Rhaenyra
A name of fictional origin, derived from the fantasy series "A Song of Ice and Fire".
Name Census estimates that about 260 living Americans carry the first name Rhaenyra. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Rhaenyra today is around 3 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Rhaenyra births was 2023 (127 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Rhaenyra. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
260
~ 1 in 1,318,286 Americans
Peak year
2023
127 babies that year
Average age
3
years old
2024 SSA rank
#1,929
Tracked since 2022
Popularity
Rhaenyra: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Rhaenyra by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Rhaenyra during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 0 | 261 | 261 |
Geography
Where Rhaenyras live
The SSA's state-level files cover 10 states and territories. Texas, Florida, California recorded the most babies named Rhaenyra, while Washington, Missouri, Massachusetts recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 13 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Rhaenyra
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.
People
Rhaenyra + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Rhaenyra as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with R
Other first names starting with R with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Rhaenyra: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Rhaenyra?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 260 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Rhaenyra going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 1,318,286 US residents.
Is Rhaenyra a common name?
We classify Rhaenyra as "Very Rare". It ranks above 77.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 261 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Rhaenyra most popular?
The single biggest year for Rhaenyra was 2023, when 127 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Rhaenyra is about 3 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Rhaenyra a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Rhaenyra in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.