Lesson 37: Name Making Part 2 — Personal Names
Creating Sindarin personal names: masculine and feminine name elements, patronymics, epithets, and the naming traditions of Tolkien's Elves.
Introduction
A Sindarin personal name is a gift — a compressed poem that captures something essential about a person's nature, appearance, lineage, or destiny. Tolkien's Elves treated naming as a high art, and the names he invented for his characters are among the most beautiful words in any constructed language: Galadriel, Lúthien, Celebrimbor, Glorfindel, Tinnúviel. Each is a miniature world of meaning.
In this lesson you will learn the Elvish naming traditions Tolkien described in Unfinished Tales, the main masculine and feminine name elements with their glosses, how patronymics work, and how Elves acquire epithets. The lesson ends with step-by-step guidance for creating your own Elvish personal names.
1. Elvish Naming Traditions
The Three Names
Tolkien described Elvish naming customs in detail in his essay "The Shibboleth of Fëanor" and related notes in Unfinished Tales and The Peoples of Middle-earth. An Elf may have up to three names:
1. Ataressë — The Father-name
Given at birth by the father, usually in Quenya (the prestige language of the Noldor) or Sindarin (among the Sindar). The father-name reflects the child's place in the lineage — often it echoes the father's own name or contains an element from the paternal line. This name is "official" and used in formal contexts.
Examples:
- Elrond is Elrond's father-name (given by his father Eärendil)
- Finduilas receives her father-name from her father Orodreth
2. Óressë — The Mother-name
Given by the mother, often later than the father-name, when the mother's intuition has grasped something about the child's inner nature or fate. Mother-names are often prophetic — they may reflect the child's destiny, character, or in some cases, the mother's grief or foreknowledge.
Famous mother-names:
- Maedhros received his mother-name from Nerdanel (Russandol, "copper-top," for his unusual reddish hair — not typically Noldorin)
- Fëanor's mother-name given by Míriel: "Fëanor" = Faenor (Sindarin form of Quenya Fëanáro, "Spirit of Fire") — his burning creativity she foresaw
3. Kilmessë — The Chosen Name (Epessë)
Chosen by the Elf themselves in adulthood, or given by others and accepted — an epithet based on deeds or qualities. Also called epessë ("after-name"). This is the name that becomes most associated with a person in legend:
- Erchamion = "One-handed" (the epessë of Beren, after losing his hand to Carcharoth)
- Cúthalion = "Strong Bow" (Beleg's epessë, for his skill with the bow)
- Mithrandir = "Grey Wanderer" (Gandalf's Sindarin epessë, given by Elves who knew him)
Sindarin vs. Quenya Names
By the Third Age, Sindarin-speaking cultures (Sindar, Noldor in Middle-earth, Grey-elves) primarily used Sindarin names in daily life. Quenya was preserved for lore, ceremony, and high discourse. When Tolkien gives us the Sindarin forms of Elvish characters, these are the names in everyday use:
- The High-Elven Artanis → Sindarin Nerwen → epessë Galadriel
- Curufinwë → Sindarin Curufin
2. Masculine Name Elements
These elements appear as the first element (prefix) or second element (suffix) in masculine Sindarin names. Most appear in attested Tolkien names; a few are ᴺS. constructions following attested patterns.
| Element | Meaning | Position | Attested Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| ar- / ara- | noble, king | prefix | Aragorn, Aranuir ᴺS. |
| beleg | great, mighty | standalone/modifier | Beleg Cúthalion |
| bor- | steadfast, faithful | suffix | Borthandor ᴺS. |
| caun- | commander, prince | element | Caunion ᴺS. |
| celeb- | silver | prefix | Celeborn, Celebrimbor |
| círdan | ship-builder | standalone | Círdan = cîr (ship) + -dan (builder) |
| curun- | skilled, clever | prefix | Curufin (from Quenya Curufinwë) |
| dor- | land (figurative) | — | in land-names |
| el- | star, elf | prefix | Elrond, Elros, Elthariel |
| fin- | hair; skilled | prefix | Finrod, Finduilas, Fingon |
| glor- | golden glory | prefix | Glorfindel |
| gon- | stone | element | Gondolin, Turgon |
| hal- | tall, exalted | prefix | Haldir, Halbarad |
| hîr- | lord | element | Hîrluin (Blue-lord) |
| ith- | knowledge, wisdom | prefix | Ithron (wizard) |
| leg- / laeg- | keen, swift, agile | prefix | Legolas |
| lin- / lind- | singing, melodious | prefix | Lindir |
| maeg- | sharp, keen, penetrating | prefix | Maeglin |
| roch- | horse | element | Rochallor, Roheryn |
| tar- | high, lofty | prefix | Tarcil, Tarannon |
| thal- | firm, steadfast | prefix | Thalion, Thaldir ᴺS. |
| tin- | spark, star-point | prefix | Tinnúviel |
Masculine Ending Elements
Some elements appear specifically as second elements (suffixes) in masculine names:
| Element | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| -dir | man, adult male person | Lindir, Haldir |
| -gon | lord, stone-king | Turgon, Fingon |
| -ion | son of | Legolasion ᴺS. |
| -orn | tree, great one | Celeborn |
| -ron | keeper, great one | Ithron |
| -rond | vault, cavern | Elrond |
| -orn / -on | augmentative | Tauron |
| -dor | land, (king of land) | Elenador ᴺS. |
3. Feminine Name Elements
Feminine names in Sindarin are distinguished by their endings (-el, -wen, -iel, -riel) and by certain soft, flowing initial elements often connected to light, water, flowers, and birds.
