Title
- For other uses of title, refer to Title (disambiguation).
A title is a prefix or suffix added to a person's name to signify either veneration, an official position or a professional or academic qualification.
Professional and academic titles
- Advocate
- Bailiff
- Barrister
- Civil Engineer
- D.O.
- DDS
- DMD
- Doctor
- Eur Ing
- Ing.Ingenieur
- Graduate
- Judge
- Lecturer
- MBA
- M.D.
- D.P.M.
- MSN
- Notary
- Officer
- PA, RPA, PA-C or RPA-C
- P.Eng.
- Professor
Supernatural Titles
- Anax
- Blessed
- Bodhisattva
- Buddha
- Christ
- Demiurge
- Imam
- Mahdi
- Messiah
- Nath
- Prophet
- Saint
- Saoshyant
- Tirthankar
- Venerable
Hypothetical Titles
While never actually used as prefixes, the following are often used to describe a leader when their actual title is less explanatory.
- Anarch
- Aristocrat
- Autocrat
- Demagogue
- Democrat
- Dictator
- Monarch
- Oligarch
- Plutocrat
- Sovereign
- Technocrat
- Theocrat
- Tyrant
- Warlord (the assumed feminine of this would be Warlady, although cultural norms are such that women are never described in this way)
Titles for Heads of State
Current
Titles actually in use by Heads of State in the World today.
Appointed
- Indovuzaki (Translates as Great She Elephant)
Elected or Popularly Proclaimed
- Chairman (from which comes Vice Chairman)
- Colonel (from which comes Lieutenant Colonel)
- Pope
- President (from which comes such titles as Deputy President, Executive Vice President, Lord President of the Council, and Vice President)
- Regent (The biarchs of San Marino are titled Captains Regent. From this term also came the historical title Prince Regent.)
Hereditary
- Chief (From this come Chief of Staff, Chieftain, Clan Chief, Hereditary Chief, and War Chief. The present head of Samoa is titled a Paramount Chief.)
- Duke (The feminine form is Duchess. An historical variation on this is Archduchess. The head of state of Luxembourg is titled a Grand Duke.)
- Emir
- Emperor (The feminine form is Empress, from which comes Dowager Empress)
- King (from which come the historical terms High King and King of Arms. The feminine equivalent is Queen.)
- Leader (The head of state of North Korea is titled Great Leader. The de facto head of state of Iran is titled Supreme Leader. Related terms are Squadron Leader and Team Leader.)
- Prince (From which comes Crown Prince. The feminine form is Princess.)
- Sultan
Historical Titles for Heads of State
The following are no longer officially in use, though some may be claimed by former regnal dynasties.
Appointed
Elected or Popularly Declared
Hereditary
- Basileus
- Caliph
- Khagan
- Khan
- Malik
- Nawab
- Negus
- Pharaoh
- Regina (the masculine form is Rex)
- Saopha
- Sapa Inca
- Shah
- Tsar
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Fictional Titles for Heads of State
Honorary Titles Granted by Heads of State
Current
- Raja (Still officially retained by members of India's princely families, although without the former prerogatives. From this term comes Maharaja. The feminine equivalents are Rani and Maharani)
- Consort (The husband of Britain's queen is known as the Prince Consort)
- Queen's Body Guard and various other elite guard forces throughout the World
- Camarlengo
- Chamberlain (from which come the titles Grand Chamberlain, Lord Chamberlain, and Lord Great Chamberlain)
- Champion (mostly archaic, but the United Kingdom does still maintain an official Queen's Champion)
- Marshal (from which came Air Chief Marshal, Air Marshal, Air Vice Marshal, Earl Marshal, Field Marshal, Grand Marshal, Hereditary Marshal, and Riech Marshal)
- Aide-de-camp
- Equerry
- Marquis (the feminine equivalent is Marchioness or Marquise)
- Countess (the masculine equivalent is Earl, from which came Earl Palatine)
- Viscount (female equivalent Viscountess, from the same root as Countess)
- Baron (The feminine equivalent is Baroness. A related term is Baronet)
- Chevalier
- Dame (The French term of respect Madame came from the same root. The masculine equivalent of a Dame is a Knight, although a Knight uses the title Sir rather than Knight before his name. Some knights, such as a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter or Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honorable Order of the Bath, place their full title after their name)
- Jonkheer
- Lady (from which come First Lady and the anachronistic Second Lady. The masculine equivalent of Lady is Lord, from which come First Sea Lord and Lord of the Manor)
- Honorable (from which comes Right Honorable)
Historical
- Augusta (The masculine equivalent is Augustus)
- Knyaz
- Comes
- Concubine (The Chinese imperial system, for instance, had a vastly complex hierarchy of titled concubines and wives to the emperor)
- Ras (which translates as Head)
- Bitwoded (translates as Beloved)
- Fitawrari (translates as Leader of the Vanguard)
- Dejazmach (translates as Commander of the Gate)
- Kenyazmach (translates as Commander of the Right)
- Gerazmach (translates as Commander of the Left)
- Graf (roughly a German equivalent to the English Earl, but broken down into Altgraf, Burggraf, Freigraf, Landgraf, Markgraf, Pfalzgraf, Raugraf, Reichsgraf, Rheingraf, Vizegraf, and Wildgraf. The feminine equivalent of a Graf is a Gräfin)
- Gentleman (used as a title is such forms as Gentleman at Arms, Gentleman of the Bedchamber, and Gentleman Usher. The feminine equivalent of a Gentleman is a Gentlewoman)
- Don (the feminine equivalent is Doña)
- Sahib
Fictional
- Damsel (used extensively in fairytales to describe young women who would appear to be a sort of feminine equivalent to a Squire. It is from Squire that the aftername superlative Esquire is taken.)
