NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Daenerys

A feminine name derived from the Old English word for dragon, signifying strength and power.

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Daenerys is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Daenerys popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4843, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2014, with 9 births.

This profile covers 47 England and Wales registrations across 10 recorded years from 2013 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 44% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 47 living people in the UK are called Daenerys. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Daenerys ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2014, when 9 girls were registered as Daenerys.
  • About 47 living people in the UK are estimated to have Daenerys as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4843

2024

Births in 2024

4

Latest year

Peak year

2014

9 births

Estimated living

47

2026

Meaning

What does Daenerys mean?

The name Daenerys is a modern invention, created by author George R.R. Martin for his A Song of Ice and Fire book series. It does not have a direct origin from any specific language or culture, but rather draws inspiration from various sources.

Martin has stated that the name is meant to evoke the names of certain ancient Greek and Byzantine princesses, such as Daenerys of Thessalonica, who lived in the 5th century AD. The name itself appears to be a feminized version of the Greek name Daenerys, which means "to be disciplined" or "to be tormented."

While the name Daenerys does not have any direct historical references or appearances in ancient texts or religious scriptures, it has gained widespread recognition and popularity due to the character of Daenerys Targaryen in Martin's books and the HBO television series Game of Thrones.

Prior to Martin's creation of the character, there are no recorded examples of the name Daenerys being used throughout history. However, since the publication of the first A Song of Ice and Fire book in 1996, the name has gained popularity, particularly among fans of the series.

As the name is a modern invention, there are no famous historical figures who have borne the name Daenerys. However, the character of Daenerys Targaryen, portrayed by Emilia Clarke in the Game of Thrones television series, has become an iconic figure in popular culture.

While the name Daenerys may not have a rich historical background, it has become a part of modern cultural lexicon and has inspired a new generation of parents to choose unique and unconventional names for their children.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Daenerys over time

The chart below shows babies named Daenerys registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2013 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Daenerys, the clearest high point is 2014. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 9 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Daenerys
02579201320182024

Decades

Daenerys by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Daenerys was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #4482 13 3
2010s #4416 34 7

Related

Names similar to Daenerys

FAQ

Daenerys: questions and answers

How popular is the name Daenerys in the UK right now?

In 2024, Daenerys was ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Daenerys most popular?

The peak year on record was 2014, with 9 babies registered as Daenerys in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Daenerys?

A feminine name derived from the Old English word for dragon, signifying strength and power.

How many people are called Daenerys in the UK?

A total of 47 babies have been registered as Daenerys across the 10 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.