Is the form of address for ASOIAF nobility based on real-world equivalents? I found it odd at first that heads of great families are referred to as Lord + First Name, e.g., Lord Tywin. I also found it odd that there isn’t much distinction between ranks. Heads of great houses, their children, members of lesser houses—they are all Lord and Lady. Was this common in certain cultures? Wouldn’t great lords want titles to differentiate themselves?