Executive Branch of Government and Other Sub-National Rulers
Currently in Use
- Abbess (the masculine equivalent is Abbott)
- Acolyte
- Admiral (from which come Grand Admiral, Hereditary Lord High Admiral, Rear Admiral, and Vice Admiral)
- Adjutant
- Agent
- Agister
- Almoner (from which comes Lord High Almoner)
- Ambassador
- Attaché
- Awoamefia
- Baba
- Bishop (from which come Archbishop, Boy Bishop, Lord Archbishop, Metropolitan Bishop, and Prince Bishop)
- Brigadier
- Canon
- Cantor
- Captain (from which comes Group Captain)
- Chancellor (from which come Lord Chancellor and Vice Chancellor)
- Chaplain
- Chargé d'affaires
- Cock o' the North
- Commander (from which come Commander-in-Chief, Lieutenant Commander, and Wing Commander)
- Commissioner (from which come First Church Estates Commissioner and High Commissioner)
- Commodore (from which comes Air Commodore)
- Comptroller (from which Comptroller General and Comptroller of the Household)
- Constable (from which come Lord High Constable and Senior Constable)
- Corporal (from which come Lance Corporal and Staff Corporal)
- Courtier
- Curator
- Custos
- Deacon (from which comes Archdeacon)
- Dean
- Denkyerahene
- Docent
- Doyen
- Druid (the United Kingdom now has an official Archdruid)
- Edohen
- Ekegbian
- Elder
- Elerunwon
- Envoy
- Eze
- Father (from which comes Father of the Nation)
- Fon
- Foreman
- Forester (such as the United Kingdom's Master Forester)
- 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 General, Secretary General, Solicitor General, Surgeon General and Vicar General
- Gentiluomo
- Governor (from which comes Lieutenant Governor)
- Headman
- Herald of Arms
- Intendant (and the related Superintendent)
- Keeper, such as the British queen's Keeper of the Great Seal, and Keeper of the Prince's Privy Seal
- Lama and the related Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama
- Lamido
- Librarian
- Lieutenant (from which come First Lieutenant, Flight Lieutenant and Lord Lieutenant)
- Major
- Manager (from which comes General Manager)
- Marcher such as the current Lady Marcher in the United Kingdom
- Mate, more often titled as Chief Mate or First Mate
- Matriarch (the masculine equivalent is Patriarch)
- Mayor and related terms such as Lady Mayoress or Lord Mayor
- Minister from which come Prime Minister and a very long list of specific designations in the form "Minister of..."
- Mother (from which come Mother Superior, Queen Mother, and Reverend Mother)
- Msiri
- Mwami
- Nizam
- Oba
- Obi
- Obong
- Officer, a generic sort of title which has become hugely popular in recent years in 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, 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, Revenue Officer, Senior Officer, Ship's Officer, Staff Officer, and Warrant Officer.
- Oliha
- Olowo
- Olu
- Oni
- Prefect
- Prelate
- Premier
- Presbyter
- Priest (from which comes High Priest. The feminine equivalent is Priestess.)
