Alternate Names in Tolkien's Languages
by thebachelor & Rogorn
The flurry of new
Tolkien-related publications and merchandise due to the films has
resulted in the coining of a surprisingly large number of new names in
Tolkien's invented languages. Some of these names are those of minor
characters in the movies themselves; others appear in such products as
Decipher's RPG and Electronic Arts' The Lord of the Rings: The Third
Age.
Partly in order to give roleplayers an idea of how they can go about
coining names for their games, I have decided to make a start on an
informal lexicon of these new names. I am including only names with
official or semi-official sanction. In other words, the names on this
list will come from the movies or from products licenced by New Line
and Tolkien Enterprises, not from fan fiction. I am also ignoring MERP,
since that comes from the pre-Jackson era and cataloguing the huge
number of names coined for that game would be an impossibly huge task.
I have also not included existing names that are simply applied
differently, such as "Morwen".
The format of my descriptions of the names is borrowed from Ruth S.
Noel's controversial and inaccurate The Languages of Tolkien's
Middle-earth. I suspect that many of the names on this list were coined
without a strong knowledge of Tolkien's languages, but I thought it
would be fun to figure out what they might mean. In those cases where
the meaning is actually given in the source material, the translation
of the name is underlined: e.g. "Carangul S 'Red Sorcerer'."
This list is only a start; there are undoubtedly many other such names
in sources I am unfamiliar with. I will probably add additional names,
interpretations and corrections as time goes on.
The following language abbreviations are used:
B = Black Speech
D = Dunlending (based on Gaelic in MERP)
E = Easterling
EW = English representing Westron
F = Finnish representing Lossothren
K = Khuzdul
N = Old Norse reprsenting Northman
O = Orkish
OE = Old English representing Rohirric
Q = Quenya
S = Sindarin
Sv = Silvan
---
Source abbreviations:
DoMe = Dwarves of Middle-earth in the Moria boxed set
FBWM = Fell Beasts and Wondrous Magic
FotR SB = The Fellowship of the Ring Sourcebook
J1 = The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring film
J2 = The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers film
J3 = The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King film
TA = The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age from Electronic Arts
TCG = Decipher's LotR Trading Card Game
TT SB = The Two Towers Sourcebook
Abrél Chieftain who united the Abrélinds. ("The Shadow Over Dale", p. 6)
Abrélind One of a tribe of Northmen of mixed ancestry, named for Abrél. ("The Shadow Over Dale", p. 6)
aegloth S "abhorrent bloom". A plant found in the Dead Marshes. aeg = fell, sharp, loth = flower. (TT SB, p. 91)
Agrél Father of Arélin. ("The Shadow Over Dale", p. 7)
Alvedriel S "Maiden Crowned with a Garland of Elm Leaves". A Gondorian ghost. lalven = elm-tree, riel = garlanded maiden. (TT SB, p. 91)
Anórel S "Star-sun". Name for a female Noldo. anor = sun, el = star. (Core Book, p. 63)
Arélin Chieftain of the Abrélinds in the period just before the War of the Ring. ("The Shadow Over Dale", p. 7)
Atanacar S "Manhelm". A captain of Gondor. atan = Man, karma = helmet. (Quick-Start Adventure, p. 10)
Balafren D Dunlending thief who became enthralled by the Kalanidri. ("The Lord of Daylight", p. 8 )
Balglin S "Song of Power". An archer of Lórien at Helm's Deep. bal = power, glin- = sing. (TCG: Battle of Helm's Deep)
Balorwen S "Maiden of Balar".
Name for a female Sinda. Balar = island at the Mouths of Sirion in the
First Age, wen = maiden. (Core Book, p. 63)
Bandúrhoth S "people of the dark prison". Place-demons. band = prison, dûr = dark, hoth = host, people. (FBWM, p. 17)
Barak E Name for a Dwarf of Sindri's folk (the Ironfists). Cf. Barkashad and Hebrew Barak = "Lightning". (DoMe)
Barazbizar K "Red Valley". The
original name of Carn Dûm when Linnar's folk delved there.
