UK Mother’s Daughter’s Passport Initially Denied Over ‘Khaleesi’ Name Linked to Game of Thrones
A mother in the United Kingdom says she was left stunned after her six-year-old daughter’s passport application was reportedly denied because officials believed the child’s first name — Khaleesi — was trademarked.
Dream Family Trip Nearly Cancelled
Lucy Holloway, 39, from Swindon, had spent more than two years saving for what she described as a dream vacation with her daughter to Disneyland Paris. The single mother said she worked long hours and carefully budgeted for what would be their first trip abroad together.
But the excitement quickly turned to disappointment when she received a letter from the UK Passport Office informing her that her daughter’s application had been refused.
According to Holloway, officials said the name Khaleesi — inspired by the hit fantasy television series Game of Thrones — was potentially trademarked and that permission from Warner Bros. would be required before a passport could be issued.
“I was absolutely devastated,” Holloway told the BBC. “We were so looking forward to our first holiday together.”
Name Inspired by a Popular TV Series
The name Khaleesi originates from Game of Thrones, where it is used as a title for the character Daenerys Targaryen, played by Emilia Clarke. The title became widely associated with the character’s strength and leadership, prompting thousands of parents around the world to adopt it as a given name for their daughters.
In the United States, the name appeared hundreds of times in birth records and surged in popularity around 2018, shortly before the show’s finale.
Holloway said she was unaware that the name could raise any legal concerns when she registered her daughter’s birth.
“If she could get a birth certificate, would something not have been flagged up then?” she said. “I never thought you could trademark a name.”
Passport Office Acknowledges Error
Legal experts note that while companies can trademark names for commercial purposes, trademark protections generally do not prevent individuals from using those names personally.
After the case gained attention online, the UK Passport Office reportedly contacted Holloway to clarify the situation and acknowledged that an error had been made during the review process. Officials explained that the internal policy cited by staff typically applies to formal name changes rather than names given at birth.
Holloway said she was later told that her daughter’s passport application would proceed.
Social Media Pressure
The mother believes public attention played a key role in resolving the issue.
“If I hadn’t posted this on social media, nothing would have been done,” she said, noting that several other parents contacted her with concerns about passport documentation and unusual children’s names.
Although Holloway has not publicly confirmed the final paperwork outcome, she later shared a photo online of herself and her daughter dressed as princesses outside a Disney hotel — suggesting their long-awaited trip may have ultimately gone ahead.
The incident has sparked wider discussion about trademark law, government documentation policies, and the growing trend of baby names inspired by pop culture.
