Disney Princesses Tier List: Every Princess Ranked
Thirteen princesses, nearly ninety years of movies, and a lot of strong opinions. We're ranking the official Disney Princess lineup from the ones who redefined the whole idea of a princess to the ones who mostly just stand around waiting for a kiss.
This list leans on what fans and critics actually say in reviews, forums and endless Twitter debates, mixed with our own take when the internet can't agree. Think we got one wrong? That's half the fun of a list like this, go argue about it.
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SS Tier: The icons who redefined the role
Moana
She's not interested in a prince, a crown, or really any of the usual princess business, she just wants to save her island and cross the horizon. Her bond with her grandmother and her slow-burn standoff with Maui give the movie real emotional weight, and 'How Far I'll Go' is the rare Disney song that's both a bop and a character statement.
About Moana
A Polynesian wayfinder who sets sail to save her island, from Moana (2016). Known for her journey with the demigod Maui and the song 'How Far I'll Go'.
- First film
- 2016
Mulan
She saves China, outsmarts an entire army, and spends most of the movie disguised as a man because the alternative is sitting at home. Fans consistently rank her near the top for a reason: she earns every bit of her story through action, not romance, and 'Reflection' still hits.
About Mulan
A young woman who disguises herself as a soldier to save her father, from Mulan (1998), based on the Chinese legend of Hua Mulan. Known for the training montage and song 'Reflection'.
- First film
- 1998
Tiana
A princess who actually works for a living, and owns her own restaurant dream before any of the magic kicks in. Being turned into a frog for most of her own movie could have sidelined her, but Tiana's work ethic and no-nonsense attitude make her one of the most grounded characters in the whole lineup.
About Tiana
An ambitious waitress who dreams of opening her own restaurant, from The Princess and the Frog (2009), set in New Orleans. Known for spending much of the film transformed into a frog.
- First film
- 2009
- Setting
- New Orleans
AA Tier: Sharp, strong, and beloved
Belle
Bookish, stubborn, and bored out of her mind in her "poor provincial town," Belle wants more than Gaston and his six-egg breakfast. The Beast romance asks a lot of the audience, sure, but Belle herself, reading while walking, standing up to a castle full of talking furniture, remains one of the sharpest-written princesses Disney ever made.
About Belle
A book-loving young woman who falls for a cursed prince, from Beauty and the Beast (1991). Known for standing up to Gaston and befriending the Beast's enchanted household.
- First film
- 1991
Merida
The one who rejects the marriage plot outright and shoots for her own hand, literally. Merida's relationship with her mother is the real heart of Brave, and her wild red hair alone made her an instant icon, even if some fans feel the film underuses her once the bear plot kicks in.
About Merida
A Scottish princess and skilled archer who defies an arranged marriage, from Pixar's Brave (2012). Known for her wild curly hair and bond with her mother.
- First film
- 2012
- Studio
- Pixar
Rapunzel
Eighteen years locked in a tower didn't kill her curiosity, it just gave her a frying pan and seventy feet of hair to swing it with. Tangled balances her wide-eyed wonder with genuine steel, and her arc toward choosing her own life over Mother Gothel's control is one of the better-written journeys on this list.
About Rapunzel
A princess with magical healing hair locked in a tower for 18 years, from Tangled (2010). Known for her frying pan and her lantern-filled journey home.
- First film
- 2010
BB Tier: Great qualities, held back by their films
Pocahontas
Pocahontas herself is thoughtful and principled, which is more than the shaky plot around her deserves.
About Pocahontas
Loosely inspired by the historical Powhatan woman, from the 1995 film Pocahontas. Known for the song 'Colors of the Wind' and her bond with nature.
- First film
- 1995
Jasmine
She wants out of the palace and out of the marriage trap her father's kingdom has set for her, and that frustration feels real. Jasmine gets points for pushing back against her circumstances, but Aladdin keeps the camera on Aladdin far more than on her, so she ends up a strong supporting player in her own story.
About Jasmine
Princess of Agrabah who wants freedom from palace life, from Aladdin (1992). Known for her tiger Rajah and her romance with the street-smart Aladdin.
