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Revision as of 13:53, 15 July 2025 by WikiKnight (talk | contribs) (Created page with "{{Short description|Prefix or suffix added to someone's name}} {{Redirect|Customary title|other use|customary land}} A '''title''' is one or more words used before or after a person's name, in certain contexts. It may signify their generation, official position, military rank, professional or academic qualification, or nobility. In some languages, titles may be inserted between the first and last name (for example, {{lang|de|Graf}} in German or c...")
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A title is one or more words used before or after a person's name, in certain contexts. It may signify their generation, official position, military rank, professional or academic qualification, or nobility. In some languages, titles may be inserted between the first and last name (for example, Template:Lang in German or clerical titles such as Cardinal in Catholic usage – Richard Cardinal Cushing). Some titles are hereditary.

Types

Template:Redirect Titles include:

Titles in English-speaking areas

Common titles

  • Mr. – All males
  • Ms. – Adult women
  • Mrs. – Married women (includes widows and divorcées)
  • Miss – Unmarried women and girls (form of address)
  • Madam (also Madame and Ma'am) – Formal form of address for an adult woman. Also used with an official position, similar to "Mister" for men, e.g. "Madam/Mister 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[1] 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 (though various titles, such as Mx., are increasingly used in some countries). This is in line with established practice advocated by the World Wide Web Consortium[2] and the Government Digital Service,[3] which sets the standard for UK government online services. This in turn means that titles are optional on UK passports and driving licences.

Familial

Family titles in English-speaking countries include:

  • Uncle – one's parent's brother (may also include great uncles)
  • Aunt or Aunty – one's parent's sister (may also include great aunts)
  • Granny, Gran, Grandma or Nana – one's grandmother (may also include great-grandmothers)
  • Pop, Grandpa, Gramps or Grandad – one's grandfather (may also include great-grandfathers)

Legislative and executive titles

Some job titles of members of the legislature and executive are used as titles.

Aristocratic titles

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In the United Kingdom, 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, Lord of Parliament and Lady of Parliament are the equivalents of Baron and Baroness in England.

Male version Female version Realm Adjective Latin Examples
Pope n/aTemplate:Efn Papacy Papal Template:Lang Monarch of the Papal States and later Sovereign of the State of Vatican City
Emperor Empress Empire Template:Ubl Template:Lang (Template:Lang) Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire, Ottoman Empire, Holy Roman Empire, Russia, First and Second French Empire, Austria, Mexican Empire, Empire of Brazil, German Empire (none left in Europe after 1918), Empress of India (ceased to be used after 1947 when India was granted independence from the British Empire), Japan (the only remaining enthroned emperor in the world).
King Queen Kingdom Royal Template:Lang (Template:Lang) Common in larger sovereign states
Viceroy Vicereine Viceroyalty Viceroyal, Viceregal Template:Lang Historical: Spanish Empire (Peru, New Spain, Rio de la Plata, New Granada), Portuguese Empire (India, Brazil), British Empire
Grand Duke Grand Duchess Grand duchy Grand Ducal Template:Lang Today: Luxembourg; historical: Lithuania, Baden, Finland, Tuscany et al.
Archduke Archduchess Archduchy Archducal Template:Lang Historical: Unique only in Austria, Archduchy of Austria; title used for member of the Habsburg dynasty
Prince Princess Principality, Princely state Princely Template:Lang Today: Monaco, Liechtenstein, Asturies, Wales;Template:Efn Andorra (Co-Princes). Historical: Albania, Serbia
Duke Duchess Duchy Ducal Template:Lang Duke of Buccleuch, Duke of York, Duke of Devonshire et al.
Count Countess County Comital Template:Lang Most common in the Holy Roman Empire, translated in German as Template:Lang; historical: Portugal, Barcelona, Brandenburg, Baden, numerous others
Baron Baroness Barony Baronial Template:Lang There are normal baronies and sovereign baronies, a sovereign barony being comparable to a principality; however, this is an historical exception: sovereign barons no longer have a sovereign barony, but only the title and style
Chief Chieftainess Chiefdom, Chieftaincy Chiefly Template:Lang The clan chiefs of Scotland, the grand chiefs in the Papua New Guinean honours system, the chief of the Cherokee nation, the chiefs of the Nigerian chieftaincy system, numerous others

Titles used by knights, dames, baronets and baronetesses

Both the titles "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. Neither "Sir" or "Dame" confer nobility upon the titleholder.

Judicial titles

Historical

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 denominations.

Religious

Priests

Christian priests often have their names prefixed with a title similar to The Reverend.

Used for deceased persons only

Template:See also

Other

Academic titles

Template:Main

  • Dr. – Short for doctor, a title used by those with doctoral degrees, such as PhD, DPhil, MD, DO, DDS, EdD, DCN, DBA, DNP, PharmD, DVM, and LLD. Those with 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.

Maritime titles

Template:Main 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 – 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.

Protected professional titles

In several jurisdictions, the use of some professional titles is restricted to people holding a valid and recognised license to practice. Unqualified individuals who use these reserved titles may be fined or jailed. Protected titles may be limited to those professions that require a bachelor's degree[4] or higher and a state, provincial, or national license.

