The Names of Middle Earth EXPLAINED

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

A couple people have noted that the word “hobbit” did technically exist before Tolkien, and that’s a great point! My answer to all of those comments is the same, so I thought I’d address it all in one place. The word “hobbit” technically first appears in the Denham Tracts from the 1840s. It appears just once in a list of nearly 200 folk spirits and is not elaborated on any further in the text. However, this mention, contained in a list of “spirits” doesn’t mesh very well with Tolkien’s hobbits, who are fundamentally down to earth. We also have no actual proof that Tolkien ever read the Denham tracts, though of course it’s possible since he did read an awful lot about folklore. Tom Shippey’s book goes over this in the first chapter, but this quote sums it up well: “It is possible that Tolkien read the Denham Tracts, picked up the word ‘hobbit’, and then forgot all about it till the moment of the blank exam script, but whatever the Times may say, the single-word appearance can hardly be called his source, still less his ‘inspiration’.” I’m inclined to agree with him here. It’s an interesting connection, but not firm enough to deny that the word “hobbit” is, as I say in the video, “for all intents and purposes invented by Tolkien.” That being said, it is further evidence that a word like “Hobbit,” stemming from old English roots, may have existed in the world of folklore, and that’s pretty cool! Thanks to all of you who pointed this out in the comments, it’s an interesting fact that, in retrospect, perhaps should have made it into the video’s final cut.

[@daytonmorehead7330]

I’m happy to say that my wife and i DID choose a name from Tolkien….. in 2007 we named our daughter Arwen. She’s a happy healthy 16 year old now and we have never regretted our name choice.

[@cocobunitacobuni8738]

Bless

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

How beautiful!

[@betht60]

That is beautiful! We named our third daughter Éowyn; she is now in her mid-thirties!

[@cocobunitacobuni8738]

@@betht60 I love Éowyn and the Rohirrim. They were Tolkien's dream of an Anglo-Saxon horse culture.

[@betht60]

​@@cocobunitacobuni8738❤

[@pendragon2012]

The funny thing is that Tolkien's names sound so much more suited and natural than a lot of modern fantasy writers who seem to just jam weird syllables together, lol. Great video as always, Jess! :-)

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

Too true! There's an internal logic behind them that makes sense even if you don't know what they mean.

[@RingsLoreMaster]

Thank goodness C. S. Lewis' books don't have that problem.

[@bradwilliams7198]

I think the naturalness of Tolkien´s invented languages may be due to each of them being phonetically patterned after a real language Tolkien was interested in. Sindarin patterned after Welsh, Quenya after Finnish, Rohirrim after Old English, Khudzul (maybe) after Hebrew.

[@sebastianevangelista4921]

@@Jess_of_the_Shire Seeing as Tolkien was a linguist that checks out!

[@OneTrueNobody]

That honestly is how a decent number of fantasy writers do it. Not everyone has the patience to figure out a bunch of linquistic-consistency stuff before they get to writing plot and characterization, so a lot of fantasy writers will make it up as they go and then attempt to sand off the rough edges at a later stage. Tolkien was a fundamentally slower, more methodical writer who planned and thought things through very meticulously. Not to say he never made mistakes, but his attention to detail is commendable.

[@robertpearson8798]

Personally I find the variety of names for the same character to be one of the strengths of the world he created. It makes perfect sense that in a world with not only so many different cultures and languages but several different unrelated races there should be many names in many tongues. Even in our real history real people could have numerous titles or sobriquets and different groups can have different names for the same place or feature.

[@torinju]

If I remember correctly, Tolkien did like people to use his words for names, but was kind of picky that they used words that made sense in his language. As I recall there was a letter where he was responding to someone that had named there cow what I think was Galadriel and he sent back a list of elvish names that would be more appropriate for a cow.

[@RingsLoreMaster]

Moo! What is wrong with being named after a Queen? LOL

[@MrOuest]

Condolences to all the authors who were tasked with translating Tolkien's books into various languages. Can't imagine that was easy.

[@jimpe8591]

The latest swedish translator published his diary from the translation work. It's a great read in itself and it has an incredible personal ring reference in it!

[@ZackRekeSkjell]

I believe it would be very challenging! I have met to and talked to one of the Norwegian translators a lot of times and he has a vast understanding of the language used and the story itself. It is very clear how intentional he was with his translations and the thought process behind them. Interestingly, the two translators of Tolkien to Norwegian have translated “Baggins” differently with different argumentations.

[@jimpe8591]

There is a swedish fan (who was also an advisor to the latest official translator) who has a work in progress fan translation to make the ultimate swedish interpretation. Some people seem to have a copy for reference. I have heard side by side comparisons in excerpts of all the different versions. None is perfect but all have something that enriches the experience for the swdish readers. My big revelation reading the most recent swedish translation though, was how much I overestimated my own command in the english language. I discovered so many finer details in story, environment and characters that I had missed in the original english and older swedish (widely regarded as frivolous) translation by Ohlmarks. What the newer translation lacks in lyrical and lore concistency it makes up in a more easily accessable prose.

[@tiagosolano9728]

I've read both the original and the Brazilian translation and my appreciation of the work of the translator can't be overstated.

