It’s not uncommon nowadays for first-time parents to name their newborns after their favorite television characters. Shows like The Big Bang Theory have seen a surge in baby girls named Penny, while characters from Peaky Blinders have inspired names like Tommy and Arthur for boys.
Unfortunately, for one mother, her choice to name her daughter after a beloved Game of Thrones character led to an unexpected obstacle. The Passport Office denied her daughter’s application because the child’s name was trademarked.
Warnes Bros had trademarked the character’s name
British mum Lucy, from Wiltshire, had been saving for several months to take her six-year-old daughter on a dream family trip to Disneyland Paris. She had meticulously planned the trip, booking flights and accommodation at the family-friendly resort. But her excitement quickly turned to dismay when her daughter’s passport application was denied.
The reason? Warner Bros had trademarked the name she had chosen for her daughter. Lucy explained her situation to the BBC, stating, “I was absolutely devastated; we were so looking forward to our first holiday together. But then I received a letter from the Passport Office saying her name is trademarked by Warner Brothers.”
So, what name caused such a stir? Any fan of the fantasy HBO series will recognize that the show is full of unique names. And in the case of Daenerys Targaryen, she has many titles, including ‘the First of Her Name,’ ‘Queen of the Andals and the First Men,’ and ‘Mother of Dragons.’ However, one of her more commonly known titles is ‘Khaleesi,’ given to her after marrying Khal Drogo, the Dothraki chieftain.
Lucy had named her daughter Khaleesi, inspired by the strong, silver-haired character. She had no idea that using this name on an official document like a passport would be problematic. “It was the first I’ve heard of such a thing,” Lucy said, adding, “I was astonished.”
Lucy took to social media to share her predicament, and soon, her followers advised her to seek legal advice. After consulting with solicitors, they discovered that while Game of Thrones had trademarked the name Khaleesi, it only applied to goods and services, not personal names.
Lucy explained, “That information was sent to the Passport Office, who said I would need a letter from Warner Brothers to confirm my daughter is able to use that name.”
The Passport Office has since apologized, admitting that a mistake had been made on their end. Unfortunately, Lucy and Khaleesi missed their trip, but they are hopeful to reschedule it soon.
“I am hoping the passport will be issued soon and was promised they would call back in a few days to see if it had progressed,” Lucy shared. She also expressed concern that others might face similar issues and hoped their situation would help raise awareness. “I think there might be other people in this situation who may have had their passports declined recently because of something like this. Hopefully, they now know it can be resolved.”
