Meaning & History
Targaryen is a surname created by author George R. R. Martin for his epic fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire, beginning with A Game of Thrones (1996), and the television adaptation Game of Thrones (2011–2019). House Targaryen is one of the Great Houses of Westeros, ruling as the kings of the Seven Kingdoms for nearly 300 years. The name is derived from the fictional Valyrian language of the now-destroyed Valyrian Freehold, though Martin has not disclosed its intended meaning. The Targaryens are known for their silver-gold hair, purple eyes, and their ability to control dragons, having used them to conquer Westeros under Aegon the Conqueror.
Historical Context in the Series
In Martin's world, the Targaryens fled the Doom of Valyria, a cataclysmic event that destroyed their homeland, and settled on Dragonstone, an island off the coast of Westeros. Aegon I Targaryen—known as Aegon the Conqueror—united the Seven Kingdoms through a campaign of fire and blood, establishing a dynasty that ruled from King's Landing for nearly three centuries. Their reign was marked by internal strife, including the Dance of the Dragons, a civil war between rival Targaryen factions. The dynasty was ultimately toppled in Robert's Rebellion, which occurred roughly seventeen years before the events of A Game of Thrones. The surviving members of House Targaryen, such as Daenerys and Viserys, were forced into exile across the Narrow Sea.
Notable Bearers
Among the most prominent Targaryens are Daenerys Targaryen, the "Mother of Dragons," who seeks to reclaim the Iron Throne, and her brother Viserys Targaryen, known pretentiously as "the Beggar King." Historical figures include Aegon I Targaryen, the founder of the dynasty; Jaehaerys I Targaryen, skilled and long-serving ruler; and Rhaegar Targaryen, the last crown prince, whose alleged kidnapping of Lyanna Stark sparked the war. The Targaryens' sigil is a three-headed red dragon on a black field, and their house anthem is "The Rains of Castamere," originally a rebuke of a lesser house, but which has also come to symbolize Targaryen ruthlessness.
Cultural Significance
As fictional names, Targaryen and its variants (such as the purely invented Valyrian words seen in others like Daemon and Viserion) have become widely recognized due to the global popularity of the series. The name evokes themes of fire, blood, and destiny, echoing the Targaryen Motto: "Fire and Blood." Notably, the real-world popularity of Targaryen as a unique baby name rose sharply after the release of the TV series, illustrating the phenomenon of mass-media names entering everyday use. The Targaryens also serve as foundational myth within modern literary sagas, as a blending of exile, conquest, dragon-ruling lore that echoes real-world imperial dynasties but remains purely fictional.
- Meaning: Unrevealed (likely from Valyrian)
- Origin: Fictional (Valyrian).
- Type: Surname (Noble House)
- Usage Regions: Literature (Westeros)