[@canaldofrank7122]

The Brazilian translation is amazing. The woman who did it is very respected among translators. She kept the same smart funny magical feeling that Tolkien had even when translating names

[@MrDrewwills]

Aragorn as a name always felt very weighty for me. But honestly this video made me realize how beautiful all his names are.

[@Draconisrex1]

The Silmarillion was epic!!! Came out in '77. We convinced a teacher to give up his grading period so we could take 'Tolkien' as an English literature class! We just did the Silmarillion! It was brilliant.

[@gmansard641]

My senior year English class (1980) was very writing intensive. The final paper had to be 15 pages, and on a literary subject (much wailing and gnashing of teeth from the math-and-science kids). I did Tolkien, largely on the Silmarillion, and it turned into 26 pages.

[@galaxydeathskrill5607]

that's so amazing, i can only wish for such a chance

[@pwmiles56]

I think people are a little too fixated on Tolkien's models in Old English and Norse poetry. Actually he studied the Greek and Latin classics from an early age, and they are absolutely packed with gorgeous-sounding names, paraphrases, epithets and the like. I'm pretty sure he was aiming for something of the same effect, or as much as he could get away with. E.g. Gandalf listing the beacons of Gondor: "See, there is the fire on Amon Din, and flame on Eilenach, and there they go speeding west: Nardol, Erelas, Min-Rimmon, Calenhad and the Halifirien on the borders of Rohan." -- 'Minas Tirith' This is a (much shorter) imitation of a speech by Clytemnestra in Aeschylus's Agamemnon, explaining how a beacon-chain has brought her the news that Troy has fallen.

[@pwmiles56]

My favourite Tolkien word is "flet" for the tree-platforms in Lorien. It's actually not an English word at all, but if it was it would be related to "flat" (UK English for an apartment). EDIT The OED says "flet" exists in this sense, originally a Scottish word. So maybe Tolkien just revived it. 2nd EDIT "Flette" is in Beowulf, line 1025, in the sense of a dwelling-house or hall (OED). I bet that's where Tolkien got it from PS. The exam papers were for School Certificates, an exam for school-age children. Tolkien was marking them to supplement his income. (This is in Shippey, beginning of Chapter 1)

[@patchup]

I like the depth of understanding that different races might name the same landmarks, population centers, and such differently. So something having two or more names seems more appropriate.

[@robertneal4244]

I have always been partial to Elanor, which can easily pass in this world as an alternative spelling of Eleanor. I suppose it is partially due to my fondness for Samwise and his story, even after the main events of the books.

[@tomsbrewing1]

Before I was born, my mom had a white cat named Frodo. When I was very young, she had a gray cat who, coincidentally, liked to wander, named Gandalf. I believe before both of those, there was another one named Samwise. My mom even made her first year English students read the Fellowship every quarter for like twenty years. Great video. Well written.

[@jeffsnyder7290]

Great job. Personally I like thee name Finrod Felagund. Finrod actually sounds contemporary. And Felagund - hewer of caves - was given to him by the Dwarves. Maybe I just like the character. As the first of the Noldor to meet and befriend Men and sacrificing himself for Beren, his cordial relations with Dwarves, and his repudiation of the Sons of Feanor, he deserves to have his name live on.

[@purplelibraryguy8729]

I was recently doing some re-reading and found myself in the bit where they've just passed through the Paths of the Dead and they're headed across country with the dead following. So there they are traveling through territory that is hardly ever mentioned in the books and that nobody will go to again, and the narrative is naming all the terrain features they're going through, often more than once because it mentions what it's called now as well as the old name that is falling into disuse, or something like that. Often the way it's expressed like "they passed through the valley that men called such-and-such". There are pages of this, and although it's not just about place-names because partly it's about the speed of their passage and the uneasiness of the people in the places they pass by because they can sort of feel the shadow of the dead and the worry about whether they will get where they are needed in time, still, nowadays no fantasy writer would spend the time on this that Tolkien did; it seems unnecessary. It doesn't advance the plot; they could arrive at the enemy ships in a paragraph instead of several pages and nothing would apparently be lost. And yet. The time Tolkien spends on it makes us feel like they really went there, that there was a real place, one that "men called" by various names, that required effort (expressed in pages of description) to pass through; that it had to be mentioned and named because it was there and had those names. The very fact that places in Middle Earth get the . . . dignity, respect . . . of being named and described whether they are otherwise needed/useful or not gives the places themselves an importance and identity. It's one of the things that makes Middle Earth feel REAL in a way that most fantasy places do not.

[@bradwilliams7198]

Míriel is quite a pretty name, although both characters who bore it were rather tragic figures.

[@Wombatmetal]

I am of two minds on this subject. On the one hand what elevates JRR's story telling is the history and lore behind it. Some stuff was thought out well in advance, but other things like the Ents and Nazgul were spur of the moment, but it's all tied together with language. On the other hand, I am dyslexic, and all the foreign words and different names for the same place/person were really difficult when I was young. Nowadays I have audio books (and the wonderful Andy Serkis) and it's not a struggle. But it was back in the day.

[@BecauseOfDragons]

I love Tolkien's work with naming. It shows a true love of his craft and helps add realism and authenticity to his worlds. I loved hearing Mithrandir for the first time or Strider before he becomes Aragorn. In the case of Strider you immediatey get a sense of who he is and what he's like. Gah - love it!

