I’ve been seeing this name a lot lately and its one that really just grinds my gears so to speak.
For everyone who doesn’t watch/read game of thrones/a song of ice and fire, [name]Khaleesi[/name] is an invented word, which is the Dothraki (made up language) equivalent of ‘queen’. The [name]Khaleesi[/name], is the female ruler of the ‘khalasar’ (their tribe, essentially.)
A lot of people seem to think [name]Khaleesi[/name] is the name of [name]Emilia[/name] [name]Clarke[/name]'s character, but really it is just the title she is given when she marries the king, or ‘Khal’. Her character’s actual name is [name]Daenerys[/name], or [name]Dany[/name].
Now, if you know all this already, and most of you do I expect, (I see a lot of GoT pictures/names on here) and you still want to name your child [name]Khaleesi[/name], then go wild, all the power to you.
I just think when using a name that is created for a show/book/movie/ whatever, you should know the background, because everyone will always associate that name with it, whether or not you do.
…At first I thought this was about a potential [name]Kim[/name]/[name]Kanye[/name] baby name (CollegeHumor’s fault). But after reading it I realize WHY I have not yet picked up those books/watched that show. Because I would hate them.
I [name]LOVE[/name] Game of Thrones but would never dream of naming my daughter [name]Khaleesi[/name]. The problem for me is not that it’s from a made up language (one could argue that it is a literary name just lacking history) but that, like you say, it’s a title. Naming your child [name]Khaleesi[/name] is like naming your child [name]Princess[/name] or [name]Queen[/name], which is way to over the top and frou frou for my tastes.
I often choose books based on the names of important characters or places (I know, unfair, but I don’t want to read a book where I have to stumble over every pronunciation), and the names are one of the reasons I haven’t picked of GoT. It’s a very, very complicated series and the names don’t help.
I don’t see the problem with using a name that derives from an established literary/made up language. I love how JRR Tolkien modeled his languages on existent ones, so many of his names were already ‘real’ names. But the same rules apply when taking a name from Dothraki as a spoken language. You take a name that is actually a name, and not a word, unless it is established as a name ([name]Violet[/name], [name]Piper[/name], [name]Chase[/name], etc.) [name]Khaleesi[/name] is not a name, it’s a title.
@ursa_minor & @aurra
Exactly how I feel about it. Many literary ‘made up’ names have actually become very popular, like [name]Wendy[/name]. Actually I have to say [name]Eowyn[/name] is even on my list. The problem I have is if you wouldn’t name your daughter [name]Queen[/name], then perhaps not [name]Khaleesi[/name].
I should also point out that the Dothraki aren’t exactly kind, civil, or loving people, so the leader of a khalasar isn’t exactly what I would want my daughter to aspire to be.
As much as I love [name]Dany[/name] I could not name my child [name]Khaleesi[/name]. I know that there was a definite switch in her character when she becomes [name]Khaleesi[/name] but she’s still [name]Daenerys[/name]. To me [name]Khaleesi[/name] has the powerful feel she acquired compared to how timid she was at the beginning of the series. But if you’re looking for the power than [name]Storm[/name] would be a nice way to get it without forever linking your child to a book/TV series.
I would hope that someone naming their daughter [name]Khaleesi[/name] is a fan of Game of Thrones and didn’t just find the name on Nameberry…then again, a true fan would know that it was her title, not her name. [name]Daenerys[/name] would be better. I would love to use it since it seems like a Welsh name. My name is Welsh and I love Welsh names…It is tied to that one character though.
[name]Khaleesi[/name] is cute as a name, I see it’s appeal, but there are other names that start with Ka or have [name]Lee[/name] in them that these people should consider instead. [name]Khaleesi[/name] would be a better for their dog or cat.
I knew a woman that named all her pets after [name]Lord[/name] of the Rings characters. I would like to do the same with Game of Thrones. However, I will likely chose minor characters over major ones. Maybe even borrow names from the direwolves. I saw a dog named Ghost for adoption. [name]How[/name] cute is that?
