Lexicon of Names

ainu (Quenya) 'holy one' (from aina, 'holy'); an Ainu was one of the Holy Ones created by Eru Ilúvatar (with the plural being Ainur). Related is Ainulindalë ('Music of the Ainur'), the Great Song through which the universe was brought into being.

alata (Quenya) 'radiance', seen in Galadriel's Quenya name Alatáriel ('radiant-garlanded maiden'), and also possibly in Alatar, a name for one of the little-known Blue Wizards.

an(d) (Sindarin) 'long', ultimately derived from an ancient form andá, and seen as both and and ann in Sindarin. Common in place-names such as Andram ('Long Wall'), Andrast ('long horn'), Anduin ('long river') or Anfalas ('long shore'). This element is also seen in the Elvish name for the Longbeard Dwarves, which was Anfangrim. Certain terms from writing also used the an- prefix, as in Angerthas ('long rune rows') or Andaith ('long mark').

ang (Sindarin) 'iron', prominent in the name of Morgoth's fortress of Angband ('Hells of Iron'), and also in names such as Anghabar ('iron mine'), Anglachel ('iron of the flaming star'), Angrist ('iron cutter') or Gurthang ('Iron of Death'). The genitive form is angren ('of iron'), which was the Sindarin name of the River Isen, also found in Carach Angren ('jaws of iron') in Mordor. The plural form was eng, as in Ered Engrin ('Iron Mountains'). The related Quenya form was anga, as in Angamaitë ('iron fist') and Angaráto ('iron champion'), the son of Finarfin whose name was translated into Sindarin as Angrod.

ar(a) (Elvish root) 'noble, royal', a very common element in the names of both people and places, as for example Arwen ('noble maiden'), Arnor ('royal land'), Armenelos ('royal fortress of the heavens'), Aredhel Ar-Feiniel ('noble Elf, noble White Lady') and many others besides. Ar- was adopted into Adûnaic, where it formed the royal prefix of the later Kings of Númenor, from Ar-Adûnakhôr ('King, Lord of the West') onwards. It was also used as a royal prefix by the Kings of Arthedain from the time of Argeleb I (probably 'silver king'), and this usage was continued by the Chieftains of the Dúnedain down to the time of Aragorn II ('kingly valour').

arda (Quenya) 'bounded region' or 'realm', prominently used as a name for the whole World (and thus implying that the World is the 'realm' of Manwë the Elder King). It also appears in a few derived names, such as Ardamir ('Jewel of the World'). The Sindarin equivalent is gardh, seen only in Lisgardh, the land of reeds at the Mouths of Sirion.

bel (Sindarin) 'strong', seen most prominently in the names of Beleg of Doriath (whose name simply means 'Strong') and his great bow Belthronding (which translates literally as 'strong-stiff-twang', but is usually rendered more euphoniously as 'Strongbow'). This element is related to the more common beleg 'great, large, mighty', and also bal, 'power, might'.

bëor (Bëorian) 'vassal', the name given in their own language by the People of Bëor to their leader (previously called Balan) after he committed himself to the service of Finrod Felagund.

ber (Elvish root) 'valiant', 'daring', the origin of the name Beren (meaning 'bold'). This root is also probably present in names like Beregar ('valiant-noble'), Beregond ('valiant stone' or - perhaps more likely - 'valiant Gondorian') or Bergil ('valiant star'), though some or all of these may derive from the presumably related berék, meaning 'wild' or 'fierce'.

bor(o) (Sindarin) derives from a root bor- meaning 'endure', and can have various connotations, as in 'enduring', 'faithful', 'steadfast' or 'persistent', 'constant'. Seen most prominently in Boromir ('faithful jewel'), but also in names such as Boron (simply 'faithful') or Borondir ('steadfast man'). Also seen in the star name Borgil, meaning 'constant star' or 'ever-star'. Bór the faithful Easterling derived his Elvish name from this root. In Quenya bor- became vor-, hence names such as Voronwë, 'steadfast one'.

brethil (Sindarin) can mean either 'beech tree' or 'birch tree' depending on context. This was the word from which the Forest of Brethil took its name (which in full Elvish was Brethiliand, 'beech forest'). The same element appears in the name of the birchwoods of Nimbrethil (literally 'white birch', but presumably intended to equate to 'silver birch') and in Fimbrethil (represented in English as 'Wandlimb', but literally meaning 'slender birch').

cabed (Sindarin) 'leap' (pronounced kabed) in Cabed-en-Aras, 'Deer's Leap', a deep gorge on the River Teiglin that was said to be narrow enough for a deer to leap across. It was into this same gorge that Niënor Níniel threw herself in despair, after which its name was changed to Cabed Naeramarth, 'Leap of Dreadful Doom'.

