It’s the most wonderful time of the year! And if you’re expecting a baby during this joyous holiday season, there’s no better time to think about how to give them a festive name. We’ve compiled a list of elf names for the baby, with suggestions such as Pippin, Frodo, and Gandalf.
Everyone knows the basics when it comes to naming a baby – classic names like John, Mary, and Jane that have stood the test of time. But then there are those creative names, ones so unusual that you start to question: Is this a real name? Or is it something straight out of a fantasy novel? Does this name really exist? A lot of parents want names for a baby that is distinctive, or at least not too ordinary.
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1. Annarrgeal
The elven word for ‘star child.’
2. Arlond
A combination of Arda and Lindon. The last Sindarin name of the Elves of Beleriand, i.e., the Noldor and Silvan Elves who fought against Morgoth in the First Age, was later given to the region of northern Gondor in Middle-earth.
3. Elrond
The Sindarin version of Quenya Ellador or ‘Star-stone’.
4. Elros
The Sindarin version of Quenya Ilo, ‘Star-stone.’ According to Tolkien, it was the original name for the King of Numenor before his son Tar-Minyatur took the name and title Estel (‘Hope’ in Quenya) in Valinor. (The Númenóreans had a custom of giving their sons a name that meant ‘Star-stone’ as a symbol of hope.)
5. Álainndaga
The Sindarin version of Quenya Ilúvatar (meaning ‘Father of All’ in Valarin), the Singularity that contains all things in existence.
6. Earendel
The Sindarin version of Quenya Aerendil, the star seen by the voyager Tar-Aldarion at the dawn of the Third Age.
7. Galathilion
The Sindarin version of the name of the constellation ‘Vega’, which Tolkien equated to the Silmaril that was held by Earendel. It literally means ‘Jewel-ray’. The constellation ‘Vega’ is called Alkair in Quenya.
8. Valacirie
The Sindarin version of Quenya Valacirca or ‘Wheel-crown’. The constellation of the Plough in the northern sky was the first-star pattern seen by the Elves upon awakening in Cuiviénen.
9. Valacor
The Sindarin version of Valacirca, ‘Wheel-crown’, is another name for the constellation of the Plough in the northern sky. Tolkien referred to this as a ‘poem’ and also wrote a poem about it (‘Valaquenta’).
10. Ríkruisce
The Sindarin name for the constellation is known as ‘Cygnus’, which Tolkien equated to Telperion. It literally means ‘Swift-flows’.
11. Markain
The Sindarin name for the constellation is known as ‘Aquila’, or the Eagle, in Middle-earth. It literally means ‘High-wings’.
12. Clisteœska
The Sindarin version of Quenya Klastar’s’ star-tower’. This was the tallest mountain in Beleriand, overlooking it from the north. It is also one of the names by which it was known to the Elves at this time.
13. Clisthiel
A combination of Clistenel and Hîr ‘heart’. It was a towering peak that stood above all others in Beleriand, opposite Avathar in Gondolin.
14. Culúrien
A combination of Culúmen and Hîr ‘heart’. It was one of the two towers built by Finrod Felagund on Tol Sirion, in which he made his abode after the Dagor Bragollach.
15. Felagund
The Sindarin name for Finrod Felagund, King of Nargothrond and friend of Beren & Luthien.
16. Galador
The Sindarin name for the constellation of Cassiopeia, which Tolkien equated to the Silmaril that was held by Galador during the First Age. It means ‘Star-lord’.
17. Melian
The Sindarin name for the constellation of Andromeda in Middle-earth. It literally means ‘Pearl-eater’.
18. Fadabiða
The Sindarin name for Cassiopeia is in the northern night sky. It means ‘Lady-star’.
19. Alduin
The Sindarin word for the constellation of ‘Wain’, which means ‘Steer’ in Old English and is translated in Tolkien’s Quenya as Alduin. It literally means ‘Grey-mane’.
20. Aegnor
The Sindarin name for the constellation of ‘Corona Borealis’, which Tolkien equated to Telperion. It literally means ‘spear-fire’.
21. Aiwendil
The Sindarin name for the constellation of Ursa Major or Great Bear in Middle-earth. It literally means ‘Pole-star’.
22. Meneldin
The elven word for ‘falling star.
23. Nœmen
The elven word for ‘sky’ or ‘heavens’.
24. Liriel
The elven word for ‘starlight’. It is also the name of one of the great trees in Valinor, whose white flowers were used to make the White Fruit of Yavanna. It was there that Meneldil gathered some of those flowers and took them with him to Middle-earth, where they grew as Mallorn trees.