- First film
- 1992
Ariel
The collector energy of "Part of Your World" is immortal, and Ariel's curiosity about the human world is genuinely charming. But swapping her voice for legs to chase a guy she's seen once remains the most debated decision in the entire franchise, and plenty of fans still can't let it go.
About Ariel
A mermaid princess who dreams of the human world, from The Little Mermaid (1989). Known for the song 'Part of Your World' and her collection of human objects.
- First film
- 1989
Raya
A warrior with a sword and a genuine mission to reunite a fractured land, Raya has more in common with Mulan than with Snow White. The movie around her is solid rather than beloved, which is probably why she hasn't broken into the top tier of fan rankings yet despite a likeable, capable lead.
About Raya
A warrior on a quest to reunite a fractured land and restore a dragon, from Raya and the Last Dragon (2021). Known for her martial arts skills and companion dragon Sisu.
- First film
- 2021
CC Tier: Charming but thin on agency
Cinderella
Endlessly kind in the face of genuinely cruel treatment, which is admirable, but her big move is losing a shoe and waiting for a prince to come find her. The mice and the pumpkin carriage are charming, Cinderella's own agency in her story is pretty thin.
About Cinderella
A kind servant girl who attends a royal ball with help from her Fairy Godmother, from the 1950 film Cinderella. Known for her glass slipper and pumpkin carriage.
- First film
- 1950
DD Tier: Mostly along for the ride
Aurora
Gorgeous animation and a genuinely menacing Maleficent can't change the fact that Aurora barely functions as a character, she's more of a plot device with a nice singing voice.
About Aurora
Also known as Sleeping Beauty, Aurora is cursed to fall into an eternal sleep, from the 1959 film Sleeping Beauty. She's famed for the film's lush animation style.
- First film
- 1959
- Also known as
- Sleeping Beauty
FF Tier: Important, but not much of a character
Snow White
Historically massive, no argument there, she started the entire genre. But judged as a character rather than a milestone, she cooks, cleans and waits for a prince's kiss after literally one meeting with him, and that's about the whole arc. Fans respect what she represents far more than they enjoy rewatching her.
About Snow White
The first Disney Princess, from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Disney's first animated feature film. She's known for living with seven dwarfs after fleeing an evil queen.
- First film
- 1937
- Status
- First Disney Princess
How we ranked them
We weighed personality and agency (does she drive the plot or get carried by it), cultural impact, the quality of her film, and how she holds up watching as an adult rather than as a kid. Songs and visuals matter too, but a great soundtrack can't save a princess who has nothing to do for 80 minutes.
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Rank these yourselfFAQ
Who is the most popular Disney princess among fans?
Rankings vary, but Moana and Mulan consistently top fan and critic lists for having the most agency and the least reliance on a romance plot.
Which Disney princess is considered the weakest by critics?
Snow White and Aurora tend to land at the bottom of most rankings, mainly because they have very little to actually do in their own films compared to later princesses.
Is Raya officially a Disney Princess?
Raya is generally included in modern Disney Princess discussions and merchandise lineups, alongside Moana as one of the newer additions to the franchise.
Why do some princesses rank lower despite being iconic?
Cultural impact and character quality are different things. Snow White and Cinderella are hugely important to Disney's history but offer much less personality and agency than later princesses like Tiana or Merida.
Which Disney princess movie has the best soundtrack?
This is heavily debated, but Moana, The Little Mermaid and Pocahontas are the three most frequently cited for having standout, lasting songs.
More rankings
Image credits
- MoanaCover: Wikipedia · Source
- MulanCover: Wikipedia · Source
- TianaCover: Wikipedia · Source
- BelleCover: Wikipedia · Source
- MeridaCover: Wikipedia · Source
- RapunzelCover: Wikipedia · Source
- PocahontasCover: Wikipedia · Source
- JasmineCover: Wikipedia · Source
- ArielCover: Wikipedia · Source
- RayaCover: Wikipedia · Source
- CinderellaCover: Wikipedia · Source
- AuroraCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Snow WhiteCover: Wikipedia · Source