Official Disney Princess List and Who Counts as a Disney Princess

The Official Disney Princess List currently includes 13 characters: Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas, Mulan, Tiana, Rapunzel, Merida, Moana, and Raya. The important thing to know is that “official Disney Princess” is a specific Disney brand lineup, not a list of every royal or princess-like Disney character.

Official Disney Princess List: Every Character Who Counts

Here is the current official Disney Princess lineup:

  1. Snow White
  2. Cinderella
  3. Aurora
  4. Ariel
  5. Belle
  6. Jasmine
  7. Pocahontas
  8. Mulan
  9. Tiana
  10. Rapunzel
  11. Merida
  12. Moana
  13. Raya

That is the clean answer. If someone asks me who officially counts as a Disney Princess, this is the list I would use. It is also the list that matters most when you are talking about Disney Princess branding, merchandise, official character groupings, and the way Disney presents the princess lineup.

The confusing part is that Disney has plenty of royal characters, queens, heroines, and princess-adjacent characters who feel like they should count. But the official Disney Princess lineup is narrower than most people expect.

For a broader character-by-character overview, I’d use a separate guide to all the Disney princesses because that can include more context beyond the official brand list.

Who Counts as an Official Disney Princess?

A character counts as an official Disney Princess when Disney includes her in the official Disney Princess brand lineup.

That sounds simple, but it clears up most of the confusion. The official Disney Princess list is not just “every female Disney character who is royal.” It is a curated lineup that Disney uses for its princess brand.

That is why Mulan counts even though she is not technically a princess by birth or marriage. It is also why Anna and Elsa usually do not count, even though Anna is a princess and Elsa becomes a queen.

In other words, official Disney Princess status is about Disney’s official grouping, not just story logic.

The Official Disney Princesses in Release Order

Release order is the easiest way to understand how the lineup grew over time:

  1. Snow White from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
  2. Cinderella from Cinderella
  3. Aurora from Sleeping Beauty
  4. Ariel from The Little Mermaid
  5. Belle from Beauty and the Beast
  6. Jasmine from Aladdin
  7. Pocahontas from Pocahontas
  8. Mulan from Mulan
  9. Tiana from The Princess and the Frog
  10. Rapunzel from Tangled
  11. Merida from Brave
  12. Moana from Moana
  13. Raya from Raya and the Last Dragon

I like looking at the lineup this way because it shows the shift from classic fairy tale princesses to more modern heroines. Snow White, Cinderella, and Aurora feel very tied to the older storybook version of Disney. Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas, and Mulan bring in the Disney Renaissance era. Tiana, Rapunzel, Merida, Moana, and Raya feel more modern, independent, and adventure-driven.

This is also where the list gets more interesting. Mulan is not royal, Merida is from a Pixar film, Moana pushes back on being called a princess, and Raya feels more like a warrior than a traditional fairy tale princess. But all four still count officially.

If you are looking at the movies themselves, that is a slightly different question. The official character lineup overlaps with the film list, but it is not always the same as asking about Disney Princess movies in order or how many Disney Princess movies there are.

Why Anna and Elsa Are Not on the Official Disney Princess List

Anna and Elsa are the characters people ask about most, and I get why. They are royal, they are hugely popular, and they feel more famous than several official Disney Princesses.

But Anna and Elsa are usually not counted as official Disney Princesses because Frozen is treated as its own major Disney franchise. Disney generally markets them under the Frozen brand instead of folding them into the main Disney Princess lineup.

That does not mean they are less important. In the parks, I have often seen Anna and Elsa feel just as popular as the official princesses, sometimes more. But for a strict official list, I would not include them.

I would call them Disney royals or princess-adjacent characters rather than official Disney Princesses. For a deeper breakdown, I’d keep that separate in a guide about whether Anna and Elsa are Disney Princesses, because it can easily take over this topic if you let it.

Characters Often Confused With Official Disney Princesses

Some Disney characters feel like they belong on the list because they are royal, heroic, popular, or strongly associated with Disney’s princess-style storytelling. But they are not part of the official lineup.