| Element | Meaning | Position | Attested Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| aer- | sea, holy | prefix | Aerinhir ᴺS. |
| bril- | glittering | prefix | Brilliel ᴺS. |
| cal- | light, radiance | prefix | Calwen ᴺS. |
| celeb- | silver | prefix | Celebrindal (Silver-foot: Idril's name) |
| elanor | sun-star flower | element | Elanor (Sam's daughter) |
| fair-/fain- | white, free, radiant | prefix | Fainiel ᴺS. |
| galadh- | tree; light | prefix | Galadriel |
| glor- | golden glory | prefix | Gloredhel (Golden Elf-maiden) |
| idril- | sparkling brilliance | standalone | Idril = itr- + -il (from Quenya Itaril) |
| lúth- | enchantment | prefix | Lúthien |
| mith- | grey | prefix | Mithrellas |
| mor- | dark | prefix | Morwen (Dark Maiden) |
| nîn- | tear, watery | prefix | Níniel (Tear-Maiden) |
| nim- | white, pale | prefix | Nimrodel |
| ring- | cold, icy | prefix | Ríniel ᴺS. |
| sil- / síl- | shining (white) | prefix | Silrien ᴺS. |
| tin- | spark | prefix | Tinnúviel |
Feminine Ending Elements (Suffixes)
| Suffix | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| -el | feminine person, being | Aranel, Gloredhel |
| -iel | daughter of, maiden (participle) | Galadriel, Níniel |
| -riel | garlanded maiden | Galadriel (the -riel specifically) |
| -wen | maiden, girl | Morwen, Gilwen, Calwen |
| -dal | foot (sole of foot) | Celebrindal (Silver-foot = Idril) |
| -las | leaf | Finduilas |
| -loth | flower | Nimrodel uses -del not -loth; but -loth in ᴺS. names |
| -del | beloved, bride | Nimrodel (Lady of the White Grotto) |
| -neth | young woman | in some names |
4. Famous Name Analyses — Detailed Breakdown
1. Aragorn
ara- (noble, kingly — related to aran king) + gorn (revered/dread, from gor- or perhaps "impetuous")
Tolkien's own note: Aragorn may derive from a root related to "revered king" or "kingly dread." The name fits: Aragorn is both noble (ara-) and inspiring fear in his enemies (gorn). He is "the King who inspires awe."
2. Legolas
lego or laeg (keen, agile — possibly "green," from laeg = keen, fresh/green) + lass (leaf)
Tolkien's gloss: "Greenleaf." Lasgalen (as in Eryn Lasgalen = Wood of Green Leaves) uses the same las/lasg/laeg root. Legolas is a Green Leaf — agile, natural, of the forest.
3. Galadriel
galad (radiance, light — from cal-/gal- root) + riel (garlanded maiden — from rig- to wreathe + -iel)
Tolkien's explanation: "Maiden Crowned with a Radiant Garland." The galad element connects to Galadrim (tree-people) — both share the light/growth root GAL-. Galadriel is not just "a beautiful Elf" but the very embodiment of radiant, creative light — her nature compressed into her name.
4. Elrond
el (star, Elf — from EL- root) + rond (vault, domed arch, cavern ceiling that curves like the sky)
Meaning: "Star-Dome" or "Vault of Stars." Elrond's brother is Elros (el + ros = "star-foam"). Both brothers carry the el (star) element — they are children of the star-mariner Eärendil, born under heaven. Elrond's name captures the domed sky above, starred and vast.