(According to MERP, Carn Dûm = "Red Vale".) baraz = red, bizar =
dale, valley. (DoMe, p. 10)
Baraz-lagil K "Red Pass". The ancestral delving of Vigdís' folk. baraz = red, lagil = pass (word coined by Decipher?). (DoMe, p. 5)
Baraznâd K "red riverbed". The blasting-fire used by Saruman. baraz = red, nâd = rivercourse. (DoMe, p. 29)
Barkashad E "Dwarves". Corruption of "Baruk Khazad". (DoMe, p. 18 )
Belecthir S "Great Countenance". Name for a male Sinda. beleg = great, thîr = face, countenance. (Core Book, p. 63)
Belengol S "Great Wisdom". A magician of Eriador. beleg = great, ngol- = wisdom. (Core Book, p. 42)
Beogrin D Dunlending king of the late Second Age. The name may mean "Pretty Bee". ("The Relics of the Dead", p. 3)
Berenar / Beranar
S "Bold Fire" / "Valiant Sun". A Ranger of Ithilien; his name is
spelled two different ways in the TT SB. beren = bold, ber- = valiant,
nar- = fire, anar = sun. (TT SB, p. 120)
Berethor S "Valiant Torrent" or
"Valiant and Lank". A captain of Gondor. ber- = valiant, thórod
= torrent, trîw = slender. Cf. Denethor = "Lithe-and-lank". (TA)
Birchseed EW An Ent. (TCG: Battle of Helm's Deep)
Bláin N "Blue Corpse". Name for a Longbeard Dwarf. (DoMe, p. 13)
Bór N Name for a Broadbeam Dwarf. (DoMe, p. 17)
Brædi N A Dragon. (DoMe, p. 9)
Brandybuck, Isabella EW Lost Hobbit child. Isabella = "God's Promise", "Belongs to God", "Consecrated to God". (FotR SB, p. 116)
Broadleaf, Derry EW Hobbit farmer from Staddle. (FotR SB, p. 120)
Brúni N "Brown". Name for a Longbeard or Broadbeam Dwarf. (DoMe, pp. 13, 17)
Bundushar K "Head of Baldness". The mountain above Gamil-nala. bund = head, u = in/of, shar = bald. (DoMe, p. 5)
Butterbur, Gwendolyn EW Wife of Barliman Butterbur. (FotR SB, p. 119)
Calaglin S "Song of Light". An archer of Lórien. calad = light, glin- = sing. (TCG: Realms of the Elf-lords)
Camrynn D Dunlending warrior.
The name may mean "The Crooked" or "The One-Eyed" (but Camrynn
apparently has both eyes). ("The Relics of the Dead", p. 8 )
Carangul S "Red Sorcerer". Example of long-term villain. caran = red, gûl = sorcery. (Core Book, p. 263)
Caranor S "Red Sun". A Gondorian scout. caran = red, anor = sun. (Quick-Start Adventure, p. 8 )
Celebeth S "Silver Word". An Elven warrior of Mirkwood. celeb = silver, beth = word. (Core Book, p. 40)
Celebring S "Cold Silver". Name
for a male Noldo. In MERP this was the name of an evil Noldo from
Second Age Eregion. celeb = silver, ring = cold. (Core Book, p. 63; The
Northern Waste, p. 8 )
Corëmor Q "Black Circle". Husband of Alvedriel. kor- = round, mor- = black. (TT SB, p. 91)
Cúronlaes S "Moon-child". Male Noldorin noble of Lorien. cúran = crescent moon, laes = babe. ("The Jewel of Daylight", p. 2)
Curotal D Headman of Tyrrilth. The name may mean "Lichen". ("The Lord of Daylight", p. 8 )
Cúrudil Q "Craft-friend". Craftsman employed by King Eärendur. curu = craft, dil = friend. ("The Ruins of Annúminas", p. 9)
Curudur S "Dark Craft". Name for a male Sinda. curu = craft, dûr = dark. (Core Book, p. 63)
Danuk-khizdín K
Dwarf-citadel in the Grey Mountains. khizdín = delving? Cf.
