Title


A title is one or more words used before or after a person's name, in certain contexts. It may signify either veneration, an official position, or a professional or academic qualification. In some languages, titles may be inserted between the first and last name. Some titles are hereditary.

Types

Titles include:
The following titles are the default titles:
Aunt, Auntie, or Uncle may be used as titles by nieces and nephews, or by children to adults whom they know.
Other titles are used for various reasons, such as to show aristocratic status or one's role in government, in a religious organization, or in a branch of the military.

Legislative and executive titles

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

Imperial and Royal 		Imperator Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire, Ottoman Empire, Holy Roman Empire, Russia, First and Second French Empire, Austria, Mexican Empire, Empire of Brazil, German Empire, Empress of India, Japan.
KingQueenKingdomRoyalRex Common in larger sovereign states
ViceroyVicereineViceroyaltyViceroyalProconsulHistorical: Spanish Empire, Portuguese Empire,, British Empire
Grand DukeGrand DuchessGrand duchyGrand DucalMagnus DuxToday: Luxembourg; historical: Lithuania, Baden, Finland, Tuscany et al.
ArchdukeArchduchessArchduchyArchducalArci DuxHistorical: Unique only in Austria, Archduchy of Austria; title used for member of the Habsburg dynasty
PrincePrincessPrincipality, Princely statePrincelyPrincepsToday: Monaco, Liechtenstein, Asturies, Wales; Andorra. Historical: Albania, Serbia
DukeDuchessDuchyDucalDuxDuke of Buccleuch, Duke of York, Duke of Devonshire et al.
CountCountessCountyComitalComesMost common in the Holy Roman Empire, translated in German as Graf; historical: Portugal, Barcelona, Brandenburg, Baden, numerous others
BaronBaronessBaronyBaronialBaroThere are normal baronies and sovereign baronies, a sovereign barony can be compared with a principality, however, this is an historical exception; sovereign barons no longer have a sovereign barony, but only the title and style
ChiefChieftessChieftaincy,
Chiefdom		ChieflyCapitaneusThe 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
PopeThere is no formal feminine of Pope Note 1PapacyPapalPapaMonarch of the Papal States and later Sovereign of the State of Vatican City

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.
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 belong to the nobility.
"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.
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

Christian priests often have their names prefixed with a title similar to The Reverend.
Military ranks are used before names.
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.
The names of police officers may be preceded by a title such as "Officer" or by their rank.
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.
Some titles are used to show one'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

FrenchGermanDutchSpanishHindiItalianSwedish
PortugueseGreek
MaleMonsieurHerrMeneerSeñorŚrīmān/ŚrīSignorHerrSenhorΚύριος-ε
FemaleMadameFrauMevrouwSeñoraŚrīmatīSignoraFruSenhoraΚυρία
Unmarried femaleMademoiselleFräuleinJuffrouw/MejuffrouwSeñoritaSuśrīSignorinaFrökenSenhoritaΔεσποινίς

The following are no longer officially in use, though some may be claimed by former regnal dynasties.
Appointed
When a difference exists below, male titles are placed to the left and female titles are placed to the right of the slash.

Historical

Russian:
German:
Spanish:
others
Members of legislatures often have post-nominal letters expressing this: