since releasing Snow White and the Seven Dwarves in 1937. Like Snow, many of these princesses have unusual or exotic names. It makes sense considering their movies are all fantastical stories or fairy tales. 

Many of the Disney Princesses' names are usable, but some feel too strongly tied to their characters to work. Here are the two types of princess names:

Whole Princess Names

These names feel too attached to their characters to work for real girls. It might be due to the name being unknown and/or unused before the stories and/or movies came out: 
  • Cinderella
  • Moana
  • Mulan
  • Pocahontas
  • Rapunzel
Part Princess Names

These names still bring the princesses to mind, but they had enough history before the stories/movies or feel detached enough to work for girls:
  • Ariel
  • Aurora
  • Belle
  • Elsa
  • Jasmine
  • Merida
  • Raya
  • Snow
  • Tiana
There is one Disney Princess name that sounds too ordinary to belong to either group. That name is Anna, as in the princess (later queen) of Arendelle in Frozen and Frozen II. However, pronouncing the name "AH-na" creates a stronger image of the character. 

That explains why most Disney Princess names are not classics. Exotic names lead to stronger images of their characters. Finally, Disney is well-known for creating memorable characters. 

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