cal(a) (Elvish root) 'shine', pronounced kal, seen in names such as Calmacil 'shining sword' or Calmindon 'shining tower'. Closely related is cala, 'light', seen for example in Calacirya ('Pass of Light') or Calaquendi ('Elves of the Light'), and also calen 'bright', from which the Elvish word for 'green' was derived.

cam (Sindarin) 'hand' (derived ultimately from a root kab- meaning 'hollow', so the full sense is 'hollowed hand'; that is, a hand holding or receiving something). Seen in Beren's title Camlost ('Empty-handed'), in which it implies that Beren's missing hand had held a Silmaril. A variant form appears in another title of Beren, Erchamion, meaning 'one-handed'.

carach (Sindarin) 'jaws' (pronounced 'karach') only seen in this specific form in Carach Angren ('iron jaws') the Elvish name for the Isenmouthe of Mordor. The word is ultimately derived from the root carak-, meaning 'fang', seen in various forms (for example in Carchost, 'fang fort', which stood just a few miles to the north of Carach Angren).

cel (Elvish root) 'go', 'run' (pronounced kel); commonly associated with the flow of rivers, and common in river-names, as for example Celduin (the River Running), Celon (directly from Sindarin celon, meaning literally 'river') and Celos (approximately 'swift stream'). Not to be confused with the very common, but unrelated, element celeb, which means 'silver'.

certa (Quenya) 'rune', pronounced kerta. Seen uniquely in certar ('runes') which was simply the plural form. This word only occurred in Exilic Quenya (that is, Quenya as it was spoken by the Exiles in Middle-earth); it was thought to be an adaptation of the Sindarin word for 'rune', which was certh (plural cirth). All these forms probably derived ultimately from a root meaning 'cutting', as a reference to runes being carved into wood or stone.

cram (Sindarin) a word (also spelt cramb) derived from the Elvish root krab-, 'press', and describing a cake of pressed flour or meal that remained edible for long periods, used as travelling rations especially by the Lake-men. The word cram, used to describe a piece of dough, is found in some English dialects, though it is not known whether that term played any part in the coining of this Elvish word.

criss (Sindarin) 'cleft' or 'cut', only seen in one word in the canonical works, Crissaegrim (literally 'cleft-peak-host') a region of the Encircling Mountains of Gondolin. Related is crist, literally 'cutter', used especially of swords and found in the name Orcrist ('Orc-cleaver').

culu (Quenya) 'golden-red'. Pronounced kulu, this element is seen in Culúrien (probably simply 'the golden', a name of the Golden Tree Laurelin), and also in culumalda ('red-golden tree'), the name of the trees growing at Cormallen, which were named from the colour of their leaves.

curu (Elvish root) 'skilled', 'crafty', found in the Curufinwë ('skilled [son of] Finwë'), which was the original name of Fëanor, and also in the variant Curufin, the name that Fëanor chose for his own fifth son. Also prominent in Curunír, 'Man of Skill', which was the Elvish name of the Wizard more familiar from the Mannish equivalent, Saruman.

dagor (Sindarin) 'battle' (or literally 'slaughter'), used in the Elvish names of some of the most important battles in history: Dagor-nuin-Giliath ('Battle-under-Stars'), Dagor Aglareb ('Glorious Battle'), Dagor Bragollach ('Battle of Sudden Flame'), and also seen in the name of the prophesied climactic battle for the World itself Dagor Dagorath, (usually translated 'Last Battle', but more literally 'Battle of Battles'). Also in the name Dagorlad, 'Battle Plain', taken from the great Battle of Dagorlad fought there during the War of the Last Alliance.

deep (archaic English) simply 'deep place' (from Old English déop, usually referring to a valley). In Helm's Deep it refers to the narrow gorge guarded by the Hornburg, and places connected with the gorge used the associative form Deeping (Old English déoping), as in Deeping-coomb, the wide valley that led to the gorge. The same element in Deephallow is less clear, probably refers to low-lying land surrounded by slopes. The same word was used in naming the underground levels within Khazad-dûm, which were known as the First Deep, Second Deep, Third Deep and so on, counting downwards from ground level. In Old English, the opposite to déop was undéop, 'shallow', hence the the 'Undeeps' (or shallows) of Anduin south of the Field of Celebrant.

delving (archaic English) 'digging, excavation' found in the names of two towns in the Shire, Michel Delving ('great excavation') and Little Delving ('little excavation'), whose names were no doubt related to the Hobbits' habit of creating holes for themselves. The word derives from the Old English delf, which can also be seen in the Shire, in Standelf 'stone digging', as well as farther afield in Dwarrowdelf, 'Dwarf-digging', a Mannish name for Khazad-dûm.

