Every Disney Princess, Ranked — From Cinderella To Mulan

Please note that this ranking is completely opinion-based! Thoughts and opinions are welcome in the comments below.

Released in 1937, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs brought audiences the first Disney princess. As time has passed, this film remains a classic though Snow White herself is less interesting than the royals who come after her. She also spends half of the movie cleaning the house for seven men she barely knows.

I personally love Sleeping Beauty for its gorgeous animation, fabulous villain, and nostalgia. Princess Aurora might have great hair and the status of being an OG Disney icon, but she doesn't have much personality. In fact, for a portion of the story she is asleep! For these reasons, she ranks low on the list.

Anna's wit, charm, and relatable bedhead make her a fun princess, but she ranks low on my list due to feeling almost too similar to Tangled's Rapunzel and less interesting than her sister, Elsa. 

While Raya and the Last Dragon lacks the heart of other Disney films, Raya herself exhibits extraordinary strength, courage, and selflessness. We also get the pleasure of meeting Sisu, the last dragon of Kumandra, who adds humor and fun to the story.

Cinderella gets points for being iconic, but she also fully depends on a man to save her. Prince Charming? Kind of a dud. The girl really had a missed opportunity not asking Fairy Godmother for way better wishes than a pumpkin carriage and elegant ball gown. Still, a classic movie to be enjoyed.

We all lived through "Let It Go" being overplayed, but at the end of the day, Frozen was a great addition to the princess collection. Elsa in particular felt like a fresh and new type of Disney character, struggling with mental health and self-acceptance. She ranks above her sister Anna due to depth and also cool ice powers.

As the first Disney princess featured in a Pixar movie, Merida is already unique in her own right! She is bold, fierce, and, of course, brave when faced with undoing a spell that has cursed her mother. Merida refuses to settle for an arranged marriage and, rather than focusing on romance, her story highlights the special bond between mother and daughter.

After royal ladies like Aurora and Cinderella, Disney gave us princesses with personality! Jasmine is independent, outspoken, and curious to experience life beyond the palace walls. She is essential in the princess collection, and also gets points for having the coolest pet tiger ever.

As a little girl, The Little Mermaid was it! I'll always have a soft spot for Ariel and her grotto full of gadgets and gizmos a-plenty, though she's undoubtedly the princess who makes the worst possible decisions. Selling your soul to a sea witch for a guy you just met? Nah. Regardless, this movie has a phenomenal musical score and Ariel has incredible bangs.

Historical inaccuracies aside, Pocahontas was a memorable movie in the classic Disney era. Our titular royal is perhaps one of the most level-headed women on this list and had the sense to see that all people should be treated equally before most of America.

While most of us haven't spent our lives locked in a tower by a witch, Rapunzel is one of the most relatable princesses. She's quirky, she can't decide on a favorite hobby, and she's just a girl trying to navigate life in the real world. In my opinion, Tangled felt like the first Disney movie with a down-to-earth princess.

Moana ranks highly on my list due to her bravery and selfless leadership. Rather than focusing on romance, this film chose to nix a love interest and tell the story of a young woman who embarks on a quest to save her people. Instead of earning the title of 'princess' at the end of her story, Moana accepts her destiny as the future chief of Motunui! 

Where old-school Disney movies end with true love's kiss, The Princess and the Frog ends with the girl finding love and opening the restaurant of her dreams. Both Tiana and Prince Naveen learn a lot about themselves when they get turned into frogs, but my favorite moral of this movie is that dreams can be achieved with hard work and determination. Tiana rocks.

As the OG introvert, Belle has always been my girl. Not only is Beauty and the Beast one of the most well-done classic Disney movies in my humble opinion, but I love Belle for the fact that she starts as a regular girl from a small-town village who wants to be left alone. She just wants to read her books, defy societal expectations, and not date Gaston. Plus, the message of loving someone for who they are inside instead of outward appearance is a tale as old as time.

At number one, i have the Disney princess who did the most. Not only does Mulan care deeply about her family, but we also see her embark on a journey of growth and self-discovery which makes for a great message. This film also has incomparable music and one of the most iconic sidekick characters (looking at you, Mushu). Oh, Mulan also literally saves China.