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What is a Pharaoh? Meaning and Titles
“Pharaoh” is the well-known term for the king of ancient Egypt. The word goes back to the Egyptian per-aa (“Great House”), originally the name of the royal palace. As a form of address for the ruler himself it is attested from the 18th Dynasty (New Kingdom).
Where does the word pharaoh come from?
In Egyptian, per-aa meant “Great House” and denoted the palace. Later the name of the house was transferred to the king who lived in it, much as we speak of “the White House” or “the Kremlin”. The word is attested for the ruler himself from the 18th Dynasty; an early example is a letter addressed to Akhenaten. It reached European languages through Hebrew (the Bible) and Greek.
What did the Egyptians call their king?
The usual titles were “King of Upper and Lower Egypt” and “Son of Re”. From the Middle Kingdom the full titulary consisted of five names: Horus name, Nebty name (“Two Ladies”), Golden Horus name, throne name and birth name. Throne name and birth name are written in oval name rings (cartouches). On every ruler page Horuspedia gives the throne name and other recorded names in the profile, for example for Ramesses II or Tutankhamun.
Pharaoh or king?
Scholarly texts often simply say “king” for early periods; “pharaoh” has become the general term for all rulers of ancient Egypt. Horuspedia follows this usage. Women on the throne are called female pharaohs, see Female Pharaohs. Roman emperors and the Ptolemies bore Egyptian royal titles but did not come from Egypt (see Ptolemaic Dynasty and Roman Emperors as Pharaohs).
How many pharaohs were there?
That depends on the count. The List of Pharaohs on this site shows 447 rulers with surviving names, of whom 415 are pharaohs and rival kings and 32 are high priests and God’s Wives, who were not pharaohs. Who was first and who was last is on the page First & Last Pharaoh.
Books on this topic
- The Rise and Fall of Ancient EgyptToby WilkinsonThe whole story from the first kings to Cleopatra, told in a readable way.AdOn Amazon
- Ancient Egypt: The Definitive Visual HistoryDKA large illustrated volume with photographs of temples, tombs and finds.AdOn Amazon
- The Oxford History of Ancient EgyptIan Shaw (ed.)The standard one-volume history, written by leading Egyptologists.AdOn Amazon
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Frequently asked questions
What does the word pharaoh mean?
It goes back to the Egyptian “per-aa”, “Great House”, originally the name of the royal palace. Only later did it become a term for the king himself.
Since when has the king been called pharaoh?
As a form of address for the ruler the word is attested from the 18th Dynasty (New Kingdom). Earlier it denoted the palace.
What did the Egyptians call their king?
The usual title was “King of Upper and Lower Egypt”. From the Middle Kingdom five names belonged to the full titulary: Horus, Nebty, Golden Horus, throne and birth name.
Were there female pharaohs?
Yes, for example Sobekneferu, Hatshepsut and Tausret. An overview is on the page “Female Pharaohs”.
Did a pharaoh have several names?
Yes. The full titulary comprised five names, of which throne name and birth name were written in cartouches. That is why many rulers in the list have a throne name besides their well-known name.
How many pharaohs were there?
The list on this site counts every ruler with a surviving name; the exact number is given on the list page. It also includes rival kings, high priests and God’s Wives, who were not pharaohs.
Sources
Facts checked on 19 October 2026. Dates follow the list on this site and are estimates.
More to start with
- List of Pharaohs
- Female Pharaohs
- First & Last Pharaoh
- Timeline & Dynasties
- Ptolemaic Dynasty
- Roman Emperors as Pharaohs
- Test your knowledge in the quiz
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