dim (archaic English) 'obscured', 'overshadowed' (and by extension 'secret') in Dimrill Dale ('valley of shadowed streams'), and Dimholt 'dark/secret wood'. Also seen in the expressions morrowdim and evendim, the twilight of morning and evening, respectively (with Evendim also used as the name of a region). This usage of dim only occurs in Mannish names, and is not to be confused with the unrelated Elvish elements in Dimbar or Dimrost.

dolin (Sindarin) a form of dolen, meaning 'hidden'. The original Quenya name for the city of Gondolin was Ondolindë ('Rock of the Music of Water'), and the sounds of this name were adapted into Sindarin form as the more familiar Gondolin, which was interpreted as gond dolen, 'Hidden Rock'. Because of this unique etymology, the element dolin is only seen as part of the name Gondolin.

dor (Sindarin) 'land', 'occupied region'. An extremely common element of place-names, including the names of some very prominent lands such as Gondor ('land of stone'), Mordor ('Black Land'), Eriador ('Lone-lands') and Endor (an Elvish name for the whole of Middle-earth, literally meaning 'middle land'). The collection of other names including this element is extensive, with other common examples being Doriath ('land of the fence'), Andor ('Land of Gift'), Dorthonion ('land of pines'), Dor-en-Ernil ('Land of the Prince'), Dor-lómin ('land of echoes') and numerous others. Confusingly, a -dor ending can often also be seen in the names of peoples or individuals (with examples like Noldor, Nandor, Galador or Hador). These cases aren't connected to the interpretation 'land'; the -dor is generally a grammatical formation such as a plural (as in Noldor, the plural form of Noldo) or an agental ending (as in Hador, a 'thrower' of darts and missiles).

dora (Greek) 'gift', but etymologically the 'bag' in which the gift was given (ultimately from dorá, the hide from which a leather bag was made). Hence its appearance in the name of Dora Baggins is quite possibly a linguistic jest by Tolkien.

drû (Sindarin) a name for one the mysterious Wild Men of the Woods, also called Woses or Púkel-men, taken from their own name for themselves, Drughu, of unknown meaning. As foes of the Orcs in the First Age, these people were considered to be part of the Edain, and thus acquired then name Drúedain. This element occurs in various place-names relating to these strange people, such as the Drúadan Forest (simply 'forest of the Drúedain') and Drúwaith Iaur ('Old Púkel-land'). The plural forms of Drû were either Drúin (for several Drúedain) or Drúath (for the entire people as a whole). In Quenya this word is rendered in the rarely seen form Rú.

dun (Old English) from dunn 'dark brown, brown-black', representing a word in the language of the Rohirrim used to name the Dunlendings (who were dark-skinned and dark-haired), their home of Dunland and their language Dunlendish. This element appears only in those names, and is not to be confused with the dun- in Dunharrow (which means 'hillside') or the common Elvish dûn, meaning 'west'.

dún (Sindarin) 'west' (as a separate word, accented dûn) seen in this form only in Dúnedain ('Men of the West') and its singular Dúnadan. Dûn derives from the same root as annûn ('sunset', implying 'west') seen for example in Henneth Annûn ('Window of the Sunset'). The names Dúnharg and Dúnhere are derived from Old English, and do not contain this element.

durin (Old Norse) a proper noun; one of the Dwarves named in the Völuspá (and there spelt Durinn). Interpretation is uncertain, but the name may mean 'one who sleeps'. If so, it be appropriate for Tolkien's Durin, who slept for many centuries until after the Elves had awoken in Middle-earth. The same name was also borne by six descendants of the original Durin, and appears in numerous related forms (Durin's Axe, Durin's Bridge, Durin's Folk, Durin's House, Durin's Stone, Durin's Tower, and many others besides).

eär (Elvish root) 'sea', most famously seen in the name of Eärendil the Mariner ('devoted to the sea'), but also in a variety of other names, such as Eärendur ('sea servant'), Eärnil (also 'devoted to the sea', from a comparable etymology to Eärendil) or Eärwen 'sea maiden'.

echad (Sindarin) 'camp' in Echad i Sedryn, the 'Camp of the Faithful' on Amon Rûdh. This word presumably shares some part of its etymology with the similar element in Echoriath ('Encircling Mountains') or Rammas Echor ('Wall of the Circle'); that is, it implies a camp encircled by some form of protection.

edain (Sindarin) 'Men', the plural form of adan 'Man'. The word literally means 'Second People' (as opposed the 'Firstborn', the Elves) and though it was sometimes used to refer to the entire race of Men, it was more usually applied to the descendants of the Three Houses of the Edain who allied themselves with the Elves in the Wars of Beleriand. Those Men who settled in Númenor in the Second Age became known as the Dúnedain ('Men of the West'), a name that remained in use even after Númenor itself was destroyed. Edain is also seen in Drúedain, the 'Woses' who dwelt with the Haladin in Brethil, and in Arthedain, 'realm of the Edain'.

