Lexicon of Names

nan (Elvish root) 'valley' (originally from a stem nad- meaning 'watered grassland', the word implies a wide fertile vale or plain, rather than a narrow cleft). Examples are Nan-tathren (literally 'vale of willows'), Laurelindórenan ('valley of singing gold', an old name for Lórien), Nanduhirion ('valley of shadowed streams'), Nan Elmoth ('vale of the star pool'), and many more besides.

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'.

narog (Sindarin) 'torrent', deriving from a hypothesised ancient origin in naráka, 'rapid, violent'. The name was given to the River Narog of West Beleriand, which formed impassible rapids as it flowed through a gorge at the feet of Taur-en-Faroth. It was in the caverns above this gorge that Finrod Felagund created the stronghold of Nargothrond, of which the component Narg- is a contracted form of the river's name.

ndil (Sindarin) 'devotee' or 'loving friend', indicating great loyalty or commitment, and extremely common in personal names. Often the devotion was to the Valar or their land, as especially in Valandil ('devoted to the Valar'), and also, for example, in Amandil ('devoted to Aman'), Manwendil ('devoted to Manwë') or Aulendil ('devoted to Aulë'). Similarly, Elendil means 'devoted to the Elves' (usually translated 'Elf-friend', and also appearing in the plural as elendili). The element ndil could also indication a deep interest in an idea or thing, as in Eärendil ('devoted to the Sea'), Aiwendil ('devoted to birds'), Ciryandil ('devoted to ships'), and many other examples. In some cases, the full form was abbreviated for phonetic reasons, so names like Eärnil (equivalent to Eärendil, 'devoted to the Sea') and Mardil ('devoted to the House'), each contain worn down versions of ndil.

nesse (Middle English) probably 'land' or 'lands', though the exact meaning is obscure. It occurs historically in the name Westernesse ('western lands') used in the medieval story of King Horn, and is probably related to the archaic word ness meaning a headland or promontory. Tolkien adapted it as a Mannish translation of Númenor ('western land'), and also used it as a suffix in Elvenesse or Elfinesse, both meaning 'lands of the Elves' and representing a translation of Elvish Eldamar (also sometimes translated 'Elvenhome').

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.

nol (Quenya) 'wise', prominent in Noldor (literally 'wise ones', but often translated 'Deep Elves'), the second clan of the Eldar who were famed for their love of learning and lore. Also seen in Nolondil ('devoted to wisdom') and indirectly in Noldolantë ('Fall of the Noldor'). The word came from an original root ngol- (sometimes spelt ñol-, and pronounced approximately nyol) which is seen in the name Fingolfin ('Finwë, wise Finwë'). From this source originated an Elvish word for magic: ngolo or golo, which in turn developed into gûl, as seen in names like Morgul ('black magic') or Dol Guldur ('hill of dark magic').

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').