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

It's such powerful and special storytelling!

[@BecauseOfDragons]

Also favourite name is Gandalf but I also really like his swords name, Glamdrimg...so cool. If I were to choose one for a child, Arwen.

[@AntiCliche]

(I'm sure you know this already but I wanted to ramble on regardless) All of those different names are also a continuation of the Old Norse story telling tradition of KENNINGS! Kennings are basically alternate titles you ascribe to a person place or thing that aludes to its purpose, it other notable characteristics or accomplishments "Oar-steed" for a ship, "battle sweat" for blood, "Giant Killer" for Thor We still use kennings, in fact! The most well known example is "knee biter", a kenning for children! These kennings often evolved into alternate names for well known characters, and even official titles!

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

Thanks for sharing! That's super interesting!

[@AntiCliche]

OH man I bet you'd have a ball really digging into the history and usage of kennings!@@Jess_of_the_Shire

[@RingsLoreMaster]

The first one I heard, was Whale Road 4 sea

[@Ithirahad]

Anklebiter, rugrat, crotchgoblin. Lots of these lol

[@JaneXemylixa]

It's especially fun when you can nest them ad infinitum. When one of the words in the kenning opens into a kenning in and of itself

[@andredegiant3876]

The Silmarillion reads a lot like the Old Testament: some chapters captivate you with awe and wonder and some are more "so-and-so begat so-and-so, who then begat so-and so and... so on" 😅

[@torinju]

I read the Lord of the Rings at a very young age and I don't remember struggling with the names at all. But maybe that was because I was very young. It's MUCH easier to learn language when young, as pretty much any immigrant family will tell you.

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

That's such an interesting point!

[@torinju]

@@Jess_of_the_Shire Yeah, when I tried to read the Silmarillion much later (I am old enough that when I first read the LOTR, the Silmarillion hadn't been published) it was...well...not so easy.

[@GreyPilgrim_Mithrandir]

Another excellent piece, Jess, thank you. My favourite Tolkien names are Thorondor (king of the eagles) and Thangorodrim (Morgoth's mountain fortress) for the prime reason that they sound really cool. The list of names of people, creatures and places in Tolkien-world are immense and amazing.

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

Those are incredible names!

[@NemisCassander]

I think the most badass name in Middle-Earth was Ancalagon the Black. That, or Gil-Galad's spear Aeglos.

[@JamesHopkins-on3mv]

Names in Norse myths were felt to be magical.

[@richardthomas9597]

Naming a child? Eowyn! Sounds welsh, so could be contemporary, but imagine reading the book with her and the role model she got!

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

It's a gorgeous name!

[@Valdagast]

Eowyn is Anglo-Saxon and means "horse-friend" (Eo is horse, wyn is friend). Eomer means "horse-lord". Theoden means "lord, king". Theodred means "peoples' council". All the Rohirrim have Anglo-Saxon names.

[@RingsLoreMaster]

Some scholars hold Rohan to be the story's heart. What the Anglo Saxon ppl (military) would have been with a cavalry.

[@Valdagast]

@@RingsLoreMaster I think in the frame narrative the Rohirrim had completely different names, and Tolkien 'translated' them to Anglo-Saxon.

[@robincowley5823]

My favourite name in Tolkein is simple: The Shire. It sums up Tolkein and his links to the old England around him perfectly.

[@Enkidus_Purpose]

Another great video 👍🏽 One of the things I enjoy about Hobbit culture is how the surname can be used to define the nature of a given Hobbit - when Gandalf calls Pippin "a fool of a Took", it's both funny and builds on the idea that Tooks do bold/adventurous things. Love the world building in LOTR.

[@johnwalters1341]

An emphatic second to your recommendation of Tom Shippey and his books. Shippey held several of Tolkien's academic posts a generation later; he is the genuine article!

[@hundbait]

That fantasy name generator call out was not expected but gave me a laugh. I use it all the time for inspo when i make my 1000th dnd character ill never play though

[@davidcreager1945]

Tolkien was building such a rich and layrd world that having people and places have multiple names makes sense ! ( Especially as we do the same thing as well ) I've always liked Farimer and Samwise. Have a wonderful weekend !!

[@somedude6161]

Of all they tolkien channels on youtube, yours is unique. I knew at the peoples and languages of middle earth were developed to be as if they were " lived in", but this is the first time I heard the names and languages related to actual ancient languages. Bravo!

[@NewAge374]

Wonderful episode, it puts into perspective why Tolkien was so much more than a writer. And even if he did such a great job creating this world, he must have been so confused and frustrated at times for not finding the etymology he was looking for, or the inspiration for stories to tell. In terms of names I am very partial to the non-Westron geographical ones: places like Belfalas, Lebennin, Hithaeglir, Nenuial, Lasgalen and more, evoke wonder when spoken out loud. I also have a soft spot for some words in the Elven languages that don't follow the rules for naming people, but I like the sound of them. Namaríë (¨farewell¨ in Quenya) for example sounds really unique, so does Endorenna (¨to Middle-Earth¨ in Sindarin), but grammatically they don't make sense as person names.

