WASHINGTON –Don’t be surprised in a couple of years if you see some unusual names in your child’s preschool class, namely: Daenerys, Arya, and Khaleesi.
It’s not the first time that a television show or movie has spawned baby name trends, but the speed at which parents have taken to HBO’s Game of Thrones and passed on their favorite characters’ names, has been notable.
And these are a bit harder to pronounce.
According to the Social Security Administration, the agency issued birth certificates for more than 700 babies named Arya, the tough and plucky daughter of the House of Stark, who travels over land and sea to find other members of her scattered, tragic family.
Another 21 newborns were named Daenerys in 2012, but Vox.com reports that the name for the “Stormborn” princess and mother of dragons was eclipsed by her married Dothraki moniker, Khaleesi.
Of all the other Game of Thrones names, that one enjoyed the biggest surge, though it never existed before writer George R.R. Martin made it up for his series of books, “Song of Fire and Ice,” upon which the HBO hit is based.
Of course Game of Thrones isn’t the only fantasy creating baby name fads. Also suddenly popular: Katniss, after the lead character in the Hunger Games.
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