emyn (Sindarin) the plural of amon, 'hill', used in the names of ranges of hills or downs throughout Middle-earth. Examples include Emyn Arnen (approximately 'hills of Ithilien'), Emyn Beraid ('Tower Hills', incorporating the plural of barad, 'tower') and Emyn Uial ('Hills of Evendim'). The word emyn would normally be pronounced 'emoon', though the Gondorian pronunciation differed, so that in (for example) the Emyn Arnen of Gondor, the word would have sounded more like 'emeen'.

enyd (Sindarin) the plural of onod, the word translated by Tolkien using the Old English Ent. Enyd would be used for a group of several Ents, but the collective plural for the entire race was Onodrim ('Ent people').

ephel (Sindarin) 'fence', specifically referring to an 'outer' or 'surrounding' fence. Used in a literal sense in Ephel Brandir, the fenced fortification of Brandir on Amon Obel in Brethil, also sometimes called simply 'the Ephel'. The same element is used figuratively in Ephel Dúath, 'fence of shadow', the chain of mountains that bordered Mordor to the west.

ered (Sindarin) the plural of orod, 'mountain', used very frequently in the names of mountain ranges. Examples include Ered Luin ('Blue Mountains') and their alternative name Ered Lindon ('Mountains of Lindon'), as well as Ered Engrin ('Iron Mountains'), Ered Wethrin ('Mountains of Shadow'), and Ered Nimrais (the Elvish name for the White Mountains, which translates literally as 'White-horned Mountains').

falas (Sindarin) 'shore', 'coast' (from a root fal- meaning 'wave'), from which came the name of the western coastland of Beleriand, known as The Falas, whose people were the Falathrim. As might be expected, falas is often seen in shoreland place-names, for example Anfalas ('long shore', archaic Langstrand), Belfalas (where the initial Bel- is obscure) or Tolfalas ('shoreland island', or possibly 'isle of waves'). Also seen in the personal names Falastur ('Lord of the Coasts') and Tar-Falassion ('King of the Coasts').

fëa (Quenya) 'spirit', the immaterial essence of a being, as opposed to the hröa or body. This element is seen in Fëanor ('Spirit of Fire') and Fëanturi ('Masters of Spirits').

fell (English) 'moorland hill', in Coldfells and Troll-fells, hilly regions that lay to the north of Rivendell.

foro(d) (Sindarin) 'north', especially as a region in the cold north of Middle-earth. From this source are derived the names Forochel ('north-ice') and Forodwaith ('north-people', used as the name of both the people themselves and the lands they inhabited).

frery (Old English) a modernisation of fréorig, Old English for 'freezing'. Used in Bree as the name of the first month of the year, equivalent to Afteryule on the Shire Calendar, or (approximately) to modern January.

fuin (Sindarin) 'deep shadow', a word linguistically related to 'night', and often poetically translated 'nightshade'. Seen in Taur-nu-Fuin ('Forest under Nightshade' a name used of both Dorthonion and Mirkwood), Emyn-nu-Fuin ('shadowed hills', the Mountains of Mirkwood) and Tol Fuin (literally 'island of shadow', but actually deriving from its origins as the highlands of Taur-nu-Fuin in the First Age). The same element is also apparently seen in Fuinur, the name of a leader of the Black Númenóreans (its full meaning is uncertain, though it might perhaps be 'shadow-fire' or 'great shadow').

gam (Old English) derived from gamen, meaning a sport or game, and found in the Hobbit village-name of Gamwich ('game village'). This gave rise to the nickname 'Gamwichy', from which the form 'Gamgee' is ultimately derived. These Old English names are translations of original Hobbit names: Galbasi for the village, and Galpsi as the actual form of 'Gamgee'.

gar (Elvish root) literally 'possess', from which derive two variant forms seen in proper names: (i) 'lord', 'noble' (that is, 'one who holds property'), in Beregar ('valiant noble'); and (ii) 'land' (as in 'possessed place') in Losgar ('place of flowers'). Sense (ii) is etymologically connected with the stem that gives rise to Arda (as the realm in the keeping of Manwë). Not to be confused with the common element -gar seen in Mannish names, especially among the Hobbits, which means 'spear', and is unrelated to this Elvish source.

gil (Sindarin) 'star', from a root meaning 'shine with white light'. This element appears in a great many names, not least the names of certain stars themselves (such as Borgil, 'constant star', or Gil-Estel, 'Star of High Hope'). It is also common in personal names or titles, as for example Gil-galad ('Star of Radiance'), Gilthoniel ('star-kindler'), or Thorongil ('Eagle of the Star'). The plural form giliath ('host of stars') is seen in Osgiliath ('Citadel of the Stars') and Dagor-nuin-Giliath ('Battle-under-Stars'). Note that the element el also means 'star', and also very prevalent in Elvish names.