25. Aldon
A combination of Aldu and Nœmen, ‘star light’.
26. Anna
The elven word for ‘star’. It is also the name of one of the great trees in Valinor, whose white flowers were used to make the White Fruit of Yavanna. It was there that Meneldil gathered some of those flowers and took them with him to Middle-earth, where they grew as Mallorn trees. Note that Tolkien used this name in his ‘Qenya Poem’ of 1911 as well as Maeglin, the son of Maeglin.
27. Aredhel
The Sindarin name for Ada, the mortal woman who was raised by Melian and became the wife of Elu Thingol in Middle-earth. She was also the mother of Túrin Turambar and Morwen.
28. Arod
The Sindarin name for Araw, an Elf who went to Beleriand with Finrod Felagund. He married Haleth, and they had a daughter called Safwen.
29. Earendil
The Sindarin name for the star-ship Vingilot, was made by Earendel at the request of Turgon in Gondolin during the First Age. He sailed away in it at the end of that age, never to be seen again by mortal eyes. The name itself literally means ‘He who pursues a star’ in Quenya.
30. Baron
The elvish word for ‘holy tree’.
31. Bara (or Baia)
The Sindarin word means ‘holy’. It is also the name of a star in the constellation of ‘Great Bear’, which is one of the oldest and most revered star patterns in Middle-earth.
32. Barafinwe
The Sindarin name for the constellation known as Ursa Minor or Little Bear, which Tolkien equated to Telperion.
33. Barad
The Sindarin name for the constellation of ‘Southern Crown’, which Tolkien equated to Silmaril.
34. Beleth
The Sindarin name for the constellation of ‘Hercules’, which Tolkien equated to Laurelin. It literally means ‘the strong one’. It is also the name of one of the Knights of Morgoth in the First Age, who had a sword called Felagund.
35. Beleg
The Sindarin name for the constellation of ‘Beltane’, which Tolkien equated to the Silmaril that was held by Aule in the First Age. It literally means ‘dawn’.
36. Belegost
The Sindarin name for the constellation of ‘Beltane’ (Tolkien’s spelling), which he equated to the Silmaril that was held by Aule in the First Age. It literally means ‘dawn’. In the form Bël-gost, it became the name of one of the seven towers built in Beleriand by Finrod Felagund.
37. Celeborn
The Sindarin name for Círdan, who was also known as the Ship-lord or Shipwright. He built and ruled Nargothrond during the First Age, and it was there that Barad became a Knight of Morgoth.
38. Callon
The Sindarin name for the constellation of Corona Borealis, which Tolkien equated to Telperion.
39. Cáno
The Sindarin name for the constellation of Auriga, which Tolkien equated to Laurelin. It literally means ‘the chaser’. It is also the name of another one of the Knights of Morgoth in the First Age.
40. Círdan
The Sindarin name of the elf was also known as the Ship-lord or Shipwright. He built and ruled Nargothrond during the First Age. It was his Telcontar that was saved by Ulmo from the destruction of Nargothrond after Eärendil had left for Valinor.
41. Draug
The Sindarin name for the constellation of Draco, which Tolkien equated to the Silmaril that was held by Aule in the First Age. It is also the name of another one of the seven towers built by Finrod Felagund in Beleriand.
42. Eärendil
The Sindarin name for ‘Manwe’, who is also known as Ulmo and Orome in Middle-earth. He was the only High-elf to ever succeed in sailing Middle-earth’s waters. He pursued the star-ship Vingilot and reached Valinor after many difficult years.
43. Elwë
The Sindarin name for Elu Thingol, King of Doriath in Beleriand during the First Age. He was also known as Oromë, which Tolkien later changed to Aule, but in his early publications used the more simple Elwë.
44. Eldarion
The Sindarin name for Eärendil’s son, Elros’ Heir, who was king of Númenor and later Gondor in the Fourth Age.
45. Elu
The Sindarin name for Elu Thingol, King of Doriath in Beleriand during the First Age. He was also known as Oromë, which Tolkien later changed to Aule, but in his early publications used the more simple Elwë.
46. Elrohir
The Sindarin name for Eärendil’s son, Elros’ Heir, who was king of Númenor and later Gondor in the Fourth Age.
47. Erellont
The Sindarin form of the name ‘Eru’. In Tolkien’s early Quenya writings, it is used for Olórin.
48. Eru
The Quenya form of the Elvish name ‘Eru’, which means ‘the One. It was adopted by Tolkien when he changed the Quenya language to Sindarin and then later used as a title for God in Eriol’s legendarium.
