British Titles & the Order of Precedence

British titles can look like a tangle of overlapping ranks, but there is a clear order behind them. This guide walks the full ladder of the peerage, explains where knights and dames fit, and shows how the everyday styles of Lord and Lady relate to the rest. If you are choosing a title as a gift, it also points you to the right one.

The peerage, highest to lowest

The peerage is the set of ranked noble titles. There are five degrees. Each has a male and female form, and each sits above the one below it.

Knights and dames

Sir and Dame are honours, not peerages. They are awarded for achievement or service, they are not inherited, and the holder is addressed as Sir or Dame followed by their first name. They rank outside the peerage ladder above but carry real prestige of their own.

Examples:Sir David Beckham · Dame Judi Dench

Lord and Lady

Lord and Lady are the styles most people recognise. They are used as a courteous form of address across several ranks of the peerage, which is why they are the most popular titles to hold and to give. For the etiquette of using one, see how to address a Lord or Lady.

How titles are granted (and why none are for sale)

Real peerages are either inherited down a family line or granted by the Crown for public service. Neither can be bought. What you can do is legally change your title through a title pack, which gives you the certificate, the deed and the presentation without claiming an official peerage. The honest detail is in are Lord titles real and legal? and can you buy a Lord title?

Choose your title

Every title below is available as a Prestige Titles title pack. Tap one to read its meaning, history and how it is used.