George R.R. Martin has succeeded in creating some of the best fantasy names in literature. There are currently 2,054 named characters in the A Song of Ice and Fire, series — the books on which the HBO television series Game of Thrones is based. Martin’s characters reflect our continuing advice about creating fantasy names: make them easy to pronounce and easy to spell.  Well, maybe with the exception of Daenerys.

Some of his names are based on Medieval and old Celtic names, which normally conjure up a fantastical world. Many are just simply plucked from current name charts (Kyle, Jon, Lucas, Jenny, Kyra). But a great majority of the ASOIF character names are created by Martin himself. And although they are purely imagined by the author, they still seem like acceptable personally identifiable names. He does that by using a simple actual English word name like Oliver and changing it just a bit to make a character named Polliver. I’ve never known a Polliver, personally, but I hear it once, and it does sound like a name to me.

Truth Following Fiction: Popular character names from literature and television often influence baby naming trends. Many of the names Martin created for the books are now becoming real baby names in and of themselves. I personally know of one couple who just recently named their newborn daughter Khaleesi. The name Arya/Aria skyrocketed onto the popularity charts in the year 2011, the year Game of Thrones debuted on HBO. Popular character names from literature and television often influence baby naming trends.

Observations from my analysis of the ASOIF/Game of Thrones full character name list*:

1. The most popular names are Jon (22) and Jeyne (17) for male and female characters, respectively.

2. As in a real society, first (given) names are reused. Male characters are sometimes named after their father or another character.

3. As in real life, characters have nick names. Eddard Stark is often called Ned. Catelyn (pronounced CAT-a-lin, not KATE-lyn) is called Cat. Sandor Clegane is most often called “The Hound,” and Petyr Baelish, “Littlefinger.”

4. Some characters are only referred to by nick name or description: Mad Axe, Old Grey Gull, Sleepy Jack, Smiling Knight, Stone Thumbs, Pudding, Alebelly, Spotted Pate the Pig Boy.

5. Wildings, Free folk, and other fantastical/quirky characters tend to only have a given name (no family name). Melisandre, Ygritte, Osha, Craster, Orell, Gilly, Hodor, Varys.

6. Names are part of the story. The surname “Snow” indicates a person was born illegitimately out of wedlock (if born in the North). One character can only say one word, “Hodor,” which we assume is also his name. It is later revealed that his true name is Walder (a name shared by nine other characters) and that the utterance “Hodor” was a foreshadowing of a pivotal scene in the series. Theor Greyjoy is re-named “Reek” by his captor in order to demean him.

7. Real names—given and surnames—are changed just a bit to create new names. Androw, Polliver, Ortin, Illifer, Victaria, Mollander, Joseth, Dunaver, Abelar, Jodge.

8. As mentioned above, real naming conventions are used to create new names. Martin often uses Welsh-like spellings–specifically using the letter Y in place of an I or E. Daenerys, Beony, Denys, Frynne, Mhaegan, Edwyn, Elys, Dykk, Lenyl.

9. Similarly, Martin often uses occupational or place names as surnames, a common practice in early England. Brienne of Tarth, Tom of Sevenstreams, Thoros of Myr, Watt of Longlake, Arlan of Pennytree, Bran the Builder.

10. Martin peppers his cast of characters with silly names, which sound like they are plucked out of children’s books. TomToo, Big Boil, Toefinger, Tickler, Sand Snakes, Rat Cook, Patchface, Moon Boy, Jack-Be-Lucky, Poxy Tym, Cutjack.

11. Some characters are only referred to by one letter: C, H, O.

12. When Arya Stark is “lost” in Braavos, she becomes “A girl with no name.” Only until she finds her true self, does she refer to herself as Arya Stark again.

Considering a ASOIF/Game of Thrones Name for your Baby?
Be careful. What appears to be a cool, trendy name now may be “dated” in ten years. Also, consider the meaning. The term Khaleesi, for example, is a title in the story, not a name. It means “Queen of Everything.” Do you really want to impose this on your daughter? It’s equivalent of calling her “Queenie” or “Princess.”  Great for a nickname or pet name, but can your child live with it?

