Girl named after Game of Thrones character is refused passport

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As a parent who has lived through this bizarre ordeal myself, I can’t help but shake my head in disbelief at the predicament Khaleesi and her family found themselves in. It’s not every day you hear about a passport being denied due to a pop culture reference, especially one as popular as Game of Thrones!

For several years now, it’s been quite popular for kids to be named after characters from “Game of Thrones”. This trend reached its height in 2018, with over 4,500 babies receiving names inspired by Westeros, ranging from Aegon to Lyanna. However, some years later, parents are discovering unanticipated outcomes of naming their children after pop culture figures.

Lately, a 6-year-old girl identified as Khaleesi (a title held by Daenerys Targaryen among the Dothraki), faced rejection in obtaining a British passport for an adventure to Disneyland. Surprisingly, numerous children named Elsa, Leia, Hermione, and others are allowed their holiday travels. However, if your name happens to be Khaleesi, the Passport Office requires extra approval. The girl’s mother, Lucy, was informed by the Passport Office that they needed authorization from Warner Bros., as the name ‘Khaleesi’ is trademarked.

As I recount my tale to BBC News, let me share my heartache: We were beyond excited, eagerly anticipating our inaugural getaway as a couple. Yet, an unexpected twist unfolded when a letter from the Passport Office arrived, claiming her name was trademarked by Warner Brothers. This revelation left me utterly surprised and flabbergasted – I had no idea such a thing existed.

In a swift turn of events, the issue was promptly addressed. It seems that even though Warner Bros. fully owns the trademark for Game of Thrones, it doesn’t hinder individuals from naming their children after characters from the series. Lucy found herself in a predicament due to an error made by the Passport Office, but they quickly reached out to her to correct the mistake. The situation is currently being rectified, and Lucy expressed gratitude for social media, as she stated that without it, no action would have been taken, leaving her uncertain about how to proceed.

It’s not uncommon to find instances where children with names inspired by popular culture are refused passports. Lucy mentioned that she had been informed of similar occurrences by others.

Queen Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen, and so on. That would be quite lengthy, don’t you think?

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2024-08-29 17:41