Khaleesi (given name)

Khaleesi is a feminine given name derived from the Dothraki title meaning queen that was used for the fictional character Daenerys Targaryen in American author George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire books and in Game of Thrones, the television series based upon the novels.

The intended pronunciation of the word from the constructed language used in the television series varied from the pronunciation originally intended by linguist David J. Peterson. Peterson pronounced the word as kuh-LAY-see or kuh-LAYA-see while the pronunciation used in the television series was kuh-LEE-see.

Parents who chose the name for their daughters said they were attracted by the strength and beauty of the character, who liberated slaves and overcame obstacles to assume power in her own right. Pet owners also named their animals after the character. The dark turn taken by the character and her ultimate fate on the 2010s television series prompted discussion about whether parents would regret using the name for their daughters.

Usage
The name Khaleesi remains in regular use and, as of 2023, had been among the thousand most popular names in use for girls in the United States since 2014. It is also in use in other countries. Daenerys, the name of the character, declined in popularity after the end of the series but also remains in regular use. There were 108 newborn American girls who were given the name in 2021. Another 123 newborn American girls were given the name in 2022 and another 125 in 2023.