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Khaleesi

♀ Girl

Pronounced khuh-LEE-see /kəˈliː.si/High

Meaning: Queen; a title meaning the wife of a khal (warlord) in the fictional Dothraki language created for George R.R. Martin's worldHigh

In 30 seconds: A bold pop-culture name meaning 'queen' in the fictional Dothraki language of Game of Thrones. Khaleesi is daring, powerful-sounding, and entirely modern in origin.
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Origin HighInvented, Fictional
MeaningQueen; a title meaning the wife of a khal (warlord) in the fictional Dothraki language created for George R.R. Martin's world
U.S. rank (2025)#690 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births410 girls (0.02% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2018
Total births (all-time)≈ 5,535

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201820112025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Khaleesi was coined by linguist David J. Peterson for the HBO series Game of Thrones (2011–2019), based on George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire novels. In the Dothraki language constructed for the show, khal means warlord and khaleesi is the feminine title for his queen or wife.

After Game of Thrones premiered, Khaleesi began appearing on U.S. baby name charts, entering the top 1000 girls' names around 2012 and peaking around 2014. It represents a broader trend of parents drawing names from beloved fantasy properties. Its use has declined since the controversial final season in 2019 but it retains a devoted following.

Did you know? Linguist David J. Peterson invented the Dothraki language for HBO's Game of Thrones based on fragments in George R.R. Martin's novels. Khaleesi is actually a title rather than a name — but it became a given name in the real world as Daenerys Targaryen's character rose to iconic status.
Overall data confidence 95%
Behind the Name — Khaleesi — origin and usageU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

KhalesiKaleesi

Nicknames

KhaliLeesi

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Khaleesi…

Daenerys— the character name of the Khaleesi herself, sharing fictional-fantasy origin
Arya— another Game of Thrones name that crossed into mainstream real-world use
Sansa— fellow Game of Thrones girl's name with a melodic feel
Lyra— fantasy-origin girl's name (His Dark Materials) with the same strong heroine energy

Frequently Asked

What does the name Khaleesi mean?

Khaleesi means 'queen' — specifically, it is the Dothraki title for the wife of a khal (warlord) in George R.R. Martin's world and the HBO series Game of Thrones.

How do you pronounce Khaleesi?

Khaleesi is pronounced khuh-LEE-see /kəˈliː.si/ — three syllables with stress on the second.

Is Khaleesi a real name or a fictional one?

Khaleesi originated as a fictional Dothraki title invented for Game of Thrones but has been used as a real given name in the U.S. since about 2012.

How popular is Khaleesi?

Khaleesi entered the U.S. top 1000 girls' names around 2012, peaked around 2014, and has declined since the show's final season in 2019.