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Nothing is known of Nefertiti's natal family except that she had a sister named Mutbenret. Nefertiti was about 17 when she married Akhenaten. They had six daughters together. The "Early Proclamation" issued in the fifth year of Akhenaten's reign lists only Meritatan, the eldest. The "Later Proclamation" of Year 6 gives two daughters, Meritatan and Meketaten. It is thought that children were proclaimed after weaning. According to an inscription discovered in 2012, Nefertiti was present at a ceremony in Amarna in Year 16, near the end of Akhenaten's reign.<ref>A. Van Der Perre, "Nefertiti's last documented reference [for now]," in F. Seyfried (ed.) ''In the Light of Amarna. 100 Years of the Nefertiti Discovery,'' (Berlin, 2012), 195-197.</ref>

Nothing is known of Nefertiti's natal family except that she had a sister named Mutbenret. Nefertiti was about 17 when she married Akhenaten. They had six daughters together. The "Early Proclamation" issued in the fifth year of Akhenaten's reign lists only Meritatan, the eldest. The "Later Proclamation" of Year 6 gives two daughters, Meritatan and Meketaten. It is thought that children were proclaimed after weaning. According to an inscription discovered in 2012, Nefertiti was present at a ceremony in Amarna in Year 16, near the end of Akhenaten's reign.<ref>A. Van Der Perre, "Nefertiti's last documented reference [for now]," in F. Seyfried (ed.) ''In the Light of Amarna. 100 Years of the Nefertiti Discovery,'' (Berlin, 2012), 195-197.</ref>

In Year 15 or 16, Nefertiti was named regent with the reign name Ankhkheperure Neferneferuaten.<ref>Egyptian regnal names are generally based on preregnal personal names, and Nefertiti's case is typical in this regard. "Neferneferuaten" is also the name of a daughter of Akhenaten and Nefertiti. J.P. Allen suggests that the regent was this daughter, not Nefertiti. The Year 16 inscription, discovered since Allen's work was published, makes it clear that Nefertiti was still alive at the end of Akhenaten’s reign. It is unlikely that she would have been passed over for a child who was probably around 10 at this time.</ref>  Meritaten served as Neferneferuaten's queen. (Even a female ruler needed a queen to preside with her at temple ceremonies.)

In Year 15 or 16, Nefertiti was named regent with the reign name Ankhkheperure Neferneferuaten.<ref>The identification of Nefertiti as Neferneferuaten follows the usual relationship between royal names and preregnal personal names. "Neferneferuaten" is also the name of a daughter of Akhenaten and Nefertiti. J.P. Allen suggests that the regent was this daughter, not Nefertiti. The Year 16 inscription, discovered since Allen's work was published, makes it clear that Nefertiti was still alive at the end of Akhenaten’s reign. It is unlikely that she would have been passed over for a child who was probably around 10 at this time.</ref>  Meritaten served as Neferneferuaten's queen. (Even a female ruler needed a queen to preside with her at temple ceremonies.)

The cartouches for Neferneferuaten generally include one of several epithets describing her link to Akhenaten. Cartouche epithets usually consist of a title stated unapologetically, so these cartouches are something of an oddity. The Neferneferuaten cartouches have been grouped into three types. In some, she was described as "desired of Akhenaten." In others, she was "effective for her husband." In a few late inscriptions, she was "Akhenaten-less." This last group of inscriptions suggest that she was Egypt's sole ruler, at least for a brief period. All three types of inscriptions suggest that she was anxious to assert the legitimacy of her rule, which was presumably being challenged.<ref name=Allen>Allen, James P., "[https://web.archive.org/web/20120301142642/http://cassian.memphis.edu/history/murnane/Allen.pdf The Amarna Succession]," ''Causing His Name to Live: Studies in Egyptian Epigraphy and History in Memory of William J. Murnane,'' University of Memphis, 2007.</ref>

The cartouches for Neferneferuaten generally include one of several epithets describing her link to Akhenaten. Cartouche epithets usually consist of a title stated unapologetically, so these cartouches are something of an oddity. The Neferneferuaten cartouches have been grouped into three types. In some, she was described as "desired of Akhenaten." In others, she was "effective for her husband." In a few late inscriptions, she was "Akhenaten-less." This last group of inscriptions suggest that she was Egypt's sole ruler, at least for a brief period. All three types of inscriptions suggest that she was anxious to assert the legitimacy of her rule, which was presumably being challenged.<ref name=Allen>Allen, James P., "[https://web.archive.org/web/20120301142642/http://cassian.memphis.edu/history/murnane/Allen.pdf The Amarna Succession]," ''Causing His Name to Live: Studies in Egyptian Epigraphy and History in Memory of William J. Murnane,'' University of Memphis, 2007.</ref>