Direct answer: Queen Victoria's first name
Queen Victoria's first name was Alexandrina. She was christened Alexandrina Victoria and known publicly as Victoria. The name Alexandrina honored her godfather, Emperor Alexander I of Russia. Although her birth name was Alexandrina Victoria, she chose to reign under the first name Victoria, which became the name by which she is universally recognized.
Full name and christening
Birth and naming context
Queen Victoria was born on 24 May 1819 at Kensington Palace, London. Her full christened name was Alexandrina Victoria. The first name Alexandrina was chosen to honor Alexander I, Emperor of Russia, who was her godfather. Her surname at birth was House of Hanover, reflecting her paternal lineage.
Her parents were Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn (son of King George III), and Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. As the first surviving royal child of the Duke of Kent, she was given a double name at baptism: Alexandrina Victoria. Church and state records confirm the formal christening occurred shortly after birth, with documented attendance by named witnesses from British and Hanoverian families.
Why the name Alexandrina
The name Alexandrina was not common in the British royal family but was chosen to honor Alexander I of Russia, an important allied monarch during the Napoleonic Wars. Close family ties between the Houses of Hanover and Romanov, alongside diplomatic relationships, influenced the selection of this name. Contemporary baptism registers, held at the Royal Archives, record Alexandrina as her first forename, emphasizing the deliberate honoring of Alexander I during her christening.
Public persona and regnal name
Although christened Alexandrina Victoria, she was known as Victoria from childhood within the family and publicly from the moment she became queen. Upon acceding to the throne in 1837, she issued her first official communications under the regnal name Victoria. By choosing to reign as Victoria rather than Alexandrina, she signaled continuity with her predecessors and established a clear, marketable identity for the monarchy during the Industrial Revolution and the expansion of the British Empire.
Historical records and name usage
Official documents, such as the register of her accession, her private journals (published selections), and royal correspondence, show her signature as Victoria. Diplomatic dispatches and foreign court records refer to the British queen as Victoria or Queen Victoria, cementing the regnal name in international usage. The consistent use of Victoria in public and private spheres demonstrates a clear distinction between her birth first name (Alexandrina) and her ruling name (Victoria).
Common name pairings and title
She is commonly referred to as Queen Victoria or Victoria, and after her marriage, Queen Victoria. The following table summarizes key name- and title-related attributes for quick reference.
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Birth first name | Alexandrina | Church/royal baptism records |
| Regnal name | Victoria | Official documents, royal proclamations |
| Date of birth | 24 May 1819 | Birth register, Kensington Palace |
| Accession year | 1837 | Privy Council and proclamation records |
| Common title | Queen Victoria | Newspapers, parliamentary records |
Name clarity in historical scholarship
Reputable biographies and academic histories distinguish between Alexandrina (her christening name) and Victoria (her regnal and common usage). Primary sources such as her letters and court circulars use Victoria for her public identity, while intimate family letters sometimes reference Alexandrina. This naming pattern is consistent with royal practice of using multiple names at birth and a chosen regnal name for governance and public identity.
Summary
Queen Victoria's first name at birth was Alexandrina, reflecting the royal tradition of honoring foreign monarchs and family alliances. She reigned and is remembered as Queen Victoria, a name that became synonymous with an era. Understanding the distinction between her birth name and regnal name clarifies historical references and confirms why she is widely known simply as Victoria.
