Khaleesi

Here are the girl names that debuted the highest on the SSA’s 2011 baby name list:

Magaby, 50 baby girls Gredmarie, 47 Jocell, 31 Cataleya, 28 Khaleesi, 27 Zendaya, 26 Quorra, 25 Jorley, 22 Ayelene, 21 Locklyn, 17 Adrialys, 16 Dim, 16 Mahniya, 15 Lumen, 14 Brynlynn, 13 Calii, 12 Kiyan, 12 Rhyder, 12 Taisley, 12 Yanilen, 12

Some likely explanations:

Magaby is from Magaby Garay, a young singer featured on Mexican reality/talent show Pequeños Gigantes.

is from Magaby Garay, a young singer featured on Mexican reality/talent show Pequeños Gigantes. Gredmarie is from Gredmarie Colon, a contestant on beauty pageant/reality show Nuestra Belleza Latina 2011.

is from Gredmarie Colon, a contestant on beauty pageant/reality show Nuestra Belleza Latina 2011. Jocell is from Jocell Villa, also a contestant on Nuestra Belleza Latina 2011.

is from Jocell Villa, also a contestant on Nuestra Belleza Latina 2011. Cataleya is from Cataleya, a character played by Zoe Saldana in the movie Columbiana (2011). The character’s name is based on the word Cattleya, which refers to a genus of orchid.

is from Cataleya, a character played by Zoe Saldana in the movie Columbiana (2011). The character’s name is based on the word Cattleya, which refers to a genus of orchid. Khaleesi is the Dothraki word for “queen” in the medieval fantasy TV series Game of Thrones. A khaleesi is the wife of a khal, or “king.” The khaleesi featured in the show is character Daenerys Targaryen, played by actress Emilia Clarke.

is the Dothraki word for “queen” in the medieval fantasy TV series Game of Thrones. A khaleesi is the wife of a khal, or “king.” The khaleesi featured in the show is character Daenerys Targaryen, played by actress Emilia Clarke. Zendaya is from Zendaya Coleman, a young singer/actress currently starring in the Disney sitcom Shake It Up.

is from Zendaya Coleman, a young singer/actress currently starring in the Disney sitcom Shake It Up. Quorra is from Quorra, the character played by Olivia Wilde in the movie Tron: Legacy (2010).

is from Quorra, the character played by Olivia Wilde in the movie Tron: Legacy (2010). Lumen is from Lumen Pierce, a character played by Julia Stiles during the fifth season of Dexter.

is from Lumen Pierce, a character played by Julia Stiles during the fifth season of Dexter. Yanilen is from Yanilen Diaz, a contestant on Mexican reality/talent show La Academia 2011.

Can you come up with explanations for any of the others? I’m especially curious about Dim — any ideas?

(Here are last year’s debut names.)

Image: Emilia Clarke in Game of Thrones, by Keith Bernstein/HBO, via IMDB