Nulukkhizdín = Khuzdul name of Nargothrond. (DoMe, p. 9)
Dariman S "Waiting Spirit" or
"Awaiting Doom" or "Waiting in Hell". A Ranger of Ithilien. dar- =
wait, mân = departed spirit, manadh = doom, fate, mbad- = prison,
hell. All three possible meanings are appropriate to the adventure seed
about Dariman, in which he is lying poisoned in Morgul Vale awaiting
rescue by the PCs. (TT SB, p. 89)
Daudi N "Death". A Dragon called "the Death-drake". daudi = death. (DoMe, p. 9)
Denelind Sv "Lithe Song". Name for a female Silvan Elf. Cf. Denethor = "Lithe-and-lank"; lind = tune. (Core Book, p. 64)
Dindair Sv "silent shadow". Demons who afflict the East. din = silent, dae = shadow. (FBWM, p. 18 )
Dínendal S "Silent Scout". An archer and scout of Lórien. dínen = silent, tâl = foot. (TCG: Realms of the Elf-lords)
Dreary, Albert EW PJ's cameo role in J1. (TCG: The Fellowship of the Ring)
Dulin N Name for a Longbeard Dwarf. (DoMe, p. 13)
Dunael D The Dunlending language. This term was frequently used in MERP. ("The Lord of Daylight", p. 3)
Durlin S "Dark Song". Name for a male Noldo. dûr = dark, lin- = sing. (Core Book, p. 63)
Ecglaf OE "Dear Sword". Farmer of Rohan at the Battle of Helm's Deep. ecg = edge. (TCG: Battle of Helm's Deep)
Echorion S "Encircling Son". Name for a male Noldo. echor = encircling, outer circle, -ion = son of. (Core Book, p. 63)
Elegost S "Star Fortress" or "Elf Fortress". Gondorian archer. el = star, elf, ost = fortress. Cf. Belegost = "Great Fortress". (TA)
Elwen S "Star Maiden". Name for a female Noldo. el = star, wen = maiden. (Core Book, p. 63)
Éoden OE A warrior of Rohan. éo = horse. (TA)
Erethón S "Lone Pine". An archer of Lórien at Helm's Deep. ere- = one, alone, thon = pine-tree. (TCG: The Two Towers)
Erland N "Foreigner". Man of Dale at the Council of Elrond. (TCG: Shadows)
Ethrog D Dunlending noble of the late Second Age. ("The Relics of the Dead", p. 3)
Faegil S "Star Spirit". Name for a male Noldo. fae = spirit, gil = star. (Core Book, p. 63)
Fár N "Stained". Name for a Longbeard Dwarf. (DoMe, p. 13)
Farli N "Wanderer". Name for a Longbeard Dwarf. (DoMe, p. 13)
felakmêk K The pictographs of Thulin's folk. felak = to carve stone. Cf. iglishmêk = gesture-language. (DoMe, p. 23)
Fereveldir S "Beech-lover". An
archer of Lórien in the War of the Last Alliance and at Helm's
Deep. fêr = beech-tree, veldir = lenited form of meldir = friend,
lover. (TCG: The Two Towers)
Ferevellon S "Beech-friend". A
swordsman of Lórien at Helm's Deep, twin brother of Fereveldir.
fêr = beech-tree, vellon = lenited form of mellon = friend. (TCG:
The Two Towers)
Figwit EW Nickname of Aegnor, an Elf of Rivendell. (TCG: Mount Doom)
Finglin S "Skilled in Song". Name for a male Sinda. phin- = skill, glin- = sing. (Core Book, p. 63)
Fingolin S "Skilled and Wise in Song". Name for a male Noldo. phin- = skill, gol- = wisdom, lin- = sing. (Core Book, p. 63)
Finn N Name for a Longbeard Dwarf. (DoMe, p. 13)
Finnel D Daughter of Curotal. The name may mean "Fennel". ("The Lord of Daylight", p. 8 )
Foréstel S "Hope of the North". Sword of King Eärendur. forod = north, estel = hope. ("The Ruins of Annúminas", p. 9)
Fori N Son of Dori. (FotR SB, p. 98 )
Freda OE Girl who rides to Edoras with her brother Éothain. (J2)
Galadar S "Bright Father". A Ranger. galad = radiance, adar = father. (Core Book, p. 118)
Galadhrion S "Man Garlanded
with Tree Leaves". Name for a male Noldo. galadh = tree, rig- = twine,
wreathe, -ion = son of. (Core Book, p. 63)
Galar N "Chanter". Name for a Longbeard Dwarf. (DoMe, p. 13)
Galathil S "Silver Radiance". A warrior of Gondor. galad = radiance, thil- = shine silver. (Quick-Start Adventure, p. 9)
Gamil-nâla K "Old
Rivercourse". The ancestral delving of Sindri's folk beneath Mount
Bundushar. gamil = old (conjectural meaning), nâla = riverbed.