49. Falathrim
The Sindarin name for the Elves of Doriath, who were also known as Doriathrin. It literally means ‘Elves of the Falas’, which was the name of Beleriand’s eastern shore where they lived.
50. Finduilas
The Sindarin name for Vingilot, the star-ship made by Earendel at the request of Turgon in Gondolin during the First Age. It means ‘Finwë’s star’.
51. Estel
The Sindarin name for the constellation of Auriga, which Tolkien equated to Laurelin. It means ‘star of hope’. It is also the name of another one of the seven towers built in Beleriand by Finrod Felagund.
52. Eärnil I
The Sindarin name for Eärnil Telcontar, who was king of Gondolin at its fall during the First Age and had a son named Falas. He was later killed by Sauron in T.A. 2.
53. Ethuil
The Sindarin name for Eärendil, one of the Three Kindreds or ‘people of the sea’ in the First Age, who sailed across Beleriand to Valinor after Eärendil had failed to enter Gondolin. It means ‘star-shaped’.
54. Iarwain
The Sindarin name for Ulmo, Lord of the waters.
55. Ithil
The Sindarin name for the constellation of ‘Moon’, which Tolkien equated to Varda. It is also a name for Minas Morgul, the tower in Mordor that was occupied by Sauron, and for one of the Towers of the Teeth on either side of Cirith Ungol in Mordor.
56. Glóredhel
The Sindarin name for the constellation of Lepus, which Tolkien equated to Rána. She was also the mother of Gwindor, who was one of Turgon’s chief counselors in Gondolin.
57. Gil-Estel
The Sindarin name for ‘Gil-Estel’, a name given to Faramir by Éowyn in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. It means ‘Star of Hope’.
58. Haleth
The Sindarin name for the constellation of Cancer, which Tolkien equated to Nienna. It is also one of the seven towers built by Finrod Felagund in Beleriand.
59. Haldan
The Sindarin name for Haleth, who was the leader of the People of Marach after Lómendor and Haldad had died in their fight against Sauron.
60. Iorhael
The Sindarin name for the constellation of ‘Orion’ or ‘Winter-keeper’, which Tolkien equated to Mandos. It literally means ‘Cauldron of Winter’. It is also the name of one of the seven towers built by Finrod Felagund in Beleriand.
61. Inziladun
The Sindarin form of an early Elvish word that is believed to mean ‘she who flickers on the pools’. It was used as a title for Galadriel’s mother Celebrían, who was also called Erendis. It literally means ‘she who flickers on the pools’.
62. Ioreth
The Sindarin form of an early Elvish word that is believed to mean ‘she who flutters from the tower’. It was used as a title for Galadriel’s mother Celebrían, who was also called Erendis. It literally means ‘she who flutters from the tower’.
63. Legolas
The name for ‘Greenleaf’, the son of Thranduil, King of the Silvan Elves in Mirkwood during the Third Age.
64. Lúthien
The name for Daira ‘the maiden’, daughter of Thingol and Melian in Doriath during the First Age. She was also known as Tinúviel, which Tolkien later changed to Tinúvial, but in his early publications, he used Celuriel or Luthien.
65. Lia
The name for ‘Kinslayer’, the daughter of Belegund who was killed by Sauron in T.A. 1980 after she had slain her mother, who was killed by her father Belegund during his madness and his attempt to slay her husband Túrin at Nargothrond.
66. Mithrandir
The Sindarin name for Gandalf the Grey, one of the Istari (or Wizards) in Middle-earth.
67. Morwen
The Sindarin name for Earwen, who was the wife of Húrin and mother of Túrin and Niënor in Dor-lómin during the First Age. Her name is thought to mean ‘Sea-friend’.
68. Nachiel
The Sindarin form of one of the names for Séregil, who was an Elf from Gondolin in the First Age. His name means ‘sharp eyes’ or ‘gleaming eyes’.
69. Narya
The Sindarin name for the Ring of Fire is one of the three Elven Rings made by Celebrimbor with Sauron’s help. It was later worn by Círdan and then given to Gandalf the Grey. Naur means ‘fire’ in Sindarin.
70. Nimloth
The name for the White Tree planted by Isildur at Minas Ithil in T.A. 1974, one of the three Trees of Valinor that was cut down and pulled into the Void by Túrin at Nargothrond in T.A. 1980. It is said to mean ‘shot through’.
71. Olórin
The name for Merlin was a Maia who came to Middle-earth during the First Age and helped the Elves by preserving their histories in writing and helping them navigate Beleriand’s many dangers during the War of Wrath.