[@TeresaAmore-o7y]

Rhûn has always felt calmly powerful in the mouth when the word is pronounced. Gil-Galad has such a rhythm to it that I love saying Gil-Galad more than Glorfindel (one of my favorite characters in Tolkein's works...muthafuckin badass)

[@billberndtson]

For some reason when you say Happy Hobbitty it evokes the tune to Frosty the Snowman for me. 🤪 I only mention it now because we're getting closer to Christmas.

[@AnaCVazquez]

I always loved the multiple names of places. It makes the world feel more lived in. We see multiple names for places in our world so it should be in fantasy.

[@andersschmich8600]

10:40 is such a great point! So many people (including me) forget this when we try to world-build.

[@galdramann2478]

What?! That was almost a quarter of an hour? I was so entranced, that, when you did the outro, I thought like only 3 to 5 minutes had gone by. Keep it up! I love your content!

[@robertkoons1154]

Tolkien even insisted he be the translator of the German edition and renamed many of the characters with more "germanic" names.

[@VolkerWendt-vq8pi]

Well, no. Not really. The translator is a Lady named Margaret Carroux. Tolkien and her cooperated but clearly Ms Carroux is thé translator.

[@josephmayo3253]

Excellent video Jess. As for a name for a kid, I would probably go with Rosie. Conventional, I know, but so many of the names only work in Tolkien's world.

[@arthurerickson5162]

Another insightful video. Love your channel! Not for a child, but we once had a beautiful gray and silver Norwegian Elkhound that we named Turid Mithril.

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

That's lovely!

[@NathanS__]

I think I could get away with naming my kids most of the Rohirric names since they're Old English or Old English inspired. Theoden, Theodred, Eomer might turn some heads but they're not ridiculous.

[@JaneXemylixa]

I think one of my fav names in the Legendarium is Feanor. Even without knowing that it means "spirit of fire", the sweeping e-a-o progression (coupled with the ethereal fricative at the start and the punctuated "r" at the end) gives an impression of his sheer _presence_ - both in his environment and in Arda's entire history. Another favorite is a translated one. In one of the many divisive Russian translations, Shadowfax was called Spolokh, meaning "a burst of light". I have never seen a more appropriate name for a horse such as he.

[@annandune]

Tinuviel is a good choice. I am struggling to think of a better one. I run RPG games set in Middle Earth and the idea of a name generator isn't something I am keen on. It is much more satisfying to go to a source which gives you translations of Elven words from Tolkien's universe. My tag on here is an attempt at creating one - Annandune which ( if I've done my research correctly ) would mean gift of sunset.

[@TFeld-nx9io]

Well played

[@fermintenava5911]

If I could name my kid... I would probably go with Olorin or Peregrin. Even though they sound fancy, they appear timeless and can be shortened to Oli or Perry if necessary. 😉

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

That's so precious!

[@nickbrough8335]

Peregrine (Perry) is a rarely used first name in England going back a few hundred years at least. There’s precedent if you need it

[@DrFranklynAnderson]

Trying to finish LotR before the movie trilogy ended was what got me addicted to audiobooks. 😅

[@garyarnett1220]

I first read the Hobbit in 1967 as a 7th grader, and began LOR the following year. I began taking German in school to better understand some of the roots of English, and it really helped me reading LOR to see the relationships between words. His interplay between languages was amazing. (Aside: If you have never read The Lord's Prayer in Old English, check it out you'd love it.)

[@johnweigel9761]

I never minded the names, which Tolkien introduces gradually through LOTR. He often introduces characters offstage before they appear in the first person. Instead I minded the occasional King James syntax or obscure words like "laving" for washing.

[@markp6062]

That's a GREAT analysis of names in Tolkien's work. As frustrating as they were when I first read them in the 70's and I was 12, today they an important DESCRIPTION of the world in which they live, and the story is richer because of them! Thanks for bringing this to the fore of my consciousness.

[@dvmpld9103]

I really though you were gonna say " it wasn't a curse but it was what made him such a huge nerd"

[@porter7647]

I love how cozy this channel is

[@johnmeyer2072]

At first I thought, "Do I really want to watch this? It's pretty long", but your exposition was absolutely brilliant, even if you did base a lot of it on that book by Tom Shippey. So many Tolkien wannabees' books come across as so two-dimensional, so wooden, like they just slapped a mystical or old English-sounding word or name on something. This why Tolkien's almost unintentional brilliance comes through in his work. A once in a century or even millennium kind of work. It reached English-speaking (and other) readers on a subliminal level which only with his experience and skill set could have done.

[@williampalmer8052]

Very enjoyable video! As for your question, as much as I would like to go with Gothmog, I think it would be safer to choose Beren instead.

[@kallisto9166]

I'm planning on calling my first child Wormtongue. Y'know, if it's a girl.

[@grokeffer6226]

😅

[@vinnycordeiro]

If I were to have children, I'd name a son as Elessar, and a daughter as Elanor. It won't happen for a number of reasons, but it would be nice.

[@chase5298]

why do you want your hypothetical son to be bullied?

[@vinnycordeiro]

@@chase5298Considering the names that people gives to their children here where I live (not in the US), I'd say they wouldn't be as targeted as you might think.