Common examples include:

  • Anna
  • Elsa
  • Alice
  • Esmeralda
  • Megara
  • Jane Porter
  • Giselle
  • Vanellope
  • Mirabel
  • Asha

Some of these characters are better described as honorary Disney Princesses, unofficial princesses, or Disney heroines. That distinction matters because a fan-made expanded list is not the same thing as the official lineup.

That is also why a question like who are the 40 Disney Princesses is really a different search intent. That kind of list usually includes official princesses, unofficial princesses, queens, heroines, and fan-favorite characters.

How Many Official Disney Princesses Are There?

There are 13 official Disney Princesses.

That number is easy to get wrong because people often add Anna, Elsa, Mirabel, Asha, or other popular Disney heroines. But if you are using the official Disney Princess brand lineup, the answer is 13.

For a quick number-focused version, this connects naturally to how many Disney Princesses there are. The short answer is 13 official princesses, with many more unofficial or honorary characters depending on how broadly you define “princess.”

Why the Official Disney Princess List Can Feel Inconsistent

The official list can feel inconsistent if you judge every character by the same royal rule.

Mulan is not royal, but she counts. Anna and Elsa are royal, but they are usually separate. Moana is the daughter of a chief, but she counts. Merida is from Pixar, but she counts. Raya feels more like an action heroine, but she also counts.

That is why I think the best way to understand the list is this: Disney Princess is an official brand category. It is influenced by the character’s film, popularity, story role, marketability, and how Disney wants to group that character.

It is not a perfect royal checklist.

Why This Matters in the Parks

In the parks, the official lineup helps explain why certain characters appear together in merchandise, shows, displays, and princess-focused experiences. But it does not guarantee that every official princess will be easy to meet on a given day.

From my experience, princess visibility changes by park, season, entertainment schedule, and current promotions. Cinderella, Ariel, Belle, Snow White, Aurora, and Tiana are often the princesses people expect to see most at U.S. parks, while characters like Mulan, Pocahontas, Merida, Raya, and Moana can be more situational depending on the resort.

If princess meet-and-greets are a big part of the trip, I would check the park app early and not wait until late afternoon. Lines can feel easier earlier in the day, especially with kids who still have energy.

For Disneyland planning, it can help to know where to meet Disney Princesses at Royal Hall or compare that with Disney Princess dining if you want a more reliable character experience.

Quick Takeaway

The official Disney Princess list has 13 characters: Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas, Mulan, Tiana, Rapunzel, Merida, Moana, and Raya.

The main thing to remember is that “official Disney Princess” is a Disney brand category, not just a description of every royal female character. That is why Mulan counts, Anna and Elsa usually do not, and characters like Mirabel or Asha can be important Disney heroines without being part of the official lineup.

For the official source, Disney’s princess site is here: Disney Princess official site. I would use that as the final check if Disney updates the lineup with new Disney Princesses.

🏰 Planning Your Disney World Vacation

If you're planning a trip to Disney World, I’ve got you covered with guides that break everything down in a way that’s easy to follow, especially if it’s your first time. You can start with my main Disney World guide, which walks through the basics of the parks, tickets, transportation, and more.

Not sure which park to visit first? I’ve written individual guides for each one:

If you're still figuring out tickets, my Disney World ticket guide explains how pricing works and where to find the best deals. And before you go, definitely check out the Disney World park rules, there are a few things you can’t bring in that might surprise you.

Don’t miss our complete list of all rides at Disney World and list of all the restaurants at Disney World. Perfect for building your ideal itinerary!

When it comes to where to stay, I’ve reviewed the main Disney World hotels to help you choose between on-property resorts and nearby options. Start your day right with my complete guide to breakfast in Disney World.

And don’t forget to visit Disney Springs - it’s Disney World’s massive shopping, dining, and entertainment district, and there’s no park ticket required.

I keep all of these guides updated with the latest changes, so they’ll be ready whenever you are!