glor (Sindarin) 'gold', 'golden', as for example in Glóredhel ('Golden Elf'), Glorfindel ('Golden-haired Elf') and Sîr Ninglor ('River Goldwater', referring to the Gladden River). Glor is a compressed form of glaur, the Sindarin word for gold, and is related to the Quenya word laurë (as in Laurelin, the Golden Tree of Valinor).

gond (Sindarin) 'stone', 'rock', seen most prominently in the names Gondor ('Stone-land') and Gondolin ('Hidden Rock'). This element also occurs in a modified form in Gonnhirrim, 'Masters of Stone', an Elvish name for the Dwarves.

gorn (Sindarin) literally 'impetuous', though in the case of Aragorn (apparently the unique case of this element appearing in a personal name), it was said to be intended as 'valour'. In full, then, Aragorn means 'Kingly valour'.

goth (Elvish root) A form of the word coth, 'enemy', that appears in the name of Morgoth ('Dark Enemy' or 'Black Foe [of the World]'). This form was possibly influenced by an alternative meaning of goth, 'dread' or 'terror', which perhaps appears in one interpretation of Gothmog (on this reading, 'dread enforcer'). This element is linguistically difficult; it is Sindarin in form, but was given by Fëanor before he encountered the Sindar (the explanation for this peculiarity lies in the evolution of Tolkien's linguistic structure; for simplicity, the element is here simply listed as an 'Elvish root').

gul (Sindarin) 'magic', 'sorcery', most obviously seen in Morgul ('black magic') and its derivatives, such as Minas Morgul ('tower of black magic'), Morgul-king (a name of the Lord of the Nazgûl), Morgulduin ('river of black magic') and so on. Also seen in Dol Guldur ('hill of dark magic'). The Black Speech -gûl (meaning 'wraith' or 'phantom' in Nazgûl) is possibly derived from this Sindarin element.

hal(l) (Sindarin) 'tall', 'lofty', and by extension 'superior'; apparently seen in Halbarad ('tall tower', presumably emphasising just how tall Halbarad was), and in Hallatan ('tall Man'). This element does not appear in Haladin, nor in the numerous Hal- names found among that people; both of those names derived from their own Mannish stems. It may, however, appear in the name of Haldir of Lórien, which can be interpreted as 'tall one'.

haleth (Old English) from hæleþ 'warrior' or 'hero', this is the derivation of the name of Helm's eldest son, slain defending Meduseld. This is not linguistically related to the name of Haleth daughter of Haldad, whose name appears to derive from an early Mannish tongue (though knowledge of the Old English term may have influenced Tolkien's choice of this older name).

helm (Old English) originally meaning 'defence' or 'protective covering', and the source of our modern word 'helmet' (literally 'protector'). Seen commonly among the names of the Rohirrim, as in Dernhelm ('hidden helm'), Elfhelm (simply 'Elf helm'), and of course King Helm himself.

henneth (Sindarin) 'window' (ultimately derived from hên 'eye', so henneth literally means something that can be seen through). Seen in this form only in Henneth Annûn, 'Window of the Sunset', the hidden stronghold of the Rangers of Ithilien.

hith (Sindarin) 'mist' or 'fog', seen for example in Hithaeglir ('Misty Mountains'), Hithlum ('Land of Mist') and Nen Hithoel ('Mist-cool Water'). Also seen in the Sindarin name of the misty month of November, Hithui, and metaphorically in the name of the light, grey material used by the Galadhrim in their ropes: hithlain ('mist-thread').

hyar(men) (Quenya) 'south' (ultimately derived from the root khyar-, 'left'). A common element in the names of regions in Númenor, particularly the Hyarnustar ('Southwestlands') and the Hyarrostar ('Southeastlands'). The full form hyarmen ('the South' as a place or region) appears in Hyarmendacil ('South-victor') and Hyarmentir ('South-watch').

ing (Elvish root) 'first', 'foremost', seen most prominently in Ingwë ('first one') the High King of the Elves. Though ing is a common Elvish root, it is most commonly associated with the Teleri of Aman. Note that, despite appearances, neither Inglorion nor Ingold contain this element, but have unique etymologies of their own.

isen (Old English) 'iron', the name of the important river Isen, and its associated fortress complex Isengard ('iron enclosure'). This element is also seen in the names of certain Hobbits of the Took family, such as Isengar ('iron spear') and Isengrim (uncertain, probably either 'iron fierce' or 'iron helmet').

