A mother in the U.K. says she was “absolutely devastated” after her young daughter’s passport application was rejected over her allegedly trademarked first name – denying the 6-year-old of her long-awaited ‘dream’ trip to Disneyland Paris.
When it comes to unusual names, it feels like we’ve heard just about everything, especially as more celebrities opt for unique choices. But for one family in the UK, what seemed like a bold, yet meaningful baby name choice suddenly became a bureaucratic nightmare.
‘Dream’ trip
Lucy Holloway, 39, a single mother from Swindon, had spent more than two years saving for what she described as a “dream” trip to Disneyland Paris with her 6-year-old daughter.
Working 50-hour weeks, she carefully put money aside so the pair could enjoy their first holiday abroad together – a milestone moment she had long imagined.
That excitement came crashing down when a letter from the U.K. Passport Office landed on her doorstep.
Inside was news she never expected: her daughter’s passport application had been refused because the child’s first name – inspired by a hugely popular TV show – was reportedly trademarked
“I was absolutely devastated, we were so looking forward to our first holiday together,” Holloway told the BBC.
Warner Bros. approval
The name, which means “queen” in a fictional language created for the fantasy series, rose to global popularity during the height of the show’s success. It became a symbol of strength and independence for many fans, and thousands of parents around the world embraced it for their daughters
Yet despite the popularity of the name, Holloway was told she needed approval from Warner Bros., the entertainment company associated with the show, to get her daughter’s passport.
‘Frustrated’
“I had a letter come through from the passport office, saying her name is trademarked by Warner Brothers,” she explained. “It was the first I’ve heard of such a thing – I was astonished.”
The situation left her confused and frustrated.
“I didn’t understand and felt frustrated. If she could get a birth certificate, would something not have been flagged up then?” the mother told BBC. “I never thought you could trademark a name.”
Dragon rider
The name at the center of the controversy – Khaleesi – comes from the global fantasy phenomenon Game of Thrones.
In the series, the title is given to Daenerys Targaryen by her husband, the Dothraki warlord Khal Drogo. Over time, Khaleesi became synonymous with Daenerys – the compassionate yet powerful queen portrayed by Emilia Clarke – as she rose from exile to command armies and dragons. For many viewers, the name symbolized strength, resilience and leadership.
As the show’s popularity soared, so did the use of the name in real life. What once existed only in a fictional language quickly found its way onto birth certificates around the world.
the United States alone, hundreds of babies are given the name each year. According to official Social Security data, 434 girls were given the name in 2024, representing 0.025 percent of total female births that year. Its peak popularity came in 2018, when 564 babies – 0.030 percent of female births – were given the name, just before the show’s dramatic series finale.
“I just loved the name,” Holloway told The Sun. “I call her Cally for short but she always introduces herself as Khaleesi Holloway Queen of Dragons.”
Applies only to name changes
Legal advice Holloway later received suggested that while companies can trademark names for specific goods and services, trademarks do not apply to personal names in the way the passport office had implied.
And, after Holloway shared her experience publicly, the situation began to shift. The passport office has since contacted the mom to apologize, confirming that a mistake had been made in handling the application.
Officials explained that there had been a misunderstanding and clarified that the guidance initially cited by staff applies only to individuals who are changing their names – not to children given the name at birth.
“He advised me that they should be able to process my daughter’s passport now,” Holloway said.
Power of social media
But Holloway is convinced the only reason the issue was resolved is because of the extensive exposure on social media.
“If I hadn’t posted this on social media, nothing would have been done,” Holloway said. “I would have been stuck, not knowing what to do.”
She also revealed that other parents had reached out to her with similar concerns.
“I think there might be other people in this situation, that they may have had their passports declined recently because of something like this,” she said. “Hopefully, they now know it can be resolved.”
While Holloway has not shared a public update about what happened with Khaleesi’s passport, she did post a photo of herself with her daughter dressed as a princess in front of a Disney hotel.
Did you ever fall in love with a name from the series? Before you share this story, please tell us which character name was your favorite!
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