Passport denied: Why a “Game of Thrones” name became a problem

When a name becomes an obstacle

What began as a creative name wish ended in a bureaucratic hurdle: a six-year-old British girl was refused a passport because of her name. The reason? The name “Khaleesi”, which the mother had chosen for her daughter, comes from the successful series “Game of Thrones” and is protected by trademark law. But can a name really lead to a child being denied the freedom to travel?

The story behind the name

The mother, Lucy, had chosen the name “Khaleesi” out of enthusiasm for the series “Game of Thrones”, in which the name is borne by a main character. When she applied for a passport for her daughter, she was already looking forward to their first holiday together – but then came the shock. The passport office refused the application on the grounds that the name was protected by trade mark law and that Warner Brothers, the company behind the series, held the rights to it. The officials explained that they could only issue the passport if Warner Brothers gave its consent.

A battle against bureaucracy and trademark rights

Lucy was devastated, but she didn’t give up. She sought legal advice and had it confirmed that the name “Khaleesi” as a person’s first name is not covered by the trademark protection that applies to the series. She forwarded this information to the passport office. However, the response from the authorities was frustrating: an official letter from Warner Brothers was required in order to be allowed to use her daughter’s name.

But then came the turning point. After further pressure, the passport office apologised to Lucy and explained that the application could now be processed. A Home Office spokesperson confirmed to the BBC that the error had been recognised and the passport application is now being followed up.

What this case means for other parents

This case shows how creative name choices can lead to unexpected problems in rare cases. Lucy now hopes that her story will help other parents who may find themselves in a similar situation. Her message: don’t be discouraged when bureaucracy and trade mark rights clash. There are often ways to overcome such obstacles.

For Lucy and her daughter, we can only hope that the long-awaited holiday to Paris can take place soon. This case reminds us that the interplay between creativity and legal hurdles can sometimes produce strange results – and that common sense often prevails in the end.