Meritites

Meritites is an ancient Egyptian feminine name meaning "loved by her father," derived from the Egyptian phrase mryt-jts. The name was borne by several royal women of the Old and New Kingdoms, most notably during the 4th Dynasty. Meritites is a variant spelling of the same name; other forms include Meryetites, Meritates, and its masculine counterpart Meritites.

Etymology

The name comprises the elements mryt ("beloved") and jts ("her father"), reflecting a common epithet in Egyptian onomastics that expressed familial devotion or a daughter's favored status. As a theophoric or declarative name, such phrases often appeared among royalty as marks of divine or patriarchal favor.

Notable Bearers

Several historical figures share the name, spanning multiple dynasties:

• Meritites I (4th Dynasty): Wife of Pharaoh Khufu (Cheops), the builder of the Great Pyramid at Giza. She was likely buried in one of the subsidiary pyramids at Giza known as G1-b.
• Princess Meritites II (4th Dynasty): Daughter of Khufu and Meritites I. She married the official Akhethotep and was buried in the Giza necropolis.
• Meritites III (4th Dynasty): Daughter of Prince Hornit, eldest son of Pharaoh Djedefre.
• Princess Meritites (5th Dynasty): Daughter of Princess Khamerernebty (daughter of Pharaoh Niuserre) and the Vizier Ptahshepses. She held the title "King's Daughter" despite being only a granddaughter of a king, illustrating the fluid use of royal titles.
• Queen Meritites IV (6th Dynasty): Wife of Pharaoh Pepi II. She was buried in a small pyramid adjacent to the pyramid of her father, Pepi I, at Saqqara.
• Princess Meritites (19th Dynasty): A daughter of Pharaoh Ramesses II, appearing as the 23rd name on the Abydos list of princesses.

Cultural and Historical Significance

The repetition of the name across different epochs underscores a continuity in royal naming traditions. As a classical New Kingdom personal name, Meritites appears in numerous inscriptions and monuments, particularly during the earlier Old Kingdom periods and the 19th Dynasty. The name's recurring affiliation with the royal family underscores the onomastic practice of naming princesses and queens with affectionate endearing terms.

The distribution of feminine inflection in the -es vs -tes variant stems from modern scholarly conventions to facilitate transliteration 5 of the Egyptian hieroglyphs by differing epigraphers.

References

• Dodson, A., & Hilton, D. (2004). The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt. London: Thames & Hudson.
• Grajetzki, W. (2005). Ancient Egyptian Queens: A Hieroglyphic Dictionary. London: Golden House Publications.

• Meaning: "loved by her father"
• Origin: Ancient Egyptian
• Type: First name
• Usage regions: Ancient Egypt (Old through New Kingdoms)
• Related names: Meryetites, Meritates