- Primate
- Principal
- Prior (from which comes Lord Prior)
- Provost
- Pursuivant
- Queen's Remembrancer
- Rangatira
- Ranger
- Rector (from which come Lord Rector and Rector Magnificus)
- Registrar (in a variant spelling in the title Lord Clerk Register)
- Risaldar
- Sachem
- Sagamore
- Searcher of the Sanctuary
- Secretary (from which come Cardinal Secretary of State, Foreign Secretary, General Secretary, and Secretary of State, as well as a long list of other titles in the form "Secretary of..." in which Secretary means the same thing as Minister)
- Seigneur (from which come Monsignor and the French common polite term Monsieur)
- Sergeant (from which come Sergeant at Mace and Sergeant of Arms
- Sharif
- Shehu
- Sheikh
- Sheriff (from which comes High Sheriff)
- Subaltern
- Subedar
- Timi
- Treasurer (from which come Master Treasurer and Secretary Treasurer)
- Verderer
- Vicar
- Warden (from which come Hereditary Warden and Lord Warden)
- Woodman
Historical
- Abuna
- Aedile
- Ali'i
- Aqabe sa'at (translates as Guardian of the Church Hours)
- Balambaras (translates as Fortress Commander)
- Ban
- Bey
- Boyar
- Castellan
- Cellarer
- Censor
- Centurion
- Circuitor
- Commissar, often as People's Commissar
- Conquistadore
- Daimyo
- Dey
- Dux
- Elector
- Gauleiter
- Guardian
- Ichage
- Infirmerer
- Inquisitor and Grand Inquisitor
- Jemadar
- Kitchener
- Mage
- Magister Militum
- Majordomo
- Margrave
- Officium
- Pasha
- Pontiff and Pontifex Maximus
- Praetor
- Prebendary
- Quaestor
- Sacrist
- Samurai
- Shogun
- Stadtholder
- Steward
- Thakore
- Voivode
- Viceroy (the feminine equivalent is Vicereine)
- Vizier and Grand Vizier
Fictional
Judicial Titles
In Current Use
- Advocate
- Bailiff
- Barrister
- Judge and Admiralty Judge
- Justice (from which come Chief Justice and Justice of the Peace)
- Magistrate and Promagistrate
- Mufti and Grand Mufti
- Queen's Counsel
- Solicitor
Historical
Legislative Titles
In Current Use
- Alderman
- Councillor
- Delegate
- Member of Parliament (from which come Member of the European Parliament, Member of the Most Honorable the Privy Council, and Member of the Provincial Parliament)
- Representative
- Senator
- Speaker
Historical
Honorary Titles Granted From an Institution
- Apprentice
- Bearer, such as Hereditary Banner Bearer, Standard Bearer, or Swordbearer
- Chief Butler
- Dame, which comes from the same root as Dominus
- Director This title is used extensively for the leaders of artistic projects, such as an Animation director, Art director, Artistic director, Casting director, Creative director, Film director, Game director, Music director, Television director, Theatre director, and Video Director. Other forms are Director of Operations, Funeral Director, and Technical Director.
- Doctor
- Engineer, such as Chartered Engineer, European Engineer, Incorporated Engineer, and Professional Engineer
- Friar
- Grand Carver
- Herb Strewer
- Hereditary Falconer
- Instructor
- Journeyman
- Lecturer, including Principal Lecturer and Senior Lecturer
- Master is used in many titles, including old terms for the teachers of social arts: Dance Master, Drawing Master, Fencing Master, and Music Master. It is also used for school titles such as Deputy Headmaster, Housemaster, and Schoolmaster, and is the base for Deputy Master, Grandmaster, Guest Master, Joint Master, Master of the Horse, Master of the Rolls, Novice Master, Queen's Bargemaster, Second Master and Senior Master. In fictional settings, you will find such characters as Dungeon Master and Slave Master. Finally, Master is the original form of Mister and its related terms- Miss, Missus, and Ms. The feminine equivalent of Master is Mistress.
- Maid When used as a title before a name, this is an old way to denote an unmarried woman, such as the character Maid Marian. The closest masculine equivalent would probably be Youth although this has never really been used as a title in the same way.
- Nurse
- Premier Danseur The feminine form is Prima Ballerina.
- Professor and its related titles: Adjunct Professor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Distinguished Professor, and Professor Emeritus
- Queen's Guide
- Queen's Swan Marker
- Reader
- Reverend
- Sayyid
- Scout and Cheif Scout
- Senior Grecian, Tolly-keeper, and various other fraternal school titles
Honorary Titles Granted by a Mentor with the Same Title
Honorary Titles Granted By One's Peers
- Adept
- Akhoond
- Arhat
- Bwana
- Brother or Sister
- Citizen (from which comes First Citizen)
- Goodman and Goodwife
- Grand Bard
- Hajji
- Mullah
- Sri
- Wizard, such as the Grand Wizard and Imperial Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan
Honorary Titles Bestowed by Followers
- Auntie or Uncle
- Boss
- Coach
- Condottiero
- Diva
- Effendi
- Grandfather or Grandmother
- Guru
- Maestro
- Mahatma
- Pastor
- Siddha
- Yogi
See also
- corporate title
- Ethiopian aristocratic and religious titles
- list of professions
- military rank
- nobility
- peerage
- political institutions of Rome
- pre-nominal
- Honorary title
- Titles of national or ethnic leadership
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