[@chase5298]

Sorry, only Americans are allowed to make youtube comments. Please delete yours.@@vinnycordeiro

[@thedarkdane7]

I think Bard would be a really nice first or middle name for a boy. It sounds strong yet simple, which is what Bard in The Hobbit is like. (Although, I do not know what exactly the name Bard means, it feels right for the character.) Plus, I always felt a connection with Bard. I tend to take things literally/seriously and a lot of people have wished I could be more playful, espically when I was a youngster; and Bard's companions thought the same about him.

[@betht60]

I knew someone many decades ago that named their son Tirian, after the Narnia book character.

[@thedarkdane7]

OK, I love the idea of naming a child after Tirian! Tirian was so gallant, fighting to the last.

[@movalodh]

Nice topic, and as usual a well-made, interesting video. I've always been interested in linguistics, etymologies, and philology. Tolkein was a master, and an inspiration. As for the naming of my child, I'd name a girl Arwen, and a boy Elrond.

[@danielpenney1455]

IMHO, "the hobbit" was an exciting romp, and the language suits it. "the lord of the rings" had much graver themes, and the language suits them. "the silmarillion" reads like a history book because it is, right? The over-arching project was always his creation of a complete mythos, right? A history project he never finished because it always kept growing, becoming more detailed and refined. Being a life-long fan of both history and fantasy fiction, "the silmarillion" was a perfect literary storm for me. I've always considered it the Old Testament of Tolkien's mythos, setting the background for the end-of-age events in LOTR, so the formality (not to mention some archaism) felt appropriate and natural to me. That's why I always start my Tolkien reading cycle with it. :)

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

Too true! They're definitely all meant to be very different types of stories. And the Silmarillion is truly a masterpiece, despite (and even because of) its density and thoroughness.

[@RingsLoreMaster]

I believe both of you would enjoy "J. R. R . Tolkien the nature of Middle - earth". A copulation of mostly manuscripts from 1959 on concerning Tolkien's evolving thoughts and beliefs about the peoples of Arda. For instance, Elves' spirit overtook their body. Galadriel's comment to Sam & Frodo that Elves would fade away explained

[@gabrielcruz6752]

13:34 Silmarien, Vinyarion, Arien, Súrion, Voronwë, Atanamir, Siriondil, Isilmë, Estel; Idril sounds so crystal clear! Melian, Galadriel.

[@mitchrope]

The Silmarillion is a history textbook! But great video. Solid argument, well stated & researched. Elendil, elf-friend, has always been one of my favorite names from the legendarium, as well as Olorín, and not just because of his essential role in the events of the third age, but rather both names because of their flowing ease rolling off the tongue.

[@odin688]