5. Celebrimbor
celeb (silver) + rim (large number? or here from rimbor = fist) + bor (hand/fist)
Tolkien's gloss: "Silver Fist." The rim element may be a variant of rimbor (fist) — a powerful, skilled hand. Celebrimbor was the greatest smith of the Second Age; his fist/hand was silver-skilled in craft. His name is his craft-identity.
6. Glorfindel
glor- (golden glory, from GLOR- root, related to gold and brilliance) + find (hair, tress, lock of hair) + -el (being/person)
Meaning: "Golden-Haired." His golden hair was famous. The three-element name is unusual but each part is essential: glor- (the quality of his hair's color), find (the hair itself), -el (the person who possesses this hair).
7. Haldir
hal- (tall, high — from KHAL- root: to lift, elevate) + dîr (man, adult male)
Meaning: "Tall Man" or more precisely "Exalted One." Haldir is the march-warden of Lórien — someone of elevated station and physical stature. The name is perfectly functional.
8. Finduilas
find (hair, tress) + ui (ever, always, perpetually — temporal element) + las (leaf)
Tolkien's own text does not give a single definitive gloss. Possible meanings: "Ever-leaf of hair" (hair like perpetual leaves) or a poetic compound for something enduringly beautiful. The name has a flowing, melancholy quality that suits Finduilas — the tragic daughter of Orodreth who died young.
9. Maeglin
maed/maeg (sharp, piercing — of the eye, of intelligence) + glin (gleam, glint — of eyes, of a sword; a flash of light and insight)
Tolkien's gloss: "Sharp Glance." Maeglin was known for his piercing gaze and double-mind — his intelligence was his greatest gift and his undoing. His name encapsulates both his perception and his dangerous inner nature.
10. Tinnúviel
tinn- / tin- (spark, tiny star-point — the small lights of a nightingale's eyes?) + dúv- (related to dû, night, nightfall, dimness at dusk) + -iel (maiden)
Tolkien's gloss: "Nightingale" (literally "Daughter of Twilight's-Spark" or "She of the Dusk-Spark"). Beren gave this name to Lúthien when he first saw her dancing in the forest at dusk, her voice like a nightingale's song. The -iel makes it personal and intimate — she is the nightingale maiden.
5. Patronymic Construction
Son of: -ion
father's name + -ion → "son of [father]"
- Legolasion ᴺS. = son of Legolas
- Elrondion ᴺS. = son of Elrond — though Tolkien uses Elladan and Elrohir for Elrond's sons
- Eldarion = son of Eldar? No — Eldarion is Aragorn's son; analysis: Eldar (Elf-people) + -ion = "son of the Eldar" (figuratively: son of Elvish lineage)
Daughter of: -iel
father's name + -iel → "daughter of [father]"
- Eärendiliel ᴺS. = daughter of Eärendil
- Araniel ᴺS. = daughter of a king (general: aran + -iel)
The Full Genitive Construction
An alternate form of patronymic uses the genitive:
[child's name] [ion/iell] en [father's name]
- Arwen iell en Elrond ᴺS. = Arwen, daughter of Elrond
Ion (son) and iell (daughter) are Sindarin words for son and daughter:
- ion = son — ᴺS. (attested form is debated; some scholars prefer ион/yôn)
- iell = daughter — ᴺS. (from yell or related form)
6. Epithets: How Elves Acquire Descriptive Names
Elvish epithets (epessë in Quenya; in Sindarin practice simply an additional name) are earned through:
Deed-Based Epithets
An Elf who performs a notable deed receives an epithet describing it:
| Epithet | Meaning | Bearer |
|---|---|---|
| Cúthalion | Strong Bow | Beleg the great archer |
| Erchamion | One-Handed | Beren (after Carcharoth bit off his hand) |
| Mormegil | Black Sword | Túrin (for his black blade Gurthang) |
| Thingol | Grey Cloak | Elwë (for his silver-grey robe) |
Appearance-Based Epithets
| Epithet | Meaning | Bearer |
|---|---|---|
| Celebrindal | Silver-foot | Idril (for her silver-white feet) |
| Salgant | — | — |
Role/Function Epithets
| Epithet | Meaning | Bearer |
|---|---|---|
| Mithrandir | Grey Wanderer | Gandalf |
| Tharkûn | Staff-man (Khuzdul) | Gandalf (Dwarvish epithet) |
| Olórin | Dreamer (Quenya) | Gandalf's original name |
| Curunír | Man of Skill | Saruman (Sindarin epithet given by Men) |
Creating Your Own Epithet
An epithet should:
- Describe one essential quality, deed, or appearance trait
- Be formed from two elements (quality + person/thing)
- Use the patterns learned in Lesson 35 (suffix -dir, -wen, -ion, -iel, etc.)
