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Lexicon of Names

Common name elements in Tolkien's works

This lexicon lists some of the more common elements found in the names of places and people in Tolkien's work. These are mainly derived from Elvish tongues, but some common forms from other languages, such as Old English or Adûnaic, are also included, as well as a few less recognisable words that are still found in modern English. There are very large number of these name elements, and this page is being expanded to include more over time.

Where possible, the particular Elvish source language for an element is shown, but sometimes this is not possible (for example, where a common root word occurs in more than one language). In cases like this, terms are simply labelled 'Elvish root'.

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I
i (Elvish root) 'of', seen in a wide variety of compound names such as Echad i Sedryn ('Camp of the Faithful'), Ernil i Pheriannath ('Prince of the Halflings'), Gwaith-i-Mírdan ('People of the Jewel-smiths'), Indis i·Kiryamo (translated 'the Mariner's Wife', but literally 'Wife of the Mariner'), Men-i-Naugrim ('Road of the Dwarves') or Narn i Chîn Húrin, ('Tale of the Children of Húrin'). An exception is Dor Firn-i-Guinar, where the 'i' translates as 'that' rather than 'of'.
-i (Quenya) a plural suffix, the equivalent of adding 's' to a noun in English. Prominent in Quendi and Atani, 'Elves' and 'Men' (more literally, 'speakers' and 'Second People'), and their derivatives such as Calaquendi ('Elves of the Light') or Rúatani (a name for the Drúedain). Also seen in numerous other names of peoples or groups, for example Istari ('Wizards'), Avari ('the Uwilling' or literally 'the refusers'), Elendili ('Elf-friends'), palantíri (literally 'far-seers', the Seeing-stones) and many other examples besides.
iâ (Sindarin) 'void', 'abyss', especially in the sense of a gulf or chasm, and derived ultimately from the stem yag-, meaning 'yawn' or 'gape'. Seen only in Moria, the later Elvish name for Khazad-dûm, which translates as 'Black Chasm' or 'Black Pit'.
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.
ior (Sindarin) 'old', a word pronounced like English 'yore'. It appears in two names of two people of Gondor: loreth ('old woman') and Iorlas (uncertain; perhaps simply 'aged'). The word was related to an older form iaur, as for example in Iant Iaur, the 'old bridge' across the river Esgalduin in Beleriand.
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, but probably simply 'iron grim').
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').
ith (Sindarin) a suffix that serves to turn a verbal base into a noun or an adjective, effectively equivalent to the ending '-ing' for English words. Examples include the river name Sirith ('flowing'), the month name Firith ('fading, dying'), and Nen Girith ('Shuddering Water') on the borders of Brethil. This grammatical form also appears in Minas Tirith (translated 'Tower of Guard', but literally 'watching tower'). A very common use was for narrow clefts or passes, with took the stem cir- 'cut' and added -ith to create the word cirith, literally meaning 'cutting'. Among numerous examples of this usage are Cirith Gorgor, ('Haunted Pass'), Cirith Ninniach ('Rainbow Cleft'), Cirith Thoronath ('Eagles' Cleft'), and many, many others besides.
ithil (Sindarin) 'the Moon', the Sindarin equivalent of Quenya Isil. It appears most prominently in the name of Isildur's city of Minas Ithil ('Tower of the Moon'), and Ithilien ('land of the Moon') in which it stood. The only other proper name that contains it is Ithilbor (apparently 'Moon-bold'), though it also appears in a few other terms such as Ithildin (translated 'Starmoon') and Orithil ('day of the Moon').

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