Just stumbled across your channel, as a Tolkien Enthusiast and what-not I definitely appreciate the content! As far as your question goes, my favorite name from Tolkien’s world is Eöl. A vastly misunderstood and under appreciated character from his legendarium. I would have to think about naming a kid after him though, as he has a tragic fate, lol. I actually wrote a paper on him recently so I will include it here for those curious in regards to who Eöl is: “Eöl The Dark Elf, his life, and Misunderstood Nature Eöl, the Dark Elf, is a character from J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Silmarillion," a collection of mythopoeic stories that serve as a prelude to "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Eöl is a complex and tragic figure who plays a significant role in the events of the First Age of Middle-earth. His story is intertwined with the fates of the Elves and Men, as well as the forging of powerful artifacts. Eöl’s Early Life: Eöl was born in the land of Aman, the blessed realm of the Valar, but he chose to live among the Elves of Middle-earth. He belonged to the Avari, a group of Elves who refused the summons of the Valar to travel to Aman. Eöl was known for his skill in metalwork and his dark, secretive nature. His kin saw him as mysterious and brooding, and he earned the epithet "the Dark Elf" due to his preference for shadow and secrecy. Eöl’s life in Beleriand: Eöl settled in the forest of Nan Elmoth in Beleriand, a region in the northwest of Middle-earth. This forest was known for its enchantment and darkness, fitting Eöl's disposition. He lived a solitary life, avoiding the company of other Elves and maintaining a realm of his own. Eöl’s marriage to Aredhel: Eöl's life took a turn when he encountered Aredhel, a Noldorin princess who had wandered into Nan Elmoth. Fascinated by her beauty, he decided to keep her in his realm. Using his enchantments, he made Aredhel his wife without a gift or proper procedure, but it is not said that she was unwilling nor that her life was hateful toward her. Despite the coercive circumstances of their union, Eöl and Aredhel had a son named Maeglin. Maeglin's Birth and Upbringing: Maeglin, the son of Eöl and Aredhel, inherited the mixed heritage of the Noldor and Avari. Eöl sought to instill in him a love for the darkness and secrecy of Nan Elmoth. However, Maeglin's heart was divided, and his story becomes entangled with the tragic fate of his parents, and the Noldor customs that his father despised leave a dark shadow over him. Conflict with the Noldor: Eöl's decision to keep Aredhel and Maeglin hidden from the Noldor, if not outside their lands, eventually led to conflict. Aredhel, longing for the company of her kin, escaped with Maeglin and returned to Gondolin, a hidden Elven city ruled by Turgon. Eöl pursued them, and in his attempt to bring Maeglin back to Nan Elmoth, Turgon’s bureaucracies and unwillingness to allow Eöl, a Telari, to go freely with his family led to fateful consequences. Tragic End: In a moment of desperation, as Turgon provided Eöl, Aradhel, and Maeglin the options of staying here or dying here, Eöl chose the latter and threw a poisoned javelin at his son, knowing he would die also and not wanting his family taken from him. However, Aredhel stepped in its path, sacrificing herself to save Maeglin. Turgon, enraged by Eöl's actions, sentenced him to death. An overlooked character, who is misunderstood and under-appreciated: This is to suggest that Eöl, the Dark Elf, is a compelling and complex character in "The Silmarillion" that is also often misunderstood. His tale weaves elements of love, possession, and tragedy, contributing to the richness of Tolkien's mythology and providing insight into the consequences of choices made in a world filled with both light and darkness At the same time, Eöl, the Dark Elf, is a character who often goes overlooked in discussions about the epic tales of Middle-earth. However, a closer examination of Eöl's life reveals a figure of profound significance, deserving of greater appreciation for the complexities and nuances woven into his narrative. Neglected Complexity: One of the reasons Eöl may be underappreciated is the simplicity with which he is often portrayed. Viewed superficially, he appears as a dark and brooding character whose actions are driven by selfish desires. However, delving deeper into his story reveals layers of complexity and tragedy that merit consideration. Artisan and Smith: Eöl's exceptional skills as a metalsmith and artisan are often overshadowed by his darker deeds. His craftsmanship, particularly in the forging of weapons and artifacts, demonstrates a level of skill and artistry that deserves recognition. Eöl's creations, such as the sword Anglachel, play pivotal roles in the unfolding events of the First Age. Unappreciated Isolation: Eöl's choice to live in Nan Elmoth, a secluded and enchanted forest, is often seen as an act of isolation and defiance. Yet, this decision is rooted in a desire for independence and a yearning for a life free from the constraints imposed by the societies of Elves and Men, as well as his love of the twilight and enchanted forests. Eöl's reluctance to conform to societal norms and his pursuit of autonomy are aspects of his character that are often overlooked and not appreciated as fully as they should be. Tragic Love Story: Eöl's ill-fated love for Aredhel is a poignant element of his narrative that deserves more attention. His marriage, born out of a genuine fascination for Aredhel's beauty, takes a tragic turn due to the misunderstandings and cultural clashes between Eöl and Turgon. Eöl's inability to reconcile his desires with the expectations of Elven society contributes to the sorrow that pervades his story. Unacknowledged Motivations: Eöl's actions, while morally questionable, are driven by a desire to preserve his way of life and protect his son Maeglin from what he perceives as the dangers of the outside world. While his methods are extreme, Eöl's motivations reveal a depth of character that is often overlooked in discussions of his role in the larger narrative. Impact on the Silmarillion: Eöl's choices and their consequences ripple through the stories of his descendants, most notably his son Maeglin. The legacy of Eöl, the Dark Elf, is felt in the tragic events that unfold in Gondolin and the broader tapestry of the First Age. His character serves as a cautionary tale about the perils of unchecked desires, the consequences of living outside established societal norms, and extreme bureaucracy. Conclusion: Ultimately, Eöl, though sometimes overshadowed in discussions of "The Silmarillion," is a character of remarkable depth and significance. His skills, choices, and tragic narrative contribute to the richness of Tolkien's world, offering readers an opportunity to explore the complexities of morality, love, and individuality in the midst of a vast and intricate mythology. Eöl's story, when examined more closely, reveals a character whose impact extends far beyond the immediate events in which he is involved, warranting a greater appreciation for his role in the grand tapestry of Middle-earth. Furthermore, Eöl’s name is among the only names in his books that does not have any philological origin and is not found anywhere else prior or in part. It was an entirely uniquely created name by Tolkien, who was just as unique himself. I would dare to wonder if Tolkien thought that this character was uniquely special himself, as the professor had a love of philology and could have provided him a less uniquely original name or others a name so unique, but neither, to my knowledge, is the case.”

[@AbhijeetBorkar]

I'd name my child Bolg. A proper name.

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

I've always thought "Gorbag" would be an enchanting name for my firstborn

[@KS-xk2so]

Name him Grond. Nothing beats a good "GROND! GROND! GROND!" chant.

[@baldcadaver]

named my french bully Bolg!

[@OldManSparkplug]

Thank you for making Tolkien much more accessible.

[@decluesviews2740]

Excellent presentation, Jess! Your delivery and content never fail to inform and entertain.

[@grokeffer6226]

I think I like the name Eowyn best from LOTR. Elbereth, too. The Lord of the Rings took me a few months to read for the first time, as I recall, but I immediately re-read it much more quickly after that. It seems like I'd read it more than twice by the age of nine. That was a long time ago. Soon, I'd moved on to other writers like Robert E. Howard, L. Sprague de Camp, Michael Moorcock, and Fritz Leiber. But I could always make my way back to Tolkien and find some enjoyment there. There always seemed to be more "substance" to Tolkien's fantasy worlds than many other writers. The way the written languages looked on the paper: Dwarfish looked like it was hacked out of stone, Elvish looked as if it were a supple vine twining over an arbor; alive and growing. You could almost smell the smoke from the little campfires when reading it. 🌋💍🔥

[@sebastianevangelista4921]

I don't know about a kid but I think that it would be hilarious to name a cat Sauron partly because of that one tidbit you brought up in your Animals of Middle Earth video, which I finally got around to watching yesterday. I need a fantasy series where the dark lord is a sassy cat NOW! An interesting case is how the band Amon Amarth took its name from the Sindarin name for Mount Doom, which is just all kinds of awesome. PS it could be cool if you collaborated with Proper Bird at some point.

