Amenhotep IV in hieroglyphs

The Royal Titulary

From the hieroglyphic records

Horus Ka nakht mery Aten  The Dual King Nefer kheperu Ra, wa en Ra  Son of Ra Akh en Aten

Horus names

The oldest form of the name of a pharaoh, a falcon representing Horus is perched on the palace facade.

Horus name

Ka nakht qa shuty

kꜢ-nḫt ḳꜢi-šwti

The strong bull, high of plumes

E1:D44-q-A28-S9

Before name change
Urkunden des Ägyptische Alterthums , IV, 1963
Gebel el-Silsila rock inscription
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, III, 110i
Translation: Leprohon, The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary, The strong bull, high of plumes
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 142-143, 10:H1

Horus name variant

Ka nakht mery Aten

kꜢ-nḫt mri-itn

The strong bull, beloved of Aten

E1:D40-(i-t:n:ra):N37

After name change
Davis, The rock tombs of Amarna, VI, plate XXXII
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, III, 107d
Translation: Leprohon, The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary, The strong bull, beloved of Aten
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 142-143, 10:H2

Horus name variant

Ka nakht mery Aten

kꜢ-nḫt mri-itn

The strong bull, beloved of Aten

E1:D40-i-t:n:ra-mr-i-i

After name change
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, III, 91a
Translation: Leprohon, The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary, The strong bull, beloved of Aten
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 142-143, 10:H3

Horus name variant

Ka nakht mery Aten

kꜢ-nḫt mri-itn

The strong bull, beloved of Aten

E1:D40-i-t:n:ra-N37

After name change
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, III, 107d
Translation: Leprohon, The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary, The strong bull, beloved of Aten
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 142-143, 10:H3

Horus name variant

Ka nakht mery Aten

kꜢ-nḫt mri-itn

Beloved of Aten

E1:D40-i-t:n:ra-mr

After name change
d'Avennes, Monuments (1847), pl. 13
Translation: Leprohon, The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary, Beloved of Aten
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 142-143, 10:H2

Nebty names

The “Two Ladies”, the goddesses Nekhbet and Wadjet, representing Upper and Lower Egypt respectively.

Nebty name

Wer nesyt em Ipet-sut

wr-nsyt-m-ipt-swt

Great of kingship in Karnak

wr:r-sw*t:n-i-i-m-i-p:t-st-t:Z2

Before name change
Urkunden des Ägyptische Alterthums , IV, 1963
Gebel el-Silsila rock inscription
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, III, 110i
Translation: Leprohon, The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary, Great of kingship in Karnak
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 142-143, 10:N1

Nebty name variant

Wer nesyt em Akh et Aten

wr-nsyt-m-Ꜣḫtitn

Great of kingship in Akhetaten

wr:r-sw-t-i-i-Aa15:N27:t*pr-i-t:n:ra

After name change
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, III, 105c
Translation: Leprohon, The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary, Great of kingship in Akhetaten
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 142-143, 10:N2

Golden Horus names

Horus perched on Gold, which was associated with eternity, but its meaning is disputed.

Golden Horus name

Wetjes khau em Iunu shemau

wṯs-ḫꜤw-m-iwnw-šmꜤi

Elevated of appearances in southern Heliopolis (Thebes)

U39-M40-xa:Z2-m-iwn-nw:O49-M27

Before name change
Urkunden des Ägyptische Alterthums , IV, 1963
Gebel el-Silsila rock inscription
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, III, 110i
Translation: Leprohon, The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary, Elevated of appearances in southern Heliopolis (Thebes)
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 142-143, 10:G1

Golden Horus name variant

Wetjes ren en Aten

wṯz-rn-n-itn

Who has elevated the name of Aten

U39-r:n:V10:n-i-t:n:ra

After name change
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, III, 105c
Translation: Leprohon, The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary, Who has elevated the name of Aten
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 142-143, 10:G2

Throne names

Announced at the coronation and always written in a cartouche. The “official” name of the pharaoh. Also known as the Prenomen.

Throne name

Nefer kheperu Ra, wa en Ra

nfr-ḫprw-rꜤ wꜤ-n-rꜤ

The beautiful one of the manifestations of Ra, the unique one of Ra

C2A-nfr-xpr-Z2*ra:T21:n

Before name change
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, III, 110d
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 142-143, 10:T2

Throne name variant

Nefer kheperu Ra, wa en Ra

nfr-ḫprw-rꜤ wꜤ-n-rꜤ

The beautiful one of the manifestations of Ra, the unique one of Ra

ra-nfr-xpr-ra*Z2:T21:n

After name change
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, III, 105c, 107d
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 142-143, 10:T3

Birth names

Personal name given at birth. Also known as the Nomen.

Birth name

Amenhotep, netjer heqa Waset

imn-ḥtp nṯr ḥḳꜢ wꜢst

Amenhotep, God and ruler of Thebes

i-mn:n:Htp-nTr-HqA-R19

Before name change
Legrain, "Les steles d'Amenothes IV". ASAE 3. 260

Birth name variant

Amenhotep, netjer heqa Waset aa em ahauef

imn-ḥtp nṯr ḥḳꜢ wꜢst ꜤꜢ-m-ꜤḥꜤw.f

Amenhotep, the god and ruler of Thebes, great in respect of his lifetime

i-mn:n:Htp-nTr-HqA-R19-O29v-P6-f

Before name change
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, III, 110d
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 142-143, 10:E1

Birth name variant

Akh en Aten

Ꜣḫ-n-itn

Living spirit of the Aten

i-t:n:ra-Ax&x:n

After name change
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, III, 103
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 142-143, 10:E4

The sources of antiquity

From the writings of the historians and scholars of antiquity

Bibliography

• Gauthier, H. Le livre des rois d'Égypte. MIFAO 18 (1912): 343–361
• Beckerath, J., 1999. “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, Second edition, MÄS 49: 142–143
• Leprohon, R. J., 2013. The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary. Atlanta: 104–105
• Baker. D. D., 2008. The Encyclopedia of the Pharaohs: Volume I. London: 13–18