Recommended Baby Names
From the created names in the series, here is a list of names I would recommend for real baby names:

For Girls: Cersei – although she’s a terrible character, this is actually a cool name. Daenerys – although it’s difficult to spell/pronounce, this character is such an icon that people will know the spelling in five years. It also has an easy nickname, Dani. Also: Alysanne, Arwyne, Bellena, Bellonara, Beony, Cassana, Cassella, Elenya, Emberlei, Ermesande, Gwynesse, Janei, Jyanna, Jynessa, Kella, Leslyn, Lyessa, Lynesse, Malora, Matrice, Melisandre, Mylessa, Myrielle, Nymeria, Obara, Obella, Rohanne, Ryella, Sallei, Sansa, Sarella, Sarra, Sarya, Selyse, Senelle, Shiera, Shyra, Taena, Talisa, Tya, Tyana, Tyene, Tysane, Tysha, Victaria, Zhoe

For Boys: Alfyn, Allar, Alleras, Andar, Andrik, Arrec/Arryk, Balon, Bannen, Beck, Bowen, Brenett, Cayn, Cerrick, Dacks, Dake, Davos, Dennett, Dyn, Dunaver, Durran, Erreck/Erryk, Gallard, Gendry, Gevin, Harys, Hendry, Jorah, Joseth, Karlon, Kemmett, Khal, Kirth, Koss, Lancel, Lucan, Lucos, Mance, Mandon, Matthar, Morrec, Norren, Orivel, Orland, Paxter, Polliver, Portifer, Qalen, Quaro, Quent, Qyburn, Rafford, Renly, Rhaego, Rolder, Ronnel, Roose, Ryam, Samwell, Shadd, Skyte, Stannis, Styr, Symond, Syrio, Tallad, Tanton, Ternesio, Terro, Theon, Thomax, Thoros, Timeon, Timett, Timoth, Todric, Tommen, Tristifer, Triston, Tyrion, Vardis, Vayon, Vickon, Vyman, Walder, Wallen, Wex, Yoren, Zollo

 

Main Characters, Game of Thrones (Contains Spoilers)

