I found out about this name through watching the HBO show “Game of Thrones” this summer. I love this name the spelling, the sound, everything about it. What I don’t love is that I don’t know where it came from? I know the show is based off a book so it could just be made up. But it also sounds and looks a little similar to an old Greek name [name]Damaris[/name] which means calf. So could it be a variation of [name]Damaris[/name]?
If anyone knows its origin please let me know. I would also love anyones thoughts on a good mn for Daenerys. Thanks!
My guess is that it was made up … although I know the author, [name]George[/name] RR [name]Martin[/name], uses a lot of baby name books when naming his characters. Someone had asked him how he came up with his character names during one of his recent book signings.
I’m almost positive that [name]George[/name] R. R. [name]Martin[/name] made it up. I think he does an excellent job with naming his character, because he takes bits of legitimate names and twists them just enough so that they still seem plausible rather than fantastical. I think Sansa’s a pretty great name, even if I’m not as enamoured with the character as I am the name. Since Sansa isn’t legitimate, as far as I know, I’ve been transferring my appreciation of it toward [name]Saskia[/name].
[name]Nerys[/name] is a Welsh name, meaning “lady”, and I suspect that that’s probably the root from which Daenerys came, although I don’t know for sure.
I think nono is correct – Daenerys is an invented name, possibly rooted in [name]Nerys[/name] or, as the OP points out, [name]Damaris[/name]. I like it too, and [name]Dany[/name] is such a badass in the show and in the books.
I also love the name Sansa from the series, nono! It’s one of a few sci-fi/fantasy guilty pleasures of mine.
Thanks nono. I agree with you about [name]George[/name] R.R. [name]Martin[/name]'s gift for naming and this is a gem he came up with. Thanks so much for your reply it was very insightful.
I have to say however that I am surprised just how many of the characters’ names in Song of [name]Fire[/name] & Ice books aren’t made up. Names that I thought were have turned out to be medieval variations of names we know today.
You can also try [name]Hercule[/name]'s wife. Her name was Daenyra or [name]Di[/name]-i-ni-ra or Deianeira
if i can duplicate the sound of this greek ancient name.
Thats the greek-wikipedia…but you can easily try google translate on it…
It looks like it could be the name of one of the nereids or oceanids in Greek mythology but it is not.
Nereids - Wikipedia (there is a box on the right hand side of the page with links to lists of all the named nymphs. I haven’t gone through all the links; who knows what you may find.)
I think the name comes from the [name]Roman[/name] currency denarius (pronounced: di-nair-i-əs) which was a silver coin. It explains the silver hair and her “silver” horse.
Actually, [name]Martin[/name] didn’t just “make it up” in the sense that it has no meaning.
The origins of “[name]Dae[/name]” and “[name]Nerys[/name]” is: [name]Dae[/name] = Korean for “[name]Beloved[/name]” and [name]Nerys[/name]= Welsh for “Lady”. Making the name’s meaning, “[name]Beloved[/name] Lady”. Very fitting for the character.
My husband and I are naming our first daughter who is due in just 6 more weeks [name]Daenerys[/name]. We love the name, it’s meaning, the sound, the nickname possibilities, and also, the character itself in the book. We hope our daughter will grow up to be a strong, loving, kind, brave and wise lady as [name]Daenerys[/name] Stormborn has become.
[name]LOVE[/name] the name, but yes, [name]George[/name] made it up. He has a habit of taking already established names and changing the spelling to make it unique. [name]Edward[/name] --> Eddard, [name]Marcella[/name]–>[name]Myrcella[/name]. [name]Geoffrey[/name]–> [name]Joffrey[/name].
Pretty sure it means [name_f]Dae[/name_f] ( Korean meaning beloved ) and nerys ([name_m]Welch[/name_m] meaning lady) …Best I could guess is it means; “beloved lady”
[name_f]Daenerys[/name_f] means; " beloved lady
We love the name, it’s meaning, the sound, the nickname possibilities, and also, the character itself in the book. We hope our daughter will grow up to be a strong, loving, kind, brave and wise lady as [name]Daenerys[/name] Stormborn has become. 