Since 1937, Disney has been creating a wide variety of princess movies. From the classic Snow White to the more recent Raya and the Last Dragon, princesses have been stealing the hearts of Disney fans.

Related: 10 Times Disney Princesses Proved They Were True Heroes

Among Disney's movies, however, there are many female characters that have many of the same qualities as the popular princesses but aren't regarded as one. There are countless characters, some actual princesses, and some prominent female characters, that deserve to be in the same ranking as the other princesses. It's past time to give these ladies the recognition they deserve.

Tiana - The Princess And The Frog (2009)

Almost There By Tiana

Tiana started off as a hardworking young woman trying to open her own restaurant in New Orleans. After she fell in love with Prince Naveen and married him in The Princess and the Frogshe became a princess, but it's debatable whether she actually lived out the life of one.

At the end of the movie, fans see Tiana and Naveen living humbly in New Orleans after opening the restaurant of her dreams. It seems that the two chose to stay there instead of going back to Maldonia and running the kingdom. Even though she could have had the full status of princess and royalty, it seems she opted for a simple life.

Mulan - Mulan (1998)

Mulan looking at her reflection in her helmet from Mulan

Based on a Chinese legend, Mulan showed the character arc of a young woman in a village wanting to protect and honor her family name. As Mulan disguises herself as a man and fights in battle against the Huns and Shan Yu she proves her worth. Once she gets found out as a woman, things escalate but she successfully saves China and ends up with General Shang.

Shang and Mulan are both not royalty, just high-ranking members of the Imperial Army. This means that Mulan is not technically a princess, yet she is considered one when Disney lists their princesses. This might be due to her bravery, as there are many quotes proving Mulan is the most heroic princess, and her prominent status, but Mulan is not a princess in her movie.

Megara - Hercules (1997)

Meg in lake after fight with Centaur

The princess-like figure in Hercules is Megara, also known as Meg. She worked for Hades and quickly became Hercules's love interest, but she never held a status that would have labeled her as a princess, and dating a God doesn't necessarily give her that status either.

Unlike other Disney characters, she was never really labeled as a princess. Some fans see her as one since she is beautiful and ends up with the hero, but Disney has yet to give her that official title. She may not be as popular as other princesses, but she is just as memorable and should be considered one officially.

Vanellope - Wreck-It Ralph (2012)

Vanellope waves in Wreck It Ralph

Ralph's best friend, Vanellope, in Wreck-It Ralphwas unofficially inducted into the Disney princess club in Ralph Breaks the Internet. She already had the title from being the princess of her game, Sugar Rush, but she wasn't one to succumb to the normal ways of royal life. Vanellope enjoyed her life as a racer without the glam and the rules that come with the title.

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Even though she has the title assigned to her at the end of the first film, and she gets called one in the second film by the popular Disney princesses, she doesn't seem to do any of the tasks that a regular princess would.

Kida - Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)

Kida with Atlantean guards in Atlantis: The Lost Empire

Atlantis: The Lost Empire, which was one of IMDb's top sci-fi movies that turned 20 in 2021, introduced an entirely new sort of princess to the lineup - Kida. As a warrior princess, she was much more capable of defending herself and her people, not to mention that she didn't entirely fit the mold of the past princesses Disney had released. She even became a queen when her father passed away.

She is another princess that has not been officially accepted into the Disney princess lineup. Fans are fighting hard to get her invitation, but Disney has yet to budge. Why they would create a princess but not include her in the princess lineup is a bit curious, especially when there are other characters in the lineup that aren't even princesses technically.

Jane - Tarzan (1999)

Jane from Tarzan crossing her arms

Having joined her father on an expedition to Africa to study gorillas, Jane Porter was far from royalty. In Tarzan, Jane becomes close with the man who lives among the gorillas and eventually falls in love with him. While technically Tarzan becomes the King of the Apes and ends up with Jane, she still isn't considered a princess.

There is some speculation that her brown hair and usual yellow attire make her look too similar to Belle, but there are enough differences between the two for Jane to get her own spot among the princesses. She is incredibly smart, curious, and loved someone that others were afraid of. Jane has proven she is strong and since she married the King of the Apes, that technically makes her a queen.

Wendy Darling - Peter Pan (1953)

Wendy in Disney's Peter Pan

The film Peter Pan doesn't have a lot of female characters, but one of them that makes an impact is Wendy Darling. She is one of the many female Disney characters that isn't among the princesses but still gets referenced a lot. Wendy is just a seemingly ordinary girl that goes on an adventure with Peter Pan, and then returns to her home where she grows up.

At no point does Wendy have a princess status, but she goes through the strife and turmoil that other princesses do, and was one of the original female characters. Had things turned out differently between her and Peter they may have ended up together and that could've given her the unofficial title of princess.

Esmerelda - The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (1996)

Esmerelda standing inside church in The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Esmerelda is a very outspoken, smart, and talented character in The Hunchback of Notre Dame. She protects those she cares about, and won't stand for bullies. While she has no royal status, she was originally a part of Disney's princesses. Since new ones have come out though, her presence among the line of princesses seems to have disappeared.

Related: 10 Theories & Urban Legends About Disney's The Hunchback Of Notre Dame

Although she was never an actual princess in the movie, she was kind-hearted, caring, and had many other qualities that would qualify her as a princess. Why Disney has since taken her off the official list is still up in the air.

Tinker Bell - Peter Pan (1953)

Tinker Bell in front of key hole in Peter Pan

Another character from Peter Pan that gets overlooked when it comes to the princess lineup is Tinker Bell. In some lists, she's considered a princess, and in others, she's left out. Considering she is a fairy that is really close to Peter Pan, she has no royal status.

There are actually many things that fans don't remember about Tinker Bell. Her feisty attitude combined with her questionable decisions may be what is keeping her from receiving the official Disney princess title. While other princesses have also made some less than ideal decisions, Tinker Bell is guilty of getting very jealous, switching sides, and can act selfishly at times; however, she is loyal to the very end to those she cares about and can be a great asset to any team she joins.

Minnie Mouse - Steamboat Willie (1928)

Minnie Mouse in Disney World

As one of Disney's original characters, Minnie Mouse has been around for decades. She never received the title of a princess since Mickey was never considered royalty. The two are just seen as mice just living their lives with their friends. Minnie, Mickey and their friends are seen in countless shows, films, and comics but never once is she portrayed as a princess.

Minnie was seen as one of Disney's first prominent female characters and is one of the most recognizable ones in the franchise. She has the cute dress, the versatility of being able to do lots of different things, and is incredibly friendly. It's a shame that this character isn't considered a princess when she deserves the title of Disney's original princess.

Next: The 15 Most Underrated Disney Princesses