- Sound natural when spoken aloud
7. Name-Making Exercises: Create 5 Full Elvish Personal Names
The Process
Step 1: Choose the character's essential nature or most notable quality Step 2: Find the Sindarin word(s) that express this Step 3: Choose masculine or feminine ending appropriate to the character Step 4: Combine, check phonology, read aloud Step 5: Label ᴺS. and note the meaning
Worked Example 1: A male Elf who is a great singer
- Quality: singing
- Elements: lind- / glin- (song, singing) + -dir (man) OR -ron (great one)
- Masculine
- Lindron ᴺS. = "Great Singer" or Lindir (already attested as a name!)
- Use Glindir ᴺS. = "Gleam-Singer, one whose song gleams" for something more poetic
Worked Example 2: A female Elf associated with starlight
- Quality: starlight
- Elements: elen (star) + -iel (maiden) → Eleniel ᴺS. (Star-Maiden) — or Gilwen ᴺS. (gil bright star + -wen maiden) — more phonologically smooth
- Feminine
- Gilwen ᴺS. — "Bright-star Maiden"
- Mark ᴺS.; note: gil (star, bright spark) is attested in Sindarin; -wen is attested
Worked Example 3: A male Elf lord of silver hair
- Quality: silver hair
- Elements: celeb (silver) + find (hair) + masculine ending
- Celebfind ᴺS. or Celebfindir ᴺS. (Silver-hair Man)
- Check: celeb + find = Celebfind ᴺS. — unusual consonant cluster -bf- may simplify: Celebfind → perhaps Celebinn ᴺS.?
- Alternate approach: Mithelass ᴺS. — Grey-leaf (mith + lass) if his hair is grey-silver
Worked Example 4: A female Elf whose nature is twilight and mystery
- Quality: twilight, mystery
- Elements: dû- (night, dimness at dusk) + fain (white, radiant — paradoxical: she shines in darkness)
- Feminine: + -iel or -wen
- Dúfainiel ᴺS. = "Twilight-Radiance Maiden" — a name like Tinnúviel's pattern
- Or simpler: Dúwen ᴺS. = "Night-Maiden, Twilight Girl"
Worked Example 5: A male Elf renowned for swift horsemanship
- Quality: swift horse
- Elements: roch- (horse) + -dir (man) OR caer- (swift/great) + roch-
- Rochdir ᴺS. = "Horseman" (straightforward)
- More evocative: Rochallor — wait, Rochallor is attested as the name of Fingolfin's horse! Use it as a personal name template: roch + -allor (from alor? not standard)
- Best: Rochion ᴺS. = "Son of the Horse" (figurative: one devoted to horses) or Brethilroch ᴺS.
8. Quick Reference: Name-Building Cheat Sheet
For Masculine Names:
- Start with a quality element: ar-, beleg-, celeb-, el-, glor-, hal-, thal-
- End with: -dir (man), -gon (lord), -on (great), -rond (vault), -ron (keeper)
For Feminine Names:
- Start with a light/nature element: cal-, fair-, lúth-, mith-, nim-, tin-
- End with: -el (person), -iel (daughter of), -wen (maiden), -del (beloved)
Sounds to Aim For:
- Flowing: consonant clusters like -nd-, -lm-, -rn-, -nth-
- Vowels: a, e, i are most common; ó and û add gravitas
- Avoid: multiple harsh stops without liquids (bktr etc.); Sindarin flows
Key Points to Remember
- Three name types: father-name (ataressë), mother-name (óressë), chosen epithet (kilmessë)
- Mother-names are prophetic: the most poetically complex names often encode fate
- Masculine vs. feminine: the ending suffix (-dir/-ron vs. -el/-wen/-iel) is the primary gender marker
- Epithets are earned through deeds: the most memorable names in Middle-earth are epessë
- Analyze before creating: taking apart attested names teaches more than any rule-list
Next: Lesson 38 — Gondorian & Mirkwood Sindarin