(DoMe, p. 5)
Ginnar N "Deceiver". Name for a Longbeard Dwarf. (DoMe, p. 13)
Golradir S An Elf of Rivendell. ngol- = wise, wisdom, dîr = man. (TCG: Realms of the Elf-lords)
Gramburg OE A small hold in Rohan, named for Gram, eighth King of Rohan. burg = fortified town. ("The Relics of the Dead", p. 4)
Grishlug B Uruk who was
Sauron's chief agent in Moria at the time of Balin's Colony. Cf.
Grishnákh. lug = tower. (Khazad-dûm, p. 12)
Guma OE "Man". Young refugee of Rohan. guma = man. (TCG: The Two Towers)
Gunduzbad K "Hall of the Lord". Original name of Mount Gundabad. gundu = underground hall, uzbad = lord. (DoMe, p. 5)
Hadhod S "Dwarf". Dwarf at the Council of Elrond. hadhod = dwarf. (TA)
Halond S "Hidden Stone". A Ranger of Ithilien. hall = hidden, gond = stone. (Quick-Start Adventure, p. 15)
Helegrog S "Demon of Ice". A kind of Demon that afflicts the North. heleg = ice, rog = demon. (FBWM, p. 17)
Hlafwine OE "Bread-friend". A farmer of Rohan. hlaf = bread, wine = friend. (TCG: The Two Towers)
Hugin N "Thought". Man of Laketown at the Council of Elrond. In Norse myth Hugin is one of Odin's ravens. (TCG: Mines of Moria)
Idrial S "Jewel Maiden". An Elven magician of Lorien. idri = jewel, riel = garlanded maiden. Cf. Idril = "Sparkling Brilliance". (TA)
Ilthimir S "Moon Jewel". A Ranger of Ithilien. ithil = moon, mir = jewel. (Quick-Start Adventure, p. 15)
Irolas S Altered form of Iorlas = "Old Leaf" or "Old Joy". A Man of Minas Tirith. (J3)
Ithildir S "Moon Man". Name for a male Noldo. ithil = moon, -dîr = man. (Core Book, p. 63)
Jääsilmä F "Ice
Eye". The Lord of Thulin's folk who was slain when the Ring given to
that house was taken. jää = ice, silmä = eye. (DoMe, p.
24)
Kalanidri S "Jewel of
Daylight". Elven jewel from the West. calad = light, idri = jewel. Cf.
Idril = "Sparkling Brilliance". ("The Jewel of Daylight", p. 1)
Kibil-tarag K "Silverhorn". The ancestral delving of Thulin's folk. kibil = silver, tarag = horn (an Elvish word). (DoMe, p. 5)
Laulumistaja F "Song-maker". Name for a Dwarf of Thulin's folk (the Stiffbeards). laulu = song. (DoMe, p. 23)
Lavel D Late wife of Curotal. The name may mean "Day Is". ("The Lord of Daylight", p. 8 )
Léowyn OE "Dear Joy", "Dear Love". Young girl of Rohan. leof = dear, beloved, wyn = joy, lover of. (TCG: The Return of the King)
Lindenroot EW An Ent. (TCG: Battle of Helm's Deep)
Linn N Name for a Longbeard Dwarf. (DoMe, p. 13)
Linnar N Father of the Broadbeam Dwarves. (TCG: Reflections, DoMe, p. 4)
Liómi N "Brightness". Name for a Longbeard Dwarf. (DoMe, p. 13)
Lod D "Swamp", "Puddle". Corrupt Dunlending magician known as "the Dark". ("The Relics of the Dead", p. 9)
Loki N Name for a Longbeard Dwarf. Loki is the god of fire in Norse mythology. Indo-European *leug = to break. (DoMe, p. 13)
Lórintal Sv "Golden
Foot". Name for a female Silvan Elf. lor- = golden, tal = foot. Cf.
