What is Jon Snow's real name?

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[morgster]

I’ve always liked the idea of Jahaerys. That he was named for the conciliator and not the conqueror. We already have an Aegon, invading Westeros like his namesake likely wielding the conqueror’s sword. But Westeros doesn’t need a conqueror, it needs a unifier, which Jon can be.

[sagiezov]

Liana has spent the entirety of the war hidden away and most certainly does not know Aegon son of Elia is dead. Calling Rhaegar's second son Aegon as well is very strange, especially because he was never meant to be heir.

[WesleyHill-mdcg]

There has never been a Targaryen king named Aemon. Yet, every Targaryen named Aemon was a great man.

[pixylips]

Aemon. I feel like Martin is Sassy enough to have Jon think he is not Aemon Targarian and then have that be his other name.

[lordcommodore]

Ive always supported Jaeherys. Its a J name and the original Jaeherys was "the conciliator" which I think is a big part of Jons story

[RmsOceanic]

My wildcard prediction goes like this: Rhaegar was convinced he would have little Visenya, so when discussing this with Lyanna, the topic of what he would name a second son would come up, and perhaps he wouldn't have given it the thought such a decision demands, because he's totally right about the prophecy. So he ends up going the Duncan the Small route and suggests Jon, for his good friend Jon Connington.

[igorlopes]

7:10
You forgot the third reason: Aemon son of Jaehaerys and Aemon the Dragonknight both were secondborns with an elder brother named Aegon. Aemon son of Jaehaerys in particular became the Heir because of Aegon's death as a baby.

[Walkthway]

I agree with others, it is unlikely that Lyanna would know that baby Aegon is dead.

[mallwave]

I feel like there's a slight plot hole here: the idea that Lyanna gives "Jon" a Targaryen name must reasonably be precluded by her believing Rhaegar is still living. If she knows Rhaegar is dead (and I don't think SHE does), there is no way she'd give her child what is tantamount to a giant target on his back for Robert. None. And if she believes Rhaegar is still alive, why would she then use the name of his first son that everyone publicly knows about? I actually think Aegon is the farthest from what Jon's Targaryen name would be (if he has one).

[grisha]

Got to disagree on this one. At the point that Lyanna would have named her son, Rhaegar and his family were dead, the Targaryen dynasty was in tatters, and she was dying in a tower with no allies except the three Kingsguard and her brother – and she presumably didn’t know that Ned was on his way. Her baby’s future must have looked pretty bleak. If she named him at all, I doubt she’d have chosen Aegon just because it best fit with Rhaegar’s prophecy obsession – poor girl probably believed her baby was going to be found by angry rebels and murdered – and the idea that she named him after Elia’s Aegon is pretty ghoulish. I think Aemon works better. Rhaegar corresponded with Maester Aemon, so it’s plausible that he told Lyanna about him, and Aemon at this point was living on the Wall in the north that Lyanna was missing so much. Naming her son Aemon would honour his Valyrian heritage while also giving him some small connection to the north.

[-Melkor]

Jon reflects on a memory where he is sparring with Rob and Jon says “I’m the Dragon Knight”. Aemon. He says what his true name is.

[anonymous-hzun]

Aemon! Please, George, let it be Aemon 😭😭

[MrBrranch]

Its some where in the first or second book when Jon is thinking about deserting, he thinks about Maester Aemon talking about how he was tested 3 times. Jon thinks something along the lines of "but I am no Aemon Targaryen". I think thats pretty right in your face of what his name is. similar to Melisandre seeing "Snow" (with a capital S) on the Iron Throne

[BigBurg]

Im sure this idea has been floated out there before, but I haven't seen it, so I wanted to give my 2 cents. In ancient Egypt a mother would give their child a name only they and the kid knew, and then a name everyone else called them. The real name was the one only the mother knew as to protect the child from curses. I wonder if this was inspired by that

[ThommyofThenn]

I can see Elia, coming from the significantly more sexually enlightened Dorne culture being ok with Rhaegar having a "paramour, " especially if he had previously sold her on the prophecy angle. Which I personally believe they had an understanding about. Rhaegar doesnt seem the type to impulsively seek other women to "step out" with. Elia realised she couldn't physically withstand another pregnancy but still wanted to help her husband. If anyone feels differently or i am forgetting something, please discuss!

[dk]

Hello Robert, thank you for all your great work!

[Jen]

Interesting ideas, Robert! Thank you.
I spent a lot of time reading the comments section, and I enjoyed reading everyone's thoughts! ❤
If Jon was originally given a Targareyan name, then I'm partial to either Aemon or Jaehaerys. 👑

[bigdaddydavejordan]

I'm convinced Jon's true name is Aemon Targaryen. The clues are all over the place in the books.

[williamst.romain]

I am still convinced it is Jaehaerys because you can read Jon as short for Jaehaerys. Thus Ned would have been using Jon's real name the whole time. Besides, I'm sure that 'The Conciliator' would have appealed to Lyanna a lot more than Aegon did.

[arcanics]

Rhaegon- a mix of the two best names.
Rhaegon Vyseris Aemon Dave Targyboy.