UK girl's name
Rhaenyra
A name of fictional origin, derived from the fantasy series "A Song of Ice and Fire".
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.
Rhaenyra is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Rhaenyra popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1672, with 18 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 18 births.
This profile covers 38 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2022 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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.
Rhaenyra is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 42 living people in the UK are called Rhaenyra. 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
- • Rhaenyra ranked #1672 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 18 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2024, when 18 girls were registered as Rhaenyra.
- • Rhaenyra ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #630 in 2023.
- • About 42 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rhaenyra as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1672
2024
Births in 2024
18
Latest year
Peak year
2024
18 births
Estimated living
42
2026
Meaning
What does Rhaenyra mean?
The name Rhaenyra is a relatively modern invention, most likely created by author George R.R. Martin for his fantasy book series A Song of Ice and Fire. It does not have a definitive origin or etymology from any particular language or culture.
However, the name appears to be derived from the word "Rhaenys," which was also a name created by Martin for his fictional world of Westeros. Rhaenys was a Targaryen princess who lived centuries before the events of the books. The name Rhaenyra follows a similar naming convention for female Targaryen characters.
While the name itself is a modern creation, it does have a fantastical and mythological quality to it, perhaps drawing inspiration from ancient cultures and languages. The prefix "Rhae-" could be a nod to classical names like Rhea, the ancient Greek goddess of fertility and motherhood.
Since the name is a relatively new invention for a fictional character, there are no historical references or ancient texts that mention it. However, the character of Rhaenyra Targaryen has become quite famous within the context of Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series and the Game of Thrones television adaptation.
Rhaenyra was a controversial and pivotal figure in the fictional history of Westeros, as she sparked a civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons when her claim to the Iron Throne was disputed. Her story and legacy have become a significant part of the broader narrative and lore of Martin's fictional world.
While there are no real-world historical figures named Rhaenyra, the name has gained popularity among fans of the book and television series. Some notable examples of people who have adopted the name in recent years include:
1. Rhaenyra Hill, an American actress and model. 2. Rhaenyra Belmont, a YouTube personality and content creator. 3. Rhaenyra Targaryen, a character portrayed by Emma D'Arcy in the upcoming Game of Thrones prequel series House of the Dragon.
It is worth noting that the name's popularity is largely confined to the fandom of Martin's works and is unlikely to be found in historical records or census data from before the 21st century.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Rhaenyra over time
The chart below shows babies named Rhaenyra registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2022 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 Rhaenyra, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 18 births in 2024, compared with 18 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Rhaenyra by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rhaenyra 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 | #2697 | 38 | 3 |
Geography
Where Rhaenyra is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Rhaenyra. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Rhaenyra ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #630 in 2023.
Across the UK
Rhaenyra in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#630 in 2023
1 years of NRS records, 4 total registered
Related
Names similar to Rhaenyra
- Ruby 60,551
- Rebecca 45,764
- Rosie 35,558
- Rachel 19,034
- Rose 18,043
- Robyn 14,556
- Rosa 6,236
- Rhiannon 6,180
- Rachael 4,702
- Rebekah 4,395
- Rhianna 4,177
- Ruth 4,118
FAQ
Rhaenyra: questions and answers
How popular is the name Rhaenyra in the UK right now?
In 2024, Rhaenyra was ranked #1672 for girls in England and Wales, with 18 births registered.
When was Rhaenyra most popular?
The peak year on record was 2024, with 18 babies registered as Rhaenyra in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Rhaenyra?
A name of fictional origin, derived from the fantasy series "A Song of Ice and Fire".
How many people are called Rhaenyra in the UK?
A total of 38 babies have been registered as Rhaenyra across the 3 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 4 more in Scotland.
Where is Rhaenyra most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Rhaenyra ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #630 in 2023. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.