[@LordEriolTolkien]

The ' eye splitting ' names of Tolkien was what enamoured me of his world in the first place, but I guess I have a more linguistic bent than most people

[@bigandyt-man3010]

I think Ugluk is a great bulldog name... Shagrat for cats..

[@EarnestEgregore]

Love this video! I saw another person analysing his work using an algorithm to detect and count the average length of his sentences, how many types of words are in them, and what are the roots of those words, and they found that, although other fantasy writers often imitate his sentence length and word type usage (quantity of verbs/adjectives etc.), or even paragraph length, most writers select words with more modern roots, and that he consistently used the older root words. Meaning: If there were two words for one thing, and one was more modern, he instinctively (or purposely) chose the older word almost every time.

[@oudviola]

Great discussion. A lot of the Silmarillion is basically a history book, as he never finished turning it into a coherent narrative, although sections got done. It's a tribute to his naming that it was so easy to make so many goofy puns that sounded almost right in Bored of the Rings. And Tolkien wasn't too serious not to have some linguistic fun at times as in Farmer Giles and its various bogus etymologies (like Thames and Wunnle).

[@leonardpimentel5865]

I would honestly pay real money to see the professor doing backhand springs.

[@Pingwn]

The Silmarillion and The Lord of The Rings (and the Hobbit but not originally) are not just novels, they are a window to a world Tolkien constructed all of his life, with sincere dedication. He constructed this world as if it actually existed and not merely as a place for the stories to happen. This is why his works are the foundation of modern fantasy, short of making elves, hobbits and magic a reality creating a world that feels so real and is filled with real magic is, in my opinion, what most fantasy lovers yearn for.

[@Ithirahad]

Not sure regarding names for children specifically, as most of the really neat names are given to characters so great, or terrible, or ill-fated, that it'd feel unjust to give them to my child, bullying or no. But I can say that some of Tolkien's place names are amazing. I was always partial to Halifirien; that one flows as nicely as the "Selador" that Tolkien himself apparently liked. And the sound of Helcaraxë, like Tinúviel, fits what it means so beautifully well.

[@gota7738]

Medieval welsh bards and their audiences would hear this and think "Well what else would you do?" Tolkein would be well placed among them.

[@allisongliot]

I love that all the names are significant and hold special meaning. Tolkien does it based on etymology, but I think there’s also a way to do it based on the sounds or the feelings those sounds evoke. Blorge Spattapat would be a very different character from Evalissa Lais, and I think any reader would pick up that before a single character trait was described.

[@凯思]

Wonderful video on the importance of names and meanings! I just wish I wasn’t derailed when you said “very unique”-not something that makes sense in my old dialect. In their silly pop-cultural parody of 1969, Bored of the Rings, the Harvard Lampoon writers also understood the importance of meaningful names, and wielded this pretty brutally. Would be fun to see you cover this cultural artifact some time.

[@bsa45acp]

OMG! I have a copy of that book in my library and refuse to read it again due to its unrepentant and very funny sacrilege of Tolkiens' LOTR.

[@davidgibson9405]

I'm currently re-reading Bored of the RIngs for the umpteenth time. I still laugh heartily at this book no matter how sacrilegious it is.

[@TehRedBlur]

Celebrimbor is probably my favorite of Tolkien's names, followed closely by Curufinwe. They just sound so epic.

[@KS-xk2so]

Hmm..... Family tree with F...... Finwe, Feanor, Findis, Fingolfin, Finarfin, Fingon, Finrod Felagund...... nah, not sure who you're talking about lol Either way.... my favourite name from Tolkien is tough.... I do love Fingolfin. Sounds just as epic as he was.... Glorfindel is kinda dope too. Turin Turambar and Hurin Thalion simply because of what they mean.... I wouldn't name my kid any of them though lol

[@jonasholzer4422]

You really never disappoint us. Every other channel would have just listed some names and told us that they actually have meaning in the elven languages but you gift us with insight into how Tolkien named things. What I also think really speaks to how good he was at naming things is, that the sound of them frequently gets stuck I'm my mind. When rereading the books, "Imrahil of dol amroth" just got stuck in my head and I needed to name my first dnd character Imrahil.

[@marksjoga]

Love you Jess!

[@grukk4051]

If it's a boy, Dernhelm. And if it's a girl...Dernhelm

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

10/10

[@captainhurricane5705]

Tolkien liked, nay loved, the written language. Yes, he took names from other old languages as well as English, and he never tried to hide that fact.

[@erikc.2462]

The Silmarillion is definitely not an easy read. I read it when I was only 12/13 the first time and after reading again after 20+ years, it was STILL hard to follow.

[@kimberlyreeder6052]

Honestly, I feel like for me reading the Bible was good practice for the Silmarillion. By comparison the Silmarillion was more engaging because Tolkien's cultural context is so much closer to mine, even though he was influenced by his study of language from previous centuries.

