Game of Thrones-inspired names for boys becoming more popular in the U.K.

Game of Thrones has found its way into just about every aspect of the culture. There is arguably no show on TV more talked about, and its popularity has even benefited the economies of countries like Ireland, Spain, and Croatia, where it’s pumped money into the tourist industries. The show has also had an influence on baby names, something we talked about just last week when Arya (spelled with a “I”) cracked the top 100 list of baby girl names.

Baby boys haven’t been immune, at least not across the pond, as shown by a new report from the U.K. Office of National Statistics. According to the report, Theon tops the 2014 list with 18 baby boys being named after him, and Tyrion coming in at a close second with 17 baby boys being given the Imp’s birth name. The names ‘Bran’ and ‘Sandor’ both showed up, which is fun because I would just call any kid named Sandor ‘the Hound.’

Here’s a graph to help fill you in:

As you can see, although the names began to show up after each book’s release, they didn’t really start to gain steam until the show began to air in 2011. My only concern here is, why name your boy Theon? I mean, he betrayed his friend and the King in the North, Robb Stark, he killed and burned two innocent miller’s boys in a botched attempt to establish dominance over the inhabitants of Winterfell. Although I suppose if you really look at Tyrion, he isn’t much better as a role-model, strictly speaking.

The only name on this list that seems worthy of naming a newborn after is Bran, as he hasn’t killed, raped, or violently attacked anyone recently. Maybe after Season 6, when Bran is scheduled to play more of a role in the goings on in Westeros, his name move a few notches up the list…that or Cleganebowl could happen and Sandor will take it all in a landslide. A man can hope.

H/T Time

• Published on 08/18/2015 at 3:00 PM CDT
• Last updated on 08/18/2015 at 3:01 PM CDT