Elvish Baby Names

This list, which is by no means definitive, names some of the Elvish characters which appear in JRR Tolkien's works—mostly The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion. Asterisks indicate characters who appeared in the LOTR movies—these names have stronger associations and are more likely to be recognised as Elvish. When choosing a name it is worthwhile to be aware of Elvish rules of pronunciation—for example, C in Elvish is pronounced K, so Celeborn sounds like 'Keleborn', not 'Seleborn'.

Male Elvish Names

*Celeborn—Galadriel's husband. The name means 'silver tree'.

*Círdan—the name means 'shipwright'. Cirdan built the ships which carried Elves—and later, Frodo and Bilbo--away from Middle-Earth.

Eärendil—A hero of Middle-Earth, Eärendil interceded for Elves and Men in order to save Middle-Earth. Eventually fated to travel the heavens with a Silmaril strapped to his brow, Eärendil became known as a star. The name means 'lover of the sea'.

Elladan—son of Elrond, twin brother to Elrohir. Tolkien translated the name as 'elf-knight' or 'elf-rider'.

Elrohir—son of Elrond, twin brother to Elladan. Translates roughly to 'Elf-man'.

*Elrond—Arwen's father, half-Elven and the ruler of Rivendell. The name means 'star-dome'.

Gildor—one of the last Elves to leave Middle-Earth, encountered by Frodo and Sam in the Shire. 'Gildor' means 'noble star'.

*Haldir—Meaning 'Tall One', the name Haldir is given to two characters in Middle-Earth—an Elf who guides the Fellowship through Lothlórien, and a man who appears in Unfinished Tales.

*Legolas—'Greenleaf'; one of the members of the Fellowship. Legolas is skilled with a bow and arrow.

Lindir—an Elf of Rivendell who appreciated Bilbo's songs and rhymes. 'Lindir' roughly translates to 'fair [good] singer'.

Thranduil—Legolas' father. The precise translation of his name is unknown.

Voronwë—'steadfast one'--an Elf who appears in The Silmarillion.

Female Elvish Names

Aredhel—'Noble Elf', a minor character in The Silmarillion. Her name in Quenya was Irissë.

*Arwen—Elrond's daughter and wife of Aragorn. Arwen means 'noble maiden'. Arwen chose to renounce immortality in order to stay on Middle-Earth with Aragorn.

Celebrían--Arwen's mother. Celebrian means 'silver queen'.

*Elanor—Elanor in LOTR was not an Elvish character—rather, she was the hobbit daughter of Samwise Gamgee. However, her name comes from 'elanor', meaning 'sun-star', an Elvish flower.

Elwing—Elrond's mother. The name means 'star-spray'. Elwing spoke with sea-birds and had the power of flight.

*Galadriel—An important figure in Middle-Earth history, Galadriel ruled the forest of Lothlórien with her husband Celeborn. She was famous for her power and her very long, beautiful golden hair. The name means, mor or less, 'maiden crowned with a radiant garland'.

Idril—roughly translates as 'sparkling brilliance'. Idril and Tuor, a mortal man, married and produced Eärendil, the savior of Middle-Earth.

Lúthien—Lúthien married Beren, a mortal, in the first of only three recorded Elf-human marriages. Brave and resourceful, Lúthien tricked Morgoth himself (the ultimate evil in Middle-Earth) in order to rescue her beloved. After many adventures, which are recounted in The Silmarillion, Lúthien and Beren died together as mortals. The name means 'enchantress'.

Melian—a Maia who married Thingol; Lúthien's mother. 'Melian' is Sindarin for 'Beloved'.

Nimrodel—a tragic Elf-maiden after whom a river was named. The word means 'Lady of the White Grotto'.

Tinúviel—Lúthien was known as 'Tinúviel', 'nightingale' for the sweetness of her song which charmed even Mandos, the keeper of the dead.

See also Tolkien-Inspired Baby Names.

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