isil (Quenya) 'the Moon' (normally capitalised Isil) derived from a root sil- meaning 'shine with a silver light'. Its most famous appearance is in the name Isildur 'Devoted to the Moon', but it also appears in certain lesser names, such as Isilya 'Moon-day', the third day of the Elves' week. The Sindarin equivalent was Ithil, which Isildur used in the names of his own province of Gondor Ithilien ('Land of the Moon') and his fortress of Minas Ithil ('Tower of the Moon').

loth (Sindarin) an element derived from lhoth, 'empty', seen uniquely in the name Lothlann, the 'wide and empty' plain to the north of the March of Maedhros. Not to be confused with the more common name element loth, 'flower, blossom', which is unrelated to this term.

mab (Sindarin) 'hand'; a word from the Doriathrin dialect of Sindarin, found in the name of Mablung of the Heavy Hand (whose name literally means 'heavy hand', a reference to his recovery of Beren's hand, and the Silmaril it held, after the Hunting of the Wolf). The same name was shared by Mablung of Ithilien, who was presumably named after the famous Elf of Doriath.

maeg (Sindarin) 'sharp', seen in the name of Maeglin (from maeg glîn, 'Sharp Glance').

mag (Sindarin) 'cleaver', a translation of the Quenya element maka in the name Makalaurë. In full, that name means 'Gold-cleaver', and was the original name of Fëanor's second son before he acquired a 'Sindarised' version in Beleriand, which was the more familiar Maglor. The mag- in the name Magor is etymologically related: that name means 'the sword'.

mal(l) (Elvish root) 'gold', 'golden', as for example in Mallorn ('golden tree', and also Malinalda with the same meaning). Also seen in Malbeth ('golden words'), Mallos ('golden flower'), Malduin ('golden river') and many other instances. This element is also seen in Ormal (probably 'high-golden'), the name of one of the great Lamps of the Valar that gave light to the World before the Two Trees. The plural form of this element is mel, see in Mellyrn, the proper Elvish plural of Mallorn.

man (Elvish root) 'holy', 'blessed', seen in the name of Manwë, chief of the Valar, whose name means 'holy one', and also in Aman, the 'Blessed Realm'. Both man and aman gave rise to names, such as Amandil ('devoted to Aman'), Manwendil ('devoted to Manwë') or Amanyar (the Elves of Aman).

mar (Celtic) 'disciple', 'follower', 'servant'; an element found uniquely in the archaic names used by the Brandybuck clan. The primary examples are Marmadoc (the son of Madoc Brandybuck, whose name means 'follower of Madoc', and is equivalent to modern Marmaduke), and Marmadas, 'servant (or follower) of the good one'). It possibly also appears in Marroc, though the interpretation of that name is uncertain. Not to be confused with the -mar element in Wilimar Bolger's name (which means 'fame'), or the mar that appears often in Elvish names, and means 'home, dwelling-place'.

mark (Old English) 'borderland', a modernisation of Old English mearc, referring especially to an outlying land that stood in defence of another. As The Mark used by the Rohirrim as the name of their own land (also seen as Riddermark, 'Mark of the Riders'). A variant is march, used for example in Fenmarch, the 'borderland of the fens' on Rohan's eastern border (Tolkien later stated that he would have preferred to used the form Fenmark for this region).

menel (Elvish root) literally 'star-region', describing the highest and most sublime region of the sky, and usually translated 'heaven'; its further reaches were known as Tarmenel ('high heaven' or 'Over-heaven'). Seen in names such as Armenelos ('royal fortress of the heavens'), Meneldil ('devoted to heaven'), Menelmacar ('swordsman of heaven', i.e., the constellation Orion) or Meneltarma ('Pillar of Heaven', the central peak of Númenor).

mentha (Latin) 'mint', the name of a fragrant flowering herb used as a personal name by the Hobbits (or, strictly, used by Tolkien to translate an unrecorded personal name of equivalent origins). Its only appearance in the histories of the Shire is in the name of Mentha Brandybuck.

metta (Elvish root) 'end', seen in Mettarë, the name given to the 'end day' of several of the calendars of Middle-earth, and also in Ambar-metta 'ending of the World' in Elendil's traditional speech at his landing in Middle-earth. The Sindarin form was meth (as for example in Methedras, the last peak - literally 'end horn' - of the Misty Mountains).

mor (Elvish root) 'black' (and by extension 'dark', 'shadowy'). This is a very common element, found especially in names connected with the Dark Lord, as for example in Morgoth ('Black Foe'), Mordor ('Black Land'), Morgul ('Black magic'); and also prominent in Moria ('Black Chasm'). This root is also seen in Moriquendi, 'Dark Elves', where the old form mori is used.

