How Tolkien Got his names!

Anglacon · 10-03-2002, 12:25 AM

The etymological sources Tolkien found had a great affect on his names in the Lord of the Rings and other books.
For example:
FRODO. In Hebrew, the name is related to Fradi or something like that and means: to be alone.
GANDALF: Suprisingly, if one was to look in the Poetic Edda at the beginning, one would see a list of dwarvish names (from whence Tolkien got most of the names from for the dwarves in the hobbit). And in that there is a name- Gandalf- a dwarf!
RIVENDELL: This is my theory anyway- Tolkien added the word riven + dell. Riven meaning spilt and dell meaning a ravine or valley.

Ñólendil · 10-03-2002, 12:30 AM

"Frodo" is actually an Anglicization of Anglo Saxon Froda, which means "wise by expierience". It represents genuine Westron (Adûni) Maura, of similar meaning.

You're right about "Gandalf" it is a direct borrowing from the Poetic Edda (except the "r" at the end is omitted).

You're right about "Rivendell", it's just an English compound word = to "riven dell". It represents Adûni "Karningûl" which is a translation of Sindarin Imladris.

The Elvish names in the story are of course of his own invention, just like the languages they belong to.

Hrothgar · 10-03-2002, 12:55 AM

It is interesting to research Tolkien's etymology, reading Beowulf in Old English is interesting as Tolkien used alot of names from this work for the riders of Rohan, names such as Beorn. Flet is an interesting one, it simply means floor in Anglo Saxon

durin's bane · 10-05-2002, 09:16 PM

wel, in old english (anglo saxon) lob means spider, and tolkien put the word "she" in front of it (duh, which means girl or women) to make the nam girlspider.

Millane · 10-07-2002, 07:50 AM

Apparently he got a lot of his Dwarf names from the Vikings but im still looking into that one... does sound right though doesnt it Thror sounds vikingy to me

10-03-2002, 12:25 AM	#1
Anglacon Sapling Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 2	How Tolkien Got his names! The etymological sources Tolkien found had a great affect on his names in the Lord of the Rings and other books. For example: FRODO. In Hebrew, the name is related to Fradi or something like that and means: to be alone. GANDALF: Suprisingly, if one was to look in the Poetic Edda at the beginning, one would see a list of dwarvish names (from whence Tolkien got most of the names from for the dwarves in the hobbit). And in that there is a name- Gandalf- a dwarf! RIVENDELL: This is my theory anyway- Tolkien added the word riven + dell. Riven meaning spilt and dell meaning a ravine or valley.

10-03-2002, 12:30 AM	#2
Ñólendil Elf Lord Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: California Posts: 60,865	"Frodo" is actually an Anglicization of Anglo Saxon Froda, which means "wise by expierience". It represents genuine Westron (Adûni) Maura, of similar meaning. You're right about "Gandalf" it is a direct borrowing from the Poetic Edda (except the "r" at the end is omitted). You're right about "Rivendell", it's just an English compound word = to "riven dell". It represents Adûni "Karningûl" which is a translation of Sindarin Imladris. The Elvish names in the story are of course of his own invention, just like the languages they belong to. __________________ Falmon -- Dylan Last edited by Ñólendil : 10-03-2002 at 12:32 AM.

10-03-2002, 12:55 AM	#3
Hrothgar Hobbit Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Adelaide, Australia Posts: 27	It is interesting to research Tolkien's etymology, reading Beowulf in Old English is interesting as Tolkien used alot of names from this work for the riders of Rohan, names such as Beorn. Flet is an interesting one, it simply means floor in Anglo Saxon __________________ nemo sine vitio est No one is without fault Amo discere linguam Latinam, potero enim docere eam. To see my face go hither http://46728074.home.icq.com/personal.html

10-05-2002, 09:16 PM	#4
durin's bane Lady of Westernesse Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Canada (Help! Our parliament building is melting!) Posts: 761	wel, in old english (anglo saxon) lob means spider, and tolkien put the word "she" in front of it (duh, which means girl or women) to make the nam girlspider. __________________ Yada, yada, yada

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10-07-2002, 07:50 AM	#5
Millane The Dude Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: at the altar of my ego Posts: 1,685	Apparently he got a lot of his Dwarf names from the Vikings but im still looking into that one... does sound right though doesnt it Thror sounds vikingy to me