Rising since 2012, #1,758 for girls today.
Popularity of Daenerys since 2012
Babies named Daenerys per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 2010s | 780 |
| 2020s | 692 |
Meaning & origin
Daenerys is a modern literary invention, born from the imagination of George R. R. Martin and catapulted to real-world popularity by the global phenomenon Game of Thrones. First recorded in the United States in 2012, the name saw a steep rise in use, reaching its peak rank of 1,758 in 2018. As of 2025, it remains in use with an incidence of 1 in 13,976 births, still on an upward trajectory. The name's strongest following has been in New Jersey, North Carolina, and Florida. While its meaning remains the author's secret, Daenerys has become a recognizable symbol of strength and fantasy fandom.
Daenerys is a name created by author George R. R. Martin for his epic fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire (first published in 1996), later adapted into the television series Game of Thrones. Martin has stated that he made up the name by combining elements of other names or words, but he has not offered a definitive etymology. It is often linked to the Targaryen dynasty's naming conventions, which feature invented names with a vaguely Greek or Old English sound. The name entered real-world use after the TV series premiered in 2011.
Where Daenerys is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Daenerys” around the world
Where Daenerys lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
10
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Dany, Daeny
Variants: Daenerys, Denerys
Sibling names for Daenerys
Names that share Daenerys's style, for a brother or sister.