nar (Elvish root) literally 'flame, fire', as for example in Narya the Ring of Fire, Narmacil ('fire-sword'), Nardol ('fire hilltop') or Telemnar (probably 'fire of heaven'). The word is often connected to the Sun, in which relation it is prominent in the name of Elendil's sword Narsil (a name which is intended to convey the light of both the Sun and the Moon). It is also often used as a reference to the Sun in names of months and seasons, as for example in Narvinyë ('new sun/fire', the first month of the year) or Narquelië ('sun/fire fading', the tenth month).

narg (Sindarin) a contracted form of the river name Narog (literally 'torrent'); this particular form is only ever seen in the name Nargothrond, which combines narg with ost 'fortress' and rond 'cavern' to mean 'underground fortress by the River Narog'.

nim (Sindarin) 'white' or 'pale', seen for example in Nimloth ('white blossom'), Nimrodel (uncertain, but probably 'lady of the white cave'), or Nimbrethil ('white birches'). Also seen in Ered Nimrais (literally 'white horn mountains', but universally translated as simply 'White Mountains') and Barad Nimras ('tower of the white horn'). An older variant, nimph, is seen in the name of the great pearl Nimphelos.

nor (Elvish root) a derivation of the root word ndor, meaning 'stay' or 'abide', from which came Quenya nóre, 'land', and thus the -nor ending in the names of many lands and regions. This ending is seen most prominently in names such as Valinor ('land of the Powers'), Númenor ('land in the West'), Ennor ('Middle-earth') or Arnor ('land of the King').

oaken (English) 'made from oak-wood', seen famously in Thorin's epithet Oakenshield (gained from his use of an oak bough as a shield during the Battle of Nanduhirion). Thorin's title derives of Old Norse Eikinscialdi, which is the name of a Dwarf in the poem Voluspá.

orc (Old English) 'monster, demon' a traditional name used for evil spririts and other malevolent beings, used by Tolkien as a translation of Sindarin orch, referring to a particular race of the followers of Morgoth and Sauron, of which at least some were also known as Goblins. The similarity of Old English orc to Sindarin orch is convenient to say the least, and may suggest the Anglo-Saxon word had an effect on the development of Elvish in Tolkien's imagination; for more on the origins of the word orc, see the main Encyclopedia entry for Orcs. Apart from the name of the race of Goblins, orc is recorded in one compound form, the sword-name Orcrist ('Orc-cleaver'). Somewhat confusingly, as this is an Elvish name, the initial Orc- must represent a worn-down Sindarin orch rather than Old English orc.

os (Sindarin) a shortened form of ost, meaning 'fortress', seen in Osgiliath ('fortress of the host of stars'), Formenos ('northern fortress'), Mandos ('prison fortress') and Armenelos ('fortress of high heaven'). The same element possibly appears in Elostirion (interpretable as 'fortress watchtower of the Elves') though this is uncertain.

púkel (Old English) 'devil', 'sprite', but also applied to an ugly or deformed person, and hence the use in Rohan of Púkel-men to refer to the Drúedain, and also their statues on the road to Dunharrow. The same element is used in Old Púkel-land and Old Púkel-wilderness as translations of the Elvish Drúwaith Iaur.

rath (Sindarin) 'way' or 'street', seen in the names Rath Celerdain ('Lampwrights' Street') and Rath Dínen ('Silent Street'), both in Minas Tirith. Also seen in Andrath ('long way', or 'long street') where the Greenway ran through a long gorge, and also in Cirith Forn en Andrath (translated 'northern pass of the long climb', with a loose interpretation of rath as 'climb') the Sindarin name of the High Pass above Rivendell. As the previous example shows, rath can bear several interpretations; it goes back to a root rat- meaning 'walk', and can be applied in various forms to paths, streets, climbs, crossings and even river courses. An example of the last is in Rathlóriel ('Goldenbed') where rath describes the course of the bed of the river.

riven (English) an archaic word meaning 'deeply cut' (from the rare verb 'rive' meaning to cut or tear apart), seen in Rivendell, which is an English translation of Elvish Imladris, 'deeply cut valley'.

sîr (Elvish root) 'river, stream' from an original root sir- meaning 'to flow'. As a separate word, it formed a general identifying prefix for rivers (as in Sîr Angren, the River Isen, or Sîr Ninglor, the Gladden River). This element is common within actual river-names, especially Sirion, the great river of Beleriand, and in names such as Siril (which literally means 'rivulet'), Sirith (literally 'flowing') or Sirannon ('Gate-stream'). It also appears in Ossiriand ('Land of Seven Rivers'), and in mutated form -hir- in names like Minhiriath ('between the rivers [Baranduin and Gwathló]') or Nanduhirion ('valley of dim streams', the Dimrill Dale).

