With HBO’s hit show House of the Dragon in full swing, and dragons in general experiencing a pop culture moment, we thought we’d take this opportunity to bring you some dragon names: names for babies, pets, characters or otherwise that are inspired by — or taken directly from — dragons.
So why would you want to give a person (or a pet) a dragon name? Well, because dragons are the rockstars of mythical creatures. They’re often seen as symbols of strength, power, and majesty. For millennia, dragons have shown up in lore and legend from across the world. They hold significance in many cultures, often tied to creation, wisdom, or protection. In the East, dragons are generally seen as wise creatures associated with good fortune, while in Greek and European myths, dragons are more fire-breathing enemies who guard castles and treasures and get slain by sword-wielding knights.
Choosing a baby name can be a complex process, with some parents placing importance on the meaning of the name. Check out these names with unexpectedly dark meanings. https://t.co/LMxEkkLa0S
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Dragon names are unique — your kiddo probably won’t find their name on any personalized trinkets at a souvenir shop, but they also won’t be one of 10 Liams or Olivias in their class. If you don’t want to give your baby a moniker that’s a true standout, this isn’t the list for you (although we do have a couple of “tamer” dragon names on the list, or alternatives that are a bit more mainstream).
These names suggest power, longevity, intelligence, and a fierce loyalty and desire to protect the things that are important to them. If you’re into the fantasy genre, a dragon name is a great nod to the literature you love. We’ve rounded up the dragon names that make the most sense in today’s distinctive naming landscape (we doubt many people would actually name their baby Smaug, for example, so that one didn’t make the cut).
Whether you see dragons as harbingers of good luck or of mass destruction, there’s no denying they’re enduring figures in the stories passed down from our ancestors for centuries. We’ve curated this list of dragon names to pay tribute to the mythical, magical, wise, and wonderful creatures that still live on in modern legend.
Draco
Harry Potter fans will likely associate this name with the series’ insidious Draco Malfoy — which isn’t a bad thing! But the name actually comes from the Greek name Drakon, meaning “serpent”, and is also the name of a constellation. If Draco is a little too Slytherin-esque for your taste and you’d like something more subtle, you could go with Drake; it comes from the same root name!
Rhaegal
We would be remiss not to thrown in some dragon names from the hit HBO series Game of Thrones (based on George R.R. Martin’s A Game of Ice and Fire novels). Rhaegal was the name of one of three dragon siblings, and is named after Daenerys Targaryen’s eldest brother, Rhaegar. Rhaegal was said to be calm until provoked — then look out!
Spyro
Spyro is a short form of the Greek name Spyridon, meaning “spirit.” It’s also the name of one of the cuter dragons on our list: Spyro of the Sony PlayStation’s “Spyro the Dragon” video game franchise.
Daenerys
Another prominent dragon-related character in Game of Thrones? Daenerys Targaryen, of course — nicknamed “Mother of Dragons” because she used blood magic to hatch three dragon eggs, bringing dragons back into the world after they were thought to be extinct. She is known by the affectionate nickname Dany, which is super-cute and sounds more contemporary.
While the name Daenerys hasn’t cracked the top 1000 most popular girl names according to data from the U.S. Social Security Administration, Daenerys Targaryen’s title, Khaleesi, entered the top 1000 in 2014 and at its peak reached as high as #550.
Evren
Evren is one of our personal favorite dragon names because it’s gender neutral and fits in so well with currently-popular baby names — think Everly, Evelyn, Ever, and Evan. It also has a great meaning: it’s Turkish for “the universe.” And in Turkic mythology, the Evren is a gigantic serpentine dragon.
Ryōma
In Japanese, Ryōma is the combination of two kanji characters meaning “dragon” and “grace.” It’s also the name of a primary character in the Sega video game series Yakuza: Like a Dragon.
Ysera
Ysera is the name of a dragon in the World of Warcraft game series. She is said to provide guidance, wisdom, and mentorship.
Zaj
In the Hmong language, the word zaj means “dragon.” In the folklore of the Hmong — an ethnic group originating in Southeast Asia — dragons with shapeshifting abilities are commonly featured, appearing as fish, humans, and more. In fact, among the Hmong-American community, there is a dragon living in Lake Phelan of St. Paul, Minnesota!
Dracarys
Another Game of Thrones nod, the word dracarys means “dragonfire” in the fictional language High Valyrian. It’s close to the modern Welsh name Carys, which means “love” and could be used as a nickname, so it isn’t too outlandish or strange.
Hydra
From the Greek word hydor, meaning “water”, the name Hydra means “water serpent.” The Hydra is a multi-headed, hard-to-slay dragon that makes appearances both in the Bible and in Greek mythology.
Leviathan
The name Leviathan is derived from the Hebrew word liwyah, meaning “garland” or “wreath” — but it’s also the name of an Old Testament dragon or sea monster. As a word, leviathan is used to describe something large and powerful. If this is too much for your little guy, you can always default to a nickname, like Levi!
Dagahra
Dagahra is the name of a sea serpent resembling a dragon (and some say Godzilla!) who made its first appearance in the 1997 film Rebirth of Mothra 2.
Cadmus
Cadmus is a Greek name of uncertain meaning — but what we do know is that in Greek mythology, Cadmus was the founder of Thebes, who slayed a vicious dragon called the Ismenian Serpent … and also brought the alphabet to Greece.
Thorn
In author Christopher Paolini’s fantasy series The Inheritance Circle, Thorn is the name of a red dragon who is skilled at aerial combat. Aside from that, Thorn is also a nature name — and could also fit well into the “Western Gothic” naming aesthetic!
Falcor
If you remember the classic ’80s flick The Neverending Story, you’ll no doubt remember Falkor: the luck dragon (that looked more like a friendly dog-dragon hybrid than an actual dragon). We like this spelling — Falcor, with a C — because it’s close to Falco, which is derived from the late Latin word falx, indicating the claws of a hawk.
Tarako
The meaning of this one is simple: tarako is the Samoan word for “dragon”!
Arman
The 2017 movie I Am Dragon is a fantasy story about a princess who is kidnapped by a dragon and carried to his castle on a faraway island. The dragon turns out to be Arman, a boy who can transform into either dragon or human. The name Arman means “wish” or “hope” in Persian.
Saphira
This name comes from the Greek word sappheiros, meaning — you guessed it! — “sapphire”. Like Thorn, Saphira is also a character in Christopher Paolini’s fantasy series The Inheritance Circle, considered to be wise, proud, and self-confident.
Ladon
In Greek legend, Ladon, a fearsome and powerful dragon, kept watch over the precious golden apples in the Garden of the Hesperides. It can also be a shortened version of the Romani name Eladdon, which is actually a version of Aladdin!
Syrax
Introduced from the very first episode of House of the Dragon, Syrax is a rare she-dragon ridden by Rhaenyra Targaryen — who named her dragon Syrax after a Valyrian goddess.
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