Name Prefix & Suffix Picker - Titles, Prefixes & Suffixes
Browse or search a reference of common name prefixes/titles (Mr., Dr., Rev.) and suffixes (Jr., PhD, Esq.), each with a brief usage note.
Mr.
For an adult man, regardless of marital status.
Mrs.
For a married adult woman.
Ms.
For an adult woman when marital status is unknown or irrelevant.
Miss
For an unmarried woman or young girl.
Mx.
A gender-neutral title used instead of Mr./Ms./Mrs.
Dr.
For someone holding a doctoral degree (PhD, MD, etc.) or a practicing physician.
Prof.
For a university professor, used in academic contexts rather than for medical doctors.
Rev.
For an ordained member of the clergy, such as a minister or pastor.
Fr.
For a Catholic or Orthodox priest ("Father").
Sr.
For a Catholic nun ("Sister"), placed before her name.
Hon.
For a judge, elected official, or other dignitary ("The Honorable").
Sir
For a knighted man in the UK, or as a general respectful address.
Dame
For a knighted woman in the UK (the female equivalent of Sir).
Capt.
For a military or ship captain.
Col.
For a military colonel.
Gen.
For a military general.
Lt.
For a lieutenant in the military or police.
Sgt.
For a sergeant in the military or police.
Maj.
For a military major.
Adm.
For a naval admiral.
Judge
Used before the name of a sitting judge in less formal contexts than "Hon."
Coach
Common informal title for a sports coach, especially in school settings.
Chief
Common title for a fire chief, police chief, or tribal leader.
Pastor
For a Protestant church leader, similar in use to Rev.
Rabbi
For an ordained Jewish religious leader.
Imam
For a Muslim worship leader.
How to Use the Name Prefix & Suffix Picker
Switch between Prefixes/Titles and Suffixes using the toggle, then browse or search the list. Each entry shows the common abbreviation or term alongside a brief usage note explaining when it applies — for example, when to use "Dr." versus "Prof.", or the difference between "Jr." and "II".
Example
Searching "doc" while in Prefixes mode surfaces "Dr." with the note that it applies to anyone holding a doctoral degree or a practicing physician, helping you decide whether "Dr." or "Prof." fits a given person's title.
Common Use Cases
- Choosing the correct title when addressing formal correspondence or an invitation.
- Understanding what a name suffix like "Esq." or "PhD" actually signifies.
- Deciding between similar titles, like "Rev." versus "Pastor", for a specific context.
FAQs
- When should I use "Dr." versus "Prof."? Use "Dr." for anyone holding a doctoral degree or a practicing physician; use "Prof." specifically for a university professor in an academic context, even if they also hold a doctorate — many professors are addressed as either, but "Prof." is more precise in a teaching setting.
- What's the difference between "Jr." and "II"? "Jr." specifically means a son who shares his father's exact full name, while "II" simply means the second person in a family line to carry that name, which doesn't have to be a direct father-son relationship.
- Can a name have both a prefix and a suffix? Yes — for example, "Dr. Jane Smith, PhD" combines a professional prefix with an academic suffix, though repeating both a title and its corresponding degree suffix (like "Dr." and "MD" together) is sometimes considered redundant in strict style guides.