[@mattewald9378]

So I’m watching this at my dinning room table waiting for my D&D players to show up and Jess calls out the exact fantasy name generator I have open in another tab to come up with names on the fly mid game

[@coreymiskell410]

Another excellent analytical video Jess. Tolkien really was a genius and a master of linguistics. His thorough naming and description seemed antiquated hence LOTR being a little tricky for me to read at times but it all serves a unifying purpose and no word or name is ever out of place. Great stuff!

[@rksnj6797]

Interesting video! Thank you so much! My in-laws’ neighbors named their daughter Eowyn. This was before the movies came out. They are huge Tolkien fans.

[@MountainFisher]

Our guide in Iceland took us up to the Westfjords (less crowded and less expensive) and he pointed out that modern Icelandic language is so close to the Old Norse language that they can read and understand old Norse books, they are that similar. Mentioning Tolkien was influenced by old Norse brought that to mind. They go out of the way to protect their ancient language and customs. By law they have a list of approved names for children and boys' names almost always end in Son and girls end in Dottir (daughter) with the father's first name before the son or dottir usually, but sometimes it's the mother's first name depending upon the situation.

[@elizabethinglee-richards7112]

I have gone through life as Bodge. A bodger is a person who works a portable lathe, so I would name my kids Fili and Kili because the names mean 'file' and 'wedge' so we would all be named after tools

[@joanelizabethhall9455]

I enjoy your videos so much. I am a bookbinder and "Jess of the Shire" is my stitching channel. While doing the tedious part of binding - the actual stitching - I like to watch one of your videos.

[@ericbowers5968]

Great vid. I've always loved etymology studies. As a mechanically inclined and pattern oriented person, it's so satisfying to see how words came to represent what they do.

[@stephencolvin7819]

Tom Shippey appeared on Epic History TV (KZbin channel) talking about the Viking mindset. The old Norse sagas were often cited as evidence for the characteristic Viking mindset. He seems like a very clever and decent man.

[@michaelkelleypoetry]

I actually had the opposite experience when I was a kid. The Hobbit was a slog for me to get through the first time I read it (so much walking! 😂). After the bit with the 3 trolls was over, it was so hard to get through it. But, The Lord of the Rings, I just FLEW through easily!

[@michaelleyvas3935]

The names are so awesome sounding..all of them

[@PleaseNThankYou]

This is the issue i had in 1973 trying to read Two Towers. I skipped it and read RotK. 15 years later, i found copies of the Silmarillion and Lost Tales Book One. I read Lost Tales-1 first. Yes... when i started reading Sil, i was COMPLETELY messed up. I had no way to know...i didnt own a computer and it was decades before smart phones. Also, since i was an adult, out of school, i had no teacher to ask about these problems. In 2018, or so, i started reading them. Im still out of order😂but i know more now.

[@GeneralJerrard101]

I was just thinking about baby names derived from LotR, and I just loved the words Nimrodel and Mithrandir. But I wouldn't want to set up someone to so easily be called a nimrod.

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

That would be brutal haha

[@Ithirahad]

The "nimrod" thing is annoying because it's just canonized sarcasm. Principally 'Nimrod' should be a complement for a really good hunter, but Bugs Bunny ruined it and that Bugs me.

[@thekaxmax]

a friend has gone by Arwen for about 30 or so years. To the extent that many of her friends don't know her real name. Including she uses it at work. A thought on Tolkein's hobbits: they /are/ woods spirits, but are very down-to-earth--literally--versions of brownies or something similar. So down to earth that their fey/spirit side doesn't show.

[@bsa45acp]

Favorite Tolkien names? My (46 year old daughter) bears the name Arwen. Need I say more?

[@RingsLoreMaster]

How does she pronounce her name? I stress the 1st syllable and sound it 'are'. I wonder if it is more accurate to sound it 'air', or long a, leaving the r silent.

[@transscribe]

my daughter had only read half the hobbit when we first watched the LOTR movies together and after the fellowship finished, she turned to me and deadpanned, "i thought hobbits looked like rabbits." she was 10.

[@francescofulghieri9608]

right now, at CU Boulder i’m taking a class called Tolkien and His Nordic Sources for Lord of The Rings it’s so good. there’s a follow up class about the silmarillion I want to take next year. it’s so fun to learn

[@alanbudgen2672]

I guess, along the same lines you mention creek several times. I don't think it's a word often used in England, and if it is, conjures up the idea of a muddy marshy pool of water. But you use it to describe a bucolic stream. So our lived experiences of a word is very different and important. Really interesting video again. Many of the names of the Hobbits could have been people in the village I grew up in Southern England, which is what first drew me in - the Shire felt like home. My favourite name... is possibly Rivendell. And I agree Tinúviel is beautiful.

[@Kai-Xi]

Galadriel is such a pretty name if you were to name a kid after her, you could shorten it to Elle or Ellie

[@drs-xj3pb]

See Pippin Galadriel Moonchild from Good Omens (called Pepper, because).

[@antkneecampy]

Thanks so much for this video. I was thinking I might need to watch it later when I perhaps could give it my full attention but I started it nonetheless and quickly found my full attention was ready to go. You did an excellent job explaining just one more way in which Tolkien’s world is so incredibly deep and just how hard he worked on this creation. You grabbed my attention and held it and I enjoyed every second of it.