star (Quenya) translated 'lands', this form is only ever used in the names of the five outer regions or promontories of Númenor (the Andustar, Forostar, Hyarnustar, Hyarrostar and Orrostar, translated respectively 'Westlands', 'Northlands', 'Southwestlands', 'Southeastlands' and 'Eastlands'). The etymology of this element is highly uncertain, but it may suggest either 'surrounding lands' or 'promontories' (it is perhaps notable that the central region of the Númenor, the Mittalmar, is differently derived).

tar (Quenya) literally 'high', 'lofty', seen for example in Tarcil, 'High Man', Tareldar, 'High Elves', or Tarmenel, 'High heaven'. This element often implies royalty, and is often seen in the names of Kings and Queens, particularly the earlier Rulers of Númenor (from Elros Tar-Minyatur to Tar-Ardamin, and latterly Tar-Palantir).

thoron (Sindarin) 'Eagle' (ultimately derived from a stem thor-, meaning to swoop or leap downwards). The Lord of Eagles in the First Age was Thorondor (derived from Quenya Sorontar, implying 'Eagle king'). Thoron is also seen Thorongil ('Eagle of the Star'), Thorondir (open to interpretation, but apparently 'Eagle Man'), and also in Cirith Thoronath, the 'Eagles' Cleft' north of Gondolin.

tol (Elvish root) ultimately from tollo, 'island', used especially to refer to islands with steep shores. Seen in many island names, such as Tol Brandir (probably 'isle of the steep tower'), Tol Eressëa ('Lonely Isle'), Tol Galen ('Green Isle'), Tol Uinen (the isle of Uinen in the bay of Rómenna), Tol-in-Gaurhoth ('Isle of Werewolves') and many others.

took (Anglicised Hobbit-speech) an anglicisation of tûk, supposed by the members of that clan to translate as 'daring' (though there is some doubt about the accuracy of this interpretation). Seen in the family name Took of the Thains of the Shire, as well as the name of at least one related family, the North-tooks, and also in place-names such as Tookbank and Tookland.

tuck (Anglicised Hobbit-speech) a variant rendering of the Hobbit family name Tûk (elsewhere commonly modernised as Took). This element appears only in the name Tuckborough 'fortified place of the Tooks', the chief village of the Tookland in the Shire. The reason for the change in spelling is uncertain, but it is presumably intended to harmonise the word with typical English place-names.

tum (Sindarin) 'valley', used especially of notably deep valleys. Seen in the name Tumladen, translated 'level vale' (that is, a deep valley with a flat and even bottom). The original Tumladen was the wide valley within the Encircling Mountains where Gondolin stood, but the name was also used of a similar but lesser valley in Gondor.

ui (Elvish root) refers to plants with long and trailing leaves, and especially to seaweed. This element is seen in the name of the Maia Uinen ('water-weed'), probably derived from the legend that her hair spread throughout all the waters of the World. Related are two derivative forms, Uinendili ('devotees of Uinen') and Tol Uinen (the 'isle of Uinen' in the bay of Rómenna).

uial (Sindarin) 'twilight', referring to either dawn or dusk, which were individually known as minuial ('first twilight') and aduial ('second twilight'). As a place-name element, this was perhaps most strongly associated with the region around Nenuial (literally 'twilight water' but translated 'Lake Evendim') and its surrounding hills of Emyn Uial ('twilight hills' or 'Hills of Evendim'). Uial is also seen in Aelin-uial ('Meres of Twilight'), the region of fenland formed by the River Sirion to the southwest of Doriath.

val (Quenya) an element derived from the root bal-, describing things of great power (hence for example Valar, 'Powers'). Only certainly seen in this form (without any suffix or modifier) in Valmar, the name of the city of the Valar, which was itself derived from Valimar (literally 'home of the Valar'). Arguably, it might also be seen in Araval, the name of the thirteenth King of Arthedain, which could be translated 'powerful King'. Despite appearances, it is not contained in the Eagle name Landroval, whose final element comes from rofal, meaning 'great wing'.

wain (archaic English) 'wagon', seen for example in Stonewain Valley, named for the wagons that carried the stone for the construction of Minas Anor, and also in Wainriders, the Easterling people famous for travelling in great wagons. Also seen in The Wain, a Mannish name for the constellation of the Plough or Big Dipper, which was also the medieval name for the same group of stars.

wold (archaic English) 'upland', referring especially to a wild and unsettled region of land (the etymology of this word is complicated: in Old English wald, weald meant 'forest', but the meaning developed over time to mean 'forested hills' and later 'open upland country'). This word appears in The Wold, the northeasternmost area of Rohan between the Entwood and the Great River.

wose (archaic English) a word developed from Old English wása, originally meaning a wild or dispossessed person. In the form wudewása (modernised 'woodwose') it came to refer to strange or supernatural beings of the forest (indeed, woodwoses of this sort are sometimes seen in heraldic designs). Tolkien uses the word as the equivalent of the Elvish Drúedain among the Rohirrim.