Lórindol = "Goldenhead", name of Hador. (Core Book, p. 64)
Lunn Doring Destroyed village southeast of Esgaroth. ("The Shadow Over Dale", p. 4)
Lurtz O, B The Uruk who slew Boromir. (J1)
Madril S "Pale Brilliance". A
Ranger of Ithilien. maidh = pale, ril = glitter. May also be an altered
form of Mardil = "Friend of the House". (J2, J3)
Makalkukhizdín K Dwarf-mansion which became the lair of Scatha the Worm. khizdín = delving? (DoMe, p. 9)
Margil S "Star of the Home". mar = home, gil = star. ("The House of Margil" in the Narrator's Screen)
Mauhúr O An Uruk. (TCG: The Two Towers)
Melephin S "Lovely Hair". Elven magician of Mirkwood. mel- = love, fin- = hair. (Quick-Start Adventure, p. 7)
Menelcar S "Skyhelm". A warrior of Gondor. menel = sky, karma = helmet. (Core Book, p. 38 )
Minalant S "Unique gift". Female Noldorin noble of Lorien. minei = unique, ant = gift. ("The Jewel of Daylight", p. 2)
Nabbi N Name for a Longbeard Dwarf. (DoMe, p. 13)
Nargubraz K "Black and Red". The mountain above the ancestral delving of Var's folk. narag = black, u = in/of, baraz = red. (DoMe, p. 5)
Nileth Sv "Friendly Woman". Name for a female Silvan Elf. nil- = friend, -eth = feminine ending. (Core Book, p. 64)
Nimbathel S "White Star Pathway". Name for a female Noldo. nim = white, bâd = pathway, el = star. (Core Book, p. 63)
Nuril-lagil K Pass in the Grey Mountains. lagil = pass (word coined by Decipher?). (DoMe, p. 9)
Nurunkhizdín K The
mansion founded by those of Sindri's folk who sided with Sauron in the
War of the Last Alliance. khizdín = delving? (DoMe, p. 8 )
Ordulus S "High Poplar". An Elf
of Lórien at Helm's Deep. or- = high, dulus = lenited form of
tulus = poplar-tree. (TCG: The Two Towers)
Oxdís N Name for a Longbeard Dwarf. dís = goddess. (DoMe, p. 13)
Pabbi N Name for a Longbeard Dwarf. (DoMe, p. 13)
Parrakas F "Bearded One". Name for a Dwarf of Thulin's folk (the Stiffbeards). (DoMe, p. 23)
Pelegond S "Stone Fence". A Ranger captain of Arnor. pel = fence, gond = stone. ("The Ruins of Annúminas", p. 2)
Pengedhel S "Bow-elf". An Elf of Lórien at Helm's Deep. peng = bow, edhel = elf. (TCG: The Two Towers)
Rekk N "Warrior". Name for a Longbeard Dwarf. (DoMe, p. 13)
Riimukäsi F "Runehand".
