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The names of kings and queens
Some names have worn crowns for centuries. A tour of royal first names, from France to Spain.
Behind many perfectly ordinary names hide kings, queens and emperors. A tour of the names that once wore a crown.
The great dynasties
Eighteen kings of France were named Louis; Charles, Henry and Philip round out the roll. To give these names was to place a child within a prestigious lineage.
Spain and its sovereigns
Beyond the Pyrenees, it was Fernando, Carlos and the great queen Isabel who shaped history — down to the present-day crown.
A prestige that endures
If these names remain popular, it is because they carry an aura of solidity and tradition. Many also have a saint on the calendar, which spread them across Catholic Europe.
Curious about the story of your name? Explore the directory.