Male		Female
Balon Greyjoy	Lord of the Iron Islands and the father of Theon and Yara.	Arya Stark	Daughter of Ned and Catelyn Stark
Barristan Selmy	Lord Commander of the Kingsguard and a member of the Small Council. Forced into retirement by Joffrey and Cersei. Offers his services to Daenerys.	Brienne of Tarth	Originally a member of Renly Baratheon’s Kingsguard, accused of killing him and flees with Catelyn, ending up in her service.
Benjen Stark	Eddard’s younger brother, First Ranger of the Night’s Watch.	Catelyn Tully (Stark)	Matriarch of Stark family, wife to Eddard (Ned)
Bran Stark	Son of Ned and Catelyn, maimed in fall from tower, pushed by Jaime Lannister	Cersei Lannister	Queen of Roberth Baratheon, mother of Joffrey
Bronn	Tyrion’s right hand man	Daenerys Targaryen	Daughter of King Aeryss II Targaryen (The Mad King) and Mother of Dragons.
Davos Seaworth	Knight and supporter of Stannis Baratheon	Lysa Tully (Arryn)	Sister of Catelyn Stark, a little mad.
Eddard Stark	Patriarch of the Stark Family. Hand of the King to Robert Baratheon.	Margaery Tyrell	Wife of the late Renly Baratheon, marries King Joffrey for political reasons.
Edmure Tully	Catelyn and Lysa’s younger brother and the Lord of Riverrun. Groom at “Red Wedding”	Meera Reed	Joins Bran (along with brother Jojen) in hi sjourney to the Wall.
Gendry	Illegitimate son of King Robert	Melisandre	A priestess of R’hllor in service to Stannis Baratheon.
Gregor Clegane (“The Mountain”)	Ser Gregor Clegane is a huge knight and the elder brother of Sandor Clegane (“The Hound”).	Myrcella Baratheon	Younger sister of Joffrey
Hodor	Mentally handicapped stablehand at Winterfell who can only say the word: Hodor. Becomes protector of Bran and siblings.	Olenna Redwyne	Grandmother of Loras and Margaery Tyrell
Ilyn Payne	Mute executioner	Osha	Free folk woman, captive of Winterfell, protector of Bran Stark
Jaqen H’ghar	Tells Arya she can name three people for him to kill to repay the three deaths she stole.	Roslin Frey (Tully)	Bride in “Red Wedding”
Jaime Lannister	Twin brother (and lover) of Cersei, the Queen. Member of the Kingsguard and an exceptionally skilled swordsman.	Sansa Stark	Daughter of Net and Catelyn Stark. Originally betrothed to King Joffrey, ends up marrying Tyrion Lannister.
Jeor Mormont	997th Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch, is the estranged father of Ser Jorah	Shae	Prostitute, companion of Tyrion, hand maiden to Sansa Stark
Joffrey Baratheon	Current child king of the seven kingdoms. Son of Jaime and Cersei Lannister	Ygritte	Wilding woman, in love with Jon Snow
Jojen Reed	Joins Bran (along with sister Meera) in journey to the Wall	Talisa (Stark) – not in books	Wife of Robb Stark, killed with unborn child in “Red Wedding”
Jon Arryn	Former Hand of the King to Robert Baratheon. Deceased when the story begins.	Yara Greyjoy	Sister of Theon
Jon Snow (Stark)	Illegitimate son of Eddard Stark. Joins Night’s Watch.
Jorah Mormont	Exiled knight in the service of Daenerys Targaryen
Khal Drogo	Warlord of the Dothraki people. Married Daenerys Targaryen as an arranged marriage. Daenerys names her favorite dragon after him: Drogon.
Lancel Lannister	Cousin of Cersei, Jaime, and Tyrion Lannister. Becomes Cersei’s lover when Jaime goes to war.
Loras Tyrell	Brother of Margaery – Gay
Mace Tyrell	Father of Margaery and Loras
Mance Rayder	Former ranger of the Night’s Watch who became “King-Beyond-the-Wall” and leader of the Wildings.
Orell	Wilding raider and warg, capable of entering the minds of animals. Killed by Jon Snow.
Petyr Baelish (“Littlefinger”)	Master of Coin in King Robert Baratheon’s Small Council. He grew up with Catelyn Tully and fought Ned’s brother Brandon for her hand.
Podrick Payne	Podrick is a young squire assigned to Tyrion Lannister
Pycell	King’s advisor, pretends to be frail
Ramsay Snow (Bolton)	Captures and tortures Theon-renames him to Reek
Renly Baratheon	Youngest brother of King Robert Baratheon
Robb Stark	Eldest son of Eddard and Catelyn Stark. Goes into battle with the Lannisters for the Iron Throne.
Robert Baratheon	Friend of Ned Stark, succeeds the “Mad King” as King of the Seven Kingdoms.
Rickon Stark	Youngest child of Eddard and Catelyn Stark.
Roose Bolton	Patriarch of the Bolton family, known for flaying their enemies alive. Father of Ramsay. Betrays the Starks in the “Red Wedding”
Samwell Tarly	New recruit to Night’s Watch, companion to Jon Snow
Sandor Clegane “The Hound”	Joffrey Barathion’s bodyguard and member of the Kingsguard. Ends up being the protector of Arya and Sansa Stark.
Stannis Baratheon	Brother to Robert, fighting for throne
Theon Greyjoy	“Ward” to Eddard Stark
Tommen Baratheon	Younger brother of Joffrey
Tyrion Lannister	Dwarf son of Tywin Lannister, his mother died while giving birth to him. Becomes “Master of the Coin” to King Joffrey and is ordered to marry Sansa Stark.
Tywin Lannister	Patriarch of the Lannister family, father to Tyrion, Cersei and Jaime Lannister.
Varys	Eunuch advisor to the crown.
Viserys Targaryen	Narcissistic  brother to Daenerys. Exiled prince and heir of the Targaryen dynasty.
Walder Frey	Head of House Frey, Lord of the Crossing and bannerman to House Tully. Known for outliving his many wives and fathered over 100 children. Betrays the Starks as the host of the infamous “Red Wedding”

“Bastard” Surnames for each region

Region	Surname	Example
Crownlands	Waters	Aurane Waters
Dorne	Sand	Ellaria Sand
Iron Islands	Pyke	Cotter Pyke
North	Snow	Jon Snow
Reach	Flowers	Falia Flowers
Riverlands	Rivers	Walder Rivers
Stormlands	Storm	Rolland Storm
Vale of Arryn	Stone	Mya Stone
Westerlands	Hill	Joy Hill

 

Full List of Characters
A full list of ASOIF characters can be found here.

* My analysis is based on the character names from the first four books of the George R. R. Martin A Song of Ice and Fire series along with the Game of Thrones television series.