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Lyanna
Pronounced lee-AN-uh /liΛΓ¦n.Ι/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
Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880βpresent). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
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 (2011β2019), 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 β Ariana, Briana, Lianna, Eliana β 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.
Variations
Nicknames
Famous Bearers
- β
Lyanna Stark (fictional) (fictional, 1996)Lyanna Stark is a pivotal fictional character in George R. R. Martin's epic fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire (beginning 1996) and its HBO television adaptation Game of Thrones (2011β2019), one of the most-watched series in television history. The younger sister of Eddard Stark and biological mother of Jon Snow β the series' central hero β her secret marriage to Prince Rhaegar Targaryen and the tragedy of her death in the Tower of Joy form the central mystery underpinning the entire saga's war of succession. In the television adaptation she was portrayed by Cordelia Hill as a child and Aisling Franciosi as a young woman in Seasons 6 and 7.
- β
Lyanna Mormont (fictional) (fictional, 2016)Lyanna Mormont is a fictional character in HBO's Game of Thrones, appearing in Seasons 6 through 8 (2016β2019) and portrayed by Bella Ramsey in their professional acting debut. As the young Lady of Bear Island, she earned widespread critical acclaim for her fierce speeches rallying the northern lords to support House Stark β a role originally written for a single scene that was expanded across three seasons because of the exceptional response to Ramsey's performance. Named in-universe after Lyanna Stark, the character died heroically at the Battle of Winterfell in Season 8, having killed a reanimated giant in single combat.
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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 β 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.