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Lyanna

♀ Girl

Pronounced lee-AN-uh /liˈæn.ə/High

Meaning: Modern literary name, likely derived from Liana or Lianna (from Latin liana, a climbing vine) or coined as a variant of Leana/Leanna; widely known as a character name in the fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. MartinMedium

In 30 seconds: Lyanna is a modern English name, likely a variant of Liana meaning vine or bond, that gained widespread recognition as the name of a beloved character in George R. R. Martin's fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire.

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Origin MediumEnglish, Latin

MeaningModern literary name, likely derived from Liana or Lianna (from Latin liana, a climbing vine) or coined as a variant of Leana/Leanna; widely known as a character name in the fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin

U.S. rank (2025)#877 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births305 girls (0.02% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2019

Total births (all-time)≈ 3,771

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

History & Origin

Lyanna appears to be a modern elaboration of Liana or Leanna, names ultimately connected to the Latin word for a climbing vine. As a standalone given name it is rare before the 2000s. Its dramatic rise in the United States and English-speaking world is directly tied to George R. R. Martin's fantasy novel series A Song of Ice and Fire (begun 1996) and especially the HBO television adaptation Game of Thrones (2011–2019), where Lyanna Stark is a pivotal and romantically tragic figure. The name combines a liquid, lyrical sound with the popular -anna ending.

Following the television revelation of Lyanna Stark's secret in Season 6 of Game of Thrones (2016), the name showed measurable spikes in U.S. birth records. It belongs to a family of names — Ariana, Briana, Lianna, Eliana — that share the flowing -ana or -anna ending beloved by contemporary parents. Whether parents are conscious of the literary connection or simply drawn to the name's melodic quality, Lyanna represents the growing overlap between popular culture and baby-naming culture.

Did you know? Lyanna Stark, the character from George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire (and the HBO series Game of Thrones), is central to the entire plot's secret — a revelation that sparked enormous interest in the name among fans from around 2011 onward.

Overall data confidence 80%

Behind the Name — Liana — root name etymologySocial Security Administration baby name data — popularity trend post-2011

Variations

LiannaLeannaLianaLiyana

Nicknames

LyAnnaLia

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Lyanna…

Eliana— shares the same flowing -ana ending and the same melodic three-syllable structure

Briana— three-syllable -ana name with a similar soft, romantic feel

Ariana— four-syllable elaboration of the same -ana family with comparable musicality

Lianna— near-identical form differing only in the initial vowel

Frequently Asked

What does the name Lyanna mean?

Lyanna is likely derived from Liana, a Latin word for a climbing vine; it is also a famous literary name from A Song of Ice and Fire.

How do you pronounce Lyanna?

It is said lee-AN-uh — three syllables with the stress on the second.

Is Lyanna a popular name?

It became noticeably more popular in the United States after Game of Thrones aired, particularly following 2016.

Is Lyanna a real name or just from Game of Thrones?

While Lyanna Stark made the name famous, it is a genuine given name rooted in the Liana and Leanna naming tradition.