Some of these notions have been reinforced by HBO’s constant stream of over-the-top nudity and sex (some sexual situations were in the source material but many were added in to suit HBO’s formula) that tends to glamorize the name even for those unfamiliar with the character. While another equally as popular creation such as [name]Katniss[/name] (which is often on the Nameberry search cloud) has only had 12 uses, possibly because it doesn’t the musical tone of [name]Khaleesi[/name]. Regardless, I wouldn’t recommend using this name if you aren’t a fan and don’t want your kid being called “Mother of Dragons” and “Mhysa” their whole life through.
My DH decided he wanted a direwolf after watching the show. He found a created breed of dog based after the extinct [name]North[/name] American direwolf and has decided he wants one named Ghost desperately.
Aside from the Game of Thrones reference, I don’t like the name itself. It reminds me of Parcheesi. You could go with something kind of similar like [name]Callista[/name], maybe?
I agree with everything you said. I feel the same way with [name]Arwen[/name]. Yes, while it is actually a Welsh name,and I think it would be easier to use than [name]Khaleesi[/name], the LOTR connections are permanent. As much as I love Tolkien I don’t think I could ever bring myself to use [name]Arwen[/name], unless it was in the middle name spot.
I don’t have a big problem with it, but my husband thinks it is weird and he’s been reading the series since the '90s. I think it is easier to pronounce than [name]Daenerys[/name], and although it means “queen” I don’t have a problem with that since it’s not English. I wouldn’t personally use it though because it will probably be trendy and it would sound horrible with our last name. But I would also use [name]Arwen[/name] so call me crazy…or a supernerd. (Perhaps because my name is [name]Amity[/name] and I was never bothered by the Amityville thing, I don’t see a problem with many unique names that most people think are too out there)
I’m not really a fan of Game of Thrones, but my husband watches it and I usually join him because I have nothing else better to do. Honestly, I see nothing wrong with it. She is a very dynamic and powerful character, she’s not evil. And the name itself is pretty cool, so is [name]Daenerys[/name]. [name]Just[/name] because it’s “in” now, doesn’t mean it will be in 5-10 years. It would be like naming your daughter [name]Arwen[/name] or another Tolkien name that was “made up” using common Welsh sounds. J.M. [name]Barrie[/name], the author of [name]Peter[/name] [name]Pan[/name], made up the name [name]Wendy[/name] and think about how many women are named [name]Wendy[/name] out there! I would rather meet a little [name]Khaleesi[/name] than another [name]Kaylee[/name].
I don’t know, it wouldn’t surprise me if a lot of the people naming their daughters [name]Khaleesi[/name] are just SoIaF/GoT super fans. People get pretty intense - I know a Worf named after the [name]Star[/name] Trek character. His parents are diehard Trekkies who dress up and go to conventions and speak Klingon, or used to when they were younger.
As far as it meaning queen, I don’t that in of itself is enough to knock it out. [name]Reyna[/name] and [name]Regina[/name] both mean queen and are common enough names. I’d be much more concerned about [name]Khaleesi[/name] being so inextricably linked to one character, a character whose full story hasn’t even been told yet since the series is still in progress.
I’m not a huge GoT fan, but I watch it. And I’m really bothered by the [name]Khaleesi[/name]-as-a-name stuff, too, for a number of reasons. First, for the you-wouldn’t-name-your-kid-[name]Princess[/name] reason. Next, for the it-sounds-like-parcheesi-or-a-cat-disease reason. And lastly, because it’s not her name, and people seem to think it is. [name]Even[/name] in episode recaps, people will say stuff like “[name]Khaleesi[/name] did X in last night’s episode” which really annoys me. It’s [name]Daenerys[/name] or THE [name]Khaleesi[/name].
I wouldn’t choose it for my child, God knows, buuut, there would certainly be worst nicknames to have than Mother of Dragons. Blows all my nicknames out of the water, that’s for sure.
In general, [name]George[/name] R. R. [name]Martin[/name] has invented some truly fantastic names. My personal favourite is Eddard. If I wasn’t worried about the stigma of naming a child something recently made up, I’d be all over that.
Calicivirus.
However, I will likely chose minor characters over major ones. Maybe even borrow names from the direwolves. I saw a dog named Ghost for adoption. [name]How[/name] cute is that?