From the name of the Egyptian sun deity, Ra, and the word for "child of" (technically "the one who bore him"), the name Ramses, also commonly spelled Ramesses, means "Ra is the one who bore him" or more simply "Son of Ra." Many Egyptian pharaohs (kings) were named Ramses, the most famous of whom was Ramasses II "The Great," who ruled over Egypt in the 13th century BCE (1279–1213 BCE).