The Lord of Thulin's folk who was given one of the Seven Rings of the
Dwarves. riimu = rune, käsi = hand. (DoMe, p. 23)
Rurik D Dunlending warrior. The name may mean "Red King". ("The Relics of the Dead", p. 2)
Saelbeth S "Wise Word". Elf of Rivendell at the Council of Elrond. sael = wise, beth = word. (TCG: Realms of the Elf-lords)
Sammath Ithil S "Chamber of the Moon". Former location of the Minas Ithil palantír. sammath = chambers, ithil = moon. (TT SB, p. 119)
Sigewulf OE "Victory-wolf". Warrior of Rohan at Helm's Deep. sige = victory, wulf = wolf. (TCG: Battle of Helm's Deep)
Silinde Sv "Shining Song". Elf
of Mirkwood at the Council of Elrond. sil = shine silver, lindë =
song. (TCG: The Fellowship of the Ring)
Silivrien S "Daughter Garlanded
with Silver Light". Name for a female Sinda. silif = silver light, rig-
= twine, wreathe, yen = daughter. (Core Book, p. 63)
Sindri N "Sparky". Father of the Ironfist Dwarves. (TCG: Reflections, DoMe, p. 4)
Siriann Sv "Flowing". Name for a male Silvan Elf. sir- = flow. (Core Book, p. 64)
Skell N "Wry". Dragon called "the Besieger". skjelga = wry, oblique. (DoMe, p. 9)
Skirvir N "Craftsman". Name for a Longbeard Dwarf. (DoMe, p. 13)
Surmataja F "Slayer". First Dwarf of Thulin's folk to become a Dragonslayer. (DoMe, p. 24)
Tarthalion S "Noble and Steadfast". A noble of Gondor. tar = noble, thalion = steadfast. (Core Book, p. 43)
Taurnil S "Forest-friend". An archer of Lórien at Helm's Deep. taur = wood, forest, nil = friend. (TCG: Battle of Helm's Deep)
Thakalgund K Dwarf-mansion in the Grey Mountains. gundu = underground hall. (DoMe, p. 9)
Thandronen S An Elf of Lórien at Helm's Deep, father of Fereveldir and Ferevellon. rómen = east. (TCG: The Two Towers)
Thekk N "Clever". Name for a Longbeard Dwarf. (DoMe, p. 13)
Thónnas S "Pine of the
Angle". An Elf from the Naith, or Angle, of Lórien at the Battle
of Helm's Deep. thon = pine-tree, nas = angle, corner. (TCG: The Two
Towers)
Thrukborûn B "Eye of the ********". A tower in Minas Morgul. thruk = eye (coined by Decipher?). (TT SB, p. 120)
Thrukzarbûl B "Eye of Madness". Black Speech name for the main tower of Minas Morgul. thruk = eye (coined by Decipher?). (TT SB, p. 119)
Thulin N Father of the Stiffbeard Dwarves. (DoMe, p. 4)
Tindri N Name for a Longbeard Dwarf. (DoMe, p. 13)
Tyrrilth D Dunlending village in the Trollshaws. ("The Lord of Daylight", p. 3)
Ugnar O, B Uruk commander of a mining camp in Moria. (Khazad-dûm, p. 54)
Umbothel Sv "Star of the Mere". Name for a female Silvan Elf. umboth = large pool, el = elf, star. (Core Book, p. 64)
Unanwen S "Untrue Maiden". The House to which Alvedriel belonged. ú = un-, anwa = true, wen = maiden. (TT SB, p. 91)
Unferth OE "Mar Peace". One of
Gríma Wormtongue's bodyguards. Unferth is the name of a
character in Beowulf. (TCG: The Two Towers)
Unnell D Dunlending bandit chieftain. ("The Ruins of Annúminas", p. 8 )
Úri N "Smith". Father of the Firebeard Dwarves. (TCG: Reflections, DoMe, p. 4)
Uruviel S "Fiery Maiden". A female Elf of Lórien. ur = fire, -iel = feminine ending. (TCG: The Fellowship of the Ring)
Vali N "Foreign". Name for a Longbeard Dwarf. (DoMe, p. 13)
Vanha Isä F "Old Father". Lossothren name of Thulin. vanha = old, isä = father. (DoMe, p. 23)
Var N Father of the Blacklock Dwarves. In Norse myth Var is a goddess who punishes oathbreakers. (DoMe, p. 4)
Vegandi N "Battler", "Fighter". A Dragon called "the Winged-slayer". (DoMe, p. 9)
Vegg N "Wedge". Name for a Longbeard Dwarf. (DoMe, p. 13)
Vigdís N "War Goddess".
The Father of the Stonefoot Dwarves. The name's meaning is rather
inappropriate. vig = war, dís = goddess. (DoMe)
Vigg N "Horse". Name for a Longbeard Dwarf. (DoMe, p. 13)
Vinn N Name for a Longbeard Dwarf. (DoMe, p. 13)
Virvir N "Dyer". Name for a Longbeard Dwarf. (DoMe, p. 13)
Weland OE A
horseshoe-blacksmith of Rohan. Weland = Old English spelling of Old
Norse Volund, a legendary smith. Old Norse vel = craft. (TCG: The Two
Towers)
Zeleg-ubraz K Dwarf-citadel in the Grey Mountains. u = in/of, baraz = red. (DoMe, p. 9)
