Daenerys
Meanings & Origins
"invented Valyrian fantasy name"
Popularity
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“The Mother of Dragons — Game of Thrones' most iconic name”
Origin & Etymology
Daenerys is a wholly invented name created by author George R.R. Martin for his A Song of Ice and Fire fantasy series (1996). Martin constructed it with the feel of ancient languages — the '-ys' ending echoes Valyrian names in his fictional world, and the sound may have been inspired by the Greek name Danaë (mother of Perseus in Greek mythology). It has no real-world linguistic roots.
Popularity Story
Daenerys spiked dramatically with the success of HBO's Game of Thrones (2011-2019). Hundreds of American babies were named Daenerys between 2011-2018. The name then collapsed after the controversial 2019 final season, in which the beloved character commits mass murder — a cautionary tale about naming children after fictional characters in ongoing stories.
Cultural Significance
Daenerys Targaryen was one of the most beloved fictional characters of the 2010s — 'Mother of Dragons,' 'Breaker of Chains' — a feminist icon to many viewers who saw her as a symbol of justice and power overcoming oppression. The character's arc remains one of the most discussed in television history.
Fun Facts
- Daenerys was given more titles than any other character in Game of Thrones history — she had over a dozen formal titles
- The name appeared on 163 birth certificates in the US in 2015 at the show's peak popularity