Usage varies between countries. For example, in the United Kingdom "nutritionist" and "psychologist",[5][6] titles protected in many countries, are not protected, and anybody can so describe themselves, while "dietitian" and "chartered psychologist" (and many specialist psychologist terms) are protected. An international survey on the different protection of terms for psychologists found wide differences in regulations across different jurisdictions.[7]

Other organizations

Some titles are used to show a person's role or position in a society or organization.

Some titles are used in English to refer to the position of people in foreign political systems

Non-English speaking areas

Default titles in other languages

French German Dutch Spanish Italian Swedish Portuguese Greek Hindi
Male Template:Lang Template:Lang Template:Lang Template:Lang Template:Lang Template:Lang Template:Lang Template:Lang (Template:Transliteration) Template:Transliteration
Female Template:Lang Template:Lang Template:Lang Template:Lang Template:Lang Template:Lang Template:Lang Template:Lang Template:Transliteration
Unmarried female Template:Lang Template:Lang Template:Lang Template:Lang Template:Lang Template:Lang Template:Lang Template:Lang Template:Transliteration

It should be, noted, however, that in many of those languages the title for unmarried female is considered to be antiquated and may be considered as legally improper.

Martial arts

  • Sensei - used for martial arts instructors
  • Senpai - 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

Religious

Honorary titles

Rulers

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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 (an honorific family name passed through Roman emperors by adoption)
  • Legate
  • Satrap
  • Tetrarch
Elected or popularly declared
Hereditary

When a difference exists below, male titles are placed to the left and female titles are placed to the right of the slash.

Aristocratic

Template:See also

Historical

Other

Historical

Post-nominal letters

Members of legislatures often have post-nominal letters expressing their membership.

University degrees

  • Associate
    • AA – Associate of Arts
    • AAS – Associate of Applied Science
    • AS – Associate of Science
  • Bachelor
    • BA – Bachelor of Arts
    • BArch – Bachelor of Architecture
    • BBA – Bachelor of Business Administration
    • BSBA – Bachelor of Science of Business Administration
    • BBiotech – Bachelor of Biotechnology
    • BDS / BChD – Bachelor of Dental Surgery
    • BDentTech – Bachelor of Dental Technology
    • BDes – Bachelor of Design
    • BD / BDiv – Bachelor of Divinity
    • BEd – Bachelor of Education
    • BEng – Bachelor of Engineering
    • BEnvd – Bachelor of Environmental Design
    • BFA – Bachelor of Fine Arts
    • LLB – Bachelor of Laws
    • BMath – Bachelor of Mathematics
    • MB, ChB / MB, BS / BM, BCh / MB, BChir – Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery
    • BMus – Bachelor of Music
    • BN – Bachelor of Nursing
    • BPhil – Bachelor of Philosophy
    • STB – Bachelor of Sacred Theology
    • BSc – Bachelor of Science
    • BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
    • BSW – Bachelor of Social Work
    • BTh / ThB – Bachelor of Theology
    • BVSc – Bachelor of Veterinary Science
  • Designer [Dz]
  • Doctor
    • DA – Doctor of Arts
    • DBA – Doctor of Business Administration
    • D.D. – Doctor of Divinity
    • Ed.D. – Doctor of Education
    • EngD or DEng – Doctor of Engineering
    • DFA – Doctor of Fine Arts
    • DMA – Doctor of Musical Arts
    • D.Min. – Doctor of Ministry
    • D.Mus. – Doctor of Music
    • D.Prof – Doctor of Professional Studies
    • DPA – Doctor of Public Administration
    • D.Sc. – Doctor of Science
    • JD – Doctor of Jurisprudence
    • LL.D. – Doctor of Laws
    • MD – Doctor of Medicine
    • DO – Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
    • Pharm.D. – Doctor of Pharmacy
    • Ph.D. / D.Phil. – Doctor of Philosophy
    • PsyD – Doctor of Psychology
    • SJD – Doctor of Juridical Science
    • Th.D. – Doctor of Theology
    • Doctorates within the field of medicine:
  • Master
    • MArch – Master of Architecture
    • MA – Master of Arts
    • MAL – Master of Liberal Arts
    • MBA – Master of Business Administration
    • MPA – Master of Public Administration
    • MPS – Master of Public Service
    • MPl – Master of Planning
    • MChem – Master in Chemistry
    • MC – Master of Counselling
    • M. Des – Master of Design
    • M.Div. – Master of Divinity
    • MDrama – Master of Drama
    • MDS – Master of Dental Surgery
    • MEd – Master of Education
    • MET – Master of Educational Technology
    • MEng – Master of Engineering
    • MFA – Master of Fine Arts
    • MHA – Master of Healthcare Administration
    • MHist – Master of History
    • MLitt - Master of Letters
    • LL.M. – Master of Law
    • MLA – Master of Landscape Architecture
    • MMath – Master of Mathematics
    • MPhil – Master of Philosophy
    • MRes – Master of Research
    • MSc – Master of Science
    • MScBMC – Master of Biomedical Communications
    • MPhys – Master of Physics
    • MPharm – Master of Pharmacy
    • MPH – Master of Public Health
    • MSBA - Master of Science in Business Analytics
    • MSE – Master of Science in Engineering
    • MSRE – Master of Science in Real Estate
    • MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
    • MSW – Master of Social Work
    • Magister – Magister
    • S.T.M. – Master of Sacred Theology
    • MTh/Th.M. – Master of Theology
    • MURP – Master of Urban and Regional Planning

See also

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Notes

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References

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Bibliography

External links

Template:Personal names Template:Social titles