stormborn

Stormborn is an epithet meaning “born during a storm,” typically used to describe someone born amid a tempest, often at sea. In fantasy literature, the term is most closely associated with Daenerys Targaryen, a central figure in George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series and its television adaptation, Game of Thrones. Daenerys is commonly styled as Daenerys Stormborn or Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen.

The designation stems from her birth during a great storm on Dragonstone, an event that the narrative highlights to underline her resilience and destined leadership. In the canon, the epithet functions as a character-defining clue, aligning with Targaryen associations with fire, sea, and peril. It is used by storytellers and characters within the series to emphasize her origins and tenacity as she rises from exile toward power among the Seven Kingdoms.

Beyond the books and show, the term has entered broader popular culture as a descriptive trope in fantasy and fan discourse. It is commonly invoked to evoke a figure shaped by survival against the odds, especially one who leads in crisis. The phrase appears in fan fiction, discussions, and various forms of media related to Daenerys and the world of Westeros.