The wait is almost over, as there are only a few days left until the release of the much-awaited Game of Thrones final season.
It is difficult to predict who will eventually sit on the iron throne and what the faith of our favourite characters will be, as the show never ceased to amaze us with its unpredictable plot twists. However, we have noticed that the characters’ names have been hiding some clues right from the beginning. George R. R. Martin has taken inspiration from ancient cultures and religions, creating some unique and meaningful names for his characters. Have a look at some of the most significant ones in the list below and see how they are connected to the bearer’s evolution and destiny.
1. Arya
Source: HBO
A girl has a name, and it is a very popular one. The young Stark girl has been a favourite since season 1 and, in the meantime, she has evolved from the rebellious tomboy to a fully trained assassin. In season 6, she almost let the public believe that she has given up her name and status. One of the most memorable moments of the show is her epic comeback, when she decides to leave the temple of the Faceless Men and regain her identity. Her famous line, “A girl is Arya Stark of Winterfell”, emphasizes the importance of her name, as a direct link to her background and personality.
So what is the meaning of her name?
The term Arya appears in several cultures, under different spellings, such as Aarya and Ariya. The meaning can vary from “lioness” in Hebrew to “noble” in Sanskrit and even to “melody” in Italian. All these meanings are somehow connected to the character’s personality. Besides, the name is used for males in Indonesia, which is quite an interesting aspect, considering that the young Stark girl has been defying the lady-like stereotype from the very beginning.
2. Daenerys
Source: HBO
Or should we introduce her as Queen Daenerys Stormborn of the House Targaryen, the First of Her Name, Queen of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lady of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm, Lady of Dragonstone, Queen of Meereen, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, the Unburnt, Breaker of Chains and Mother of Dragons?
We will skip over her many titles and just stick with Daenerys. There are several interpretations of her name, however one theory is that the name is composed of the terms “Daen” and “Erys”. The first one could be derived from the Hebrew name Dan, which means “judge”, while the latter is a variation of the name Eris, which is the Greek goddess of strife and discord. “Erys” could also come from Ares, the Greek god of war. This theory is also supported by a scene from the book, where Khal Drogo refers to her as “Dan Ares”.
Considering that Daenerys has gone from a helpless orphan to the most powerful female character of the show, we think that the name is a pretty good match.
3. Tyrion
Source: HBO
George R. R. Martin’s favourite character, Tyrion, is one of the most complicated and fascinating figures in Westeros. There are many hypotheses regarding this character’s origins and destiny and his name might offer us some clues regarding that.
What we know for sure is that this character’s name uses the prefix “ty”, the same as his father’s name. Although it is unusual for literature to have characters with similar names, it was actually a common practice in medieval times to have all members of the family named after their father.
So why aren’t Jaime and Cersei named after Tywin? There is a fragment in the book where Genna Lannister tells Jamie that “Tyrion is Tywin’s son, not you”. This could either mean that Tyrion is the only child who has inherited Tywin’s personality or that he is his only biological son.
Another interesting hypothesis is that the name could be derived from the ancient Greek word “tyrannus”, which means king. Could it be a clue for who will sit on the iron throne in the end? Only time will tell.
4. Cersei
Source: HBO
The most reasonable theory is that Cersei’s name is inspired by Circe, the mythological sorceress who murdered her husband and who transformed her enemies into beasts. Sounds a lot like Cersei, right?
She once told Ned Stark that “when you play the game of thrones, you win or you die” and this line perfectly describes her morals. So far, she has done a pretty good job not only surviving, but also playing the cards in her favour.
5. Brandon
Source: HBO
One of the most intriguing figures in the show, Brandon will most likely be a key player in the battle that is about to come. He had one of the most impressive and unexpected transformations throughout the show, developing a character that is very different from the little innocent boy he used to be in season one. Brandon has become the three-eyed raven and he possesses infinite knowledge regarding everything that has ever happened. But a significant clue regarding his future has been there from the very beginning. The name Brandon originates from ancient Welsh and its meaning is no other than raven.
Another interesting fact regarding his name is that he was named after his uncle, which is quite a common practice among the Game of Thrones characters. There are several characters in the Stark dynasty named Brandon, Ben, Rick and variations of these names.
Game of Thrones amazes its audience with its complexity and unpredictability. We find clues about future plot developments in every detail and still the show continues to surprise us. The story is inspired by myths and historical events and, although it belongs to the fantasy genre, the beauty of the plot consists in the many elements that resemble reality. From naming patterns to political conflicts, Game of Thrones mirrors the history of the world we live in.
The show will be back on screens starting the 14th of April, revealing the final pieces of this puzzling story.
Photo Sources:
- The characters’ images were taken from Game of Thrones, or from websites created and owned by HBO, the copyright of which is held by HBO.
