Khaleesi (given name)

Khaleesi is a feminine given name derived from the Dothraki title meaning queen that was used for the fictional character Daenerys Targaryen in American author George R . Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire books and in Game of Thrones, the television series based upon the novels. The intended pronunciation of the word from the constructed language used in Game of Thrones varied from the pronunciation originally intended by conlanger David J. Peterson. The proper pronunciation of the word in Dothraki is /ˈxa / (KHAH-lay-ay-see), while the pronunciation used in the television series was (kə-LEE-see). Parents who chose the name for their daughters said they were attracted by the strength and beauty of the character, who liberated slaves and overcame obstacles to assume power in her own right. The dark turn taken by the character and her ultimate fate on Game of Thrones prompted discussion about whether parents would regret using the name for their daughters.