Pharaoh Name Construction

Pharaohs' names were significant in Egypt's history and subject to change during their reign. A pharaoh’s name comprised several elements, each representing a different aspect of his reign and divinity.

Birth Name (Nesu Bity)

This was the personal name given to the pharaoh at birth, often a conventional Egyptian name that was reserved for intimate or informal contexts.

Throne Name (Prenomen)

This was by far the most significant individual name for a pharaoh and was given on ascending to the throne. It was usually placed in a cartouche which indicated a deity’s protection for the king. In most cases, the throne name was associated with a deity and/or a royal endeavor. For instance, Ramses II's throne name is Usermaatre Setepenre, literally meaning "The Justice of Ra, Chosen of Ra."

Horace Name (Nebty Name)

This was the name that the Pharaoh wore denoting him as the living Horus. Horus was a sky god who bore the likeness of a falcon. The Horus name was often given to a country with the intention of protecting it from the ruler’s reign.

Golden Name (The King’s Golden Horus Name)

This was an additional rare given name with the denotation of the king as a Horus. This one stressed more on the celebrity status of the monarch in Old Egypt. It was often found on the façade and other grand inscriptions.
 

Renowned Pharaohs and Their Titles

Ancient Egypt is one of the civilizations whose pharaohs have quite numerous historical records. This article will discuss some of those names and the histories surrounding the most prominent ones.

1. Tutankhamun (King Tut)

Perhaps the most popular pharaoh, primarily due to the uncovering of the treasures in the Valley of the Kings burial chamber, Tutankhamun was originally Tutankhaten (‘living image of Aten’). This tomb belonged to his father’s radical time-altering approach – Akhenaten, which detested many traditional gods.

Throne Name: Nebkheperure – Meaning “The Lord of the Forms of Ra” Despite all the disappointment, the epithets of Tut Ankh Amoun have very well sealed their place in the history of Egypt, in the form of treasures unearthed from his tomb.

2. Ramses II (Ramses the Great)

Ramses II, famously known as Ramses the Great, is one of the longest-running pharaohs in Pharaoh's history, who irreplaceably turned Egypt into a glorious military and cultural power for 66 years.

Throne Name: Usermaatre Setepenre – The Justice of Ra, Chosen of Ra. Highlights of his successful administration included military campaigns such as the Battle of Kadesh against the Hittites, and remarkable building achievements, especially the temples of Abu Simbel which made him one of the most powerful pharaohs of Egypt.

3. Cleopatra VII - The Last Pharaoh of Egypt

While some people can only consider Cleopatra VII a queen, in fact, she was the last person to rule actively the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt. Her name denotes royal lineage and - originates from the Greeks as the name Ptolemaic dynasty suggests she was of Greek descent.

Name Meaning: The name Cleopatra is from the Greek name Kleopatra meaning ‘the glory of the father.’

4. Akhenaten: The Heretic Pharaoh

The next most important character in the history of ancient Egypt is Akhenaton, originally called Amenhotep IV (ca. 1353-1336 BCE). He articulated a revolution in religious thought in that he transferred the Egyptian people's polytheistic beliefs to the sole worship of a sun deity, Aten. He referred to himself as “Priest of Aten” and “Living Ra,” for he renamed himself through these titles to emphasize his role as the sole intermediary between Aten and the people. His reign is marked by the attempt to establish a new form of Atenism, a kind of monotheism that after his death, under his son, Tutankhamun, was utterly extinguished when the old polytheistic beliefs were revived in Egypt. Radical as it was, the ideological changes that Akhenaten made to Egyptian religion and the unusual self-designations that he professed made him a significant historical figure, though it is true that his successors negated all of the changes he made during his reign.

5. Thutmose III – The Napoleon of Egypt

Another great ruler of Egypt Thutmose III is pretty much eclipsed in history by the title he earned, the "Napoleon of Egypt," for his military genius and sweeping conquests. Most importantly, as he was born during whose reign it was known that he had the title "Horus of Gold," which quite simply meant divine strength and connection to the powerful god Horus. Known for leading more than 17 military campaigns, he left Egypt's empire at its greatest territorial extent, reaching into modern-day Syria, Sudan, and Iraq. His military strategies and accomplishments were recorded on the walls of the Karnak Temple to become an unequaled legacy among Egypt's most successful warrior pharaohs.

6. Hatshepsut – The Female Pharaoh

Hatshepsut (c. 1479–1458 BCE) ranked probably as the most exceptional pharaoh in the entire world of ancient Egypt and was one of the very few women ever to rule as pharaoh. As "Maatkara" and "Pharaoh's Daughter," she adopted the full name of a male ruler: "King of Upper and Lower Egypt," while she is often pictured in male clothes and with a false beard to assert her power and legitimacy. Hatshepsut's reign was full of peace and prosperity, and she is often credited with establishing very successful trade connections, most notably her expedition to the land of Punt. In her wake, there is the famous Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari, which she commissioned to be built. Hatshepsut now stands among the most revered rulers in Egypt for her ability to assert power and legitimacy in a male-dominated society and for her exceptional building projects.

The Importance of Names of Pharaohs

In Ancient Egypt, a pharaoh's name possessed a deeper meaning beyond being a mere label. It was an indication of the person's right to rule, the connection one had with the gods and what one hoped to achieve by ruling. One's name could also be changed for a new phase of life or a change in beliefs, as it was with Akhenaten and his Aten and later with Tutankhamun and the return to other gods.

Pharaohs sought names that would be powerful enough and divine protection and favor would thus be readily available to them. Their names were written for the public in great monuments, temples, and tombs, so as to ensure that their legacies lived on, even in death.

Not only the period of the reign of the Egyptian pharaohs but also the religious and political dimensions of these meditating kings can be read from their names as Egyptian pharaohs. Names, from the magnificence of Ramses II to the enigma of Tutankhamun, enthrall the historians of ancient Egyptian civilization and give an insight into one of the most fascinating civilizations in history.