A modern fantasy name styled after old Germanic names, suggesting protection and noble strength.
R. Martin's Fire & Blood (2018) and its acclaimed television adaptation House of the Dragon, where Prince Aemond Targaryen, one-eyed dragonrider of Vhagar, became one of the most compelling figures in the Dance of the Dragons civil war. Yet the name is not purely invented: Martin almost certainly drew from Aemon, an ancient name in the Old English and Norse tradition related to Edmund (from Old English ēad, "wealth, fortune," and mund, "protection").
The Targaryen spelling adds a distinctly Valyrian visual character through its ae- opening, mirroring names like Aegon and Aelys. Aemon itself appears in Irish tradition as a form of Éamonn, the Gaelic equivalent of Edmund, and has been borne by historical figures including Aemon mac Gabhráin, a sixth-century Irish prince. The addition of the final -d in Aemond sharpens the name, giving it a more Germanic edge and a subtle echo of Edmond and Osmond.
Within Westerosi lore, the name sits in a lineage of kings and princes that stretches back to Old Valyria, carrying weight and tragedy in equal measure. In the real world, Aemond represents a growing category of names adopted from prestige fantasy fiction—joined by names like Tyrion, Arya, and Sansa. Parents choosing Aemond are typically drawn to its dark charisma, its medieval European feel, and its literary seriousness, and they accept, often enthusiastically, the cultural conversation it invites.