72. Nessa
The name for one of the Queens of Doriath, who was daughter to King Thingol and Melian and Queen to King Daeron. She was also called Tinfang Gelion, which means ‘fingers fair’, ‘May Night’, ‘Nightingale’, or just simply ‘Daughter-of-Stars’.
73. Orodreth
The Sindarin form of ‘Fingolfin’, is the name used by Finrod Felagund for his father Fingon, son of Finarfin from Angband, who became High King after Fingon’s death.
74. Poldo
The Sindarin name for Ulmo, Lord of the waters. He is also referred to as ‘Lord of Waters’ or the ‘Master of Waters’.
75. Peredhil
The Sindarin form of ‘Beren’ (or Beleg), one of the sons and descendants of Barahir. One of his descendants was Bregor, who was Lord to Barahir and father to Beren and Haleth.
76. Peregrin Took
The Sindarin name for Pippin Took, a Hobbit from the Shire. It means ‘Fairyfriend’.
77. Rían
One of the names for Luthien, who was one of the Silvan Elves in Beleriand during the First Age. Her name was also written as Rían before she was renamed Tinúviel. It means ‘daughter of stars’.
78. Ronda
The name for Rúmil, one of the Seven Fathers of the Dwarves who created many of the Elvish scripts.
79. Rúmil
The form of ‘Rúmil’, one of the Seven Fathers of the Dwarves who created many of the Elvish scripts. Also known as Iaur (pronounced ‘eye-aur’). His name means ‘skill’. He was also one of those that made up Melkor’s council in Utumno.
80. Thalias
The name of the Dwarves’ vessel that carried the holy Cinque-Battle to Middle-earth and landed them at the Ford of Carrock in T.A. 1974 after they had been led by their leader Gimli, son of Glóin, who had been disguised as a Hobbit. Its Sindarin form is Thôr’s ship. It means ‘athelas’.
81. Aafje
The name for Elfwine’s daughter Aelith, who lived in the lands south of the Gulf of Lune around T.A. 1520, who was said to be a possible love interest of Meriadoc Brandybuck, but that was never put into action since she died before the Hobbit left the Shire.
82. Aelin-uial
The Sindarin form of ‘Aelin-uial’, which means ‘the twilight meadow where loud water goes over rocks’. This was the name of the valley that was near Eglarest, a city of the Teleri Elves in Beleriand. It was also a place where Túrin and Húrin dwelt together in Dor-lómin.
83. Alfreda
The Sindarin form of ‘Alfreda’, a name of a character in C. S. Lewis’ Space Trilogy (also known as Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra and That Hideous Strength). The name means ‘wondrous strength’.
84. Alruna
The Sindarin form of ‘Alruna’, a name of a character in C. S. Lewis’ Space Trilogy (also known as Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra and That Hideous Strength). The name means ‘wondrous beauty’.
85. Amroth
The Sindarin form of ‘Amrod’, one of the sons of Fëanor and father to Amras who was also called ‘the Fair’. He was said to be handsome, fair and loved beautiful things.
86. Älva
The Sindarin form of ‘Älvarë’, which meant ‘dwelling-ahead’, a name of a character in C. S. Lewis’ Space Trilogy (also known as Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra and That Hideous Strength). The name means ‘wondrous beauty’.
87. Angrod
The Sindarin form of ‘An Gundoher’, one of the sons of Fëanor who was called after his father. He was also called ‘the Dark’.
88. Aran
The Sindarin name for Eradan, who was a son of Isildur and grandson of Avren. His name means ‘the Golden-hearted’ or ‘the Golden-bearded’. His sister’s name was Rivendell.
89. Aranrúth
The Sindarin form of ‘Aranyar’, which means ‘twilight of jewels’. It was the name of a river in Beleriand in the region of Gondolin. It was also called ‘Gondolin’s Fountain’. It is said to mean ‘golden light’ or ‘golden lightnings’.
90. Artamir
The Sindarin name for Artanis, a Noldorin Elf of Vinyamar, who lived at the beginning of the Second Age and was the eldest son of Finrod Felagund and Gil-galad’s sister Gilraen.
91. Aubriana
The Sindarin name for Arwen, who was a daughter of Elrond Half-elven and Celebrían. It means ‘Noble Lady’ or ‘Noble-woman’. After her death, her name was also used for the land of Lórinand.
92. Beru
The Sindarin form of ‘Bereg’, one of the sons of Bregolas that lived in Beleriand during the First Age, who was killed by a Vampire whilst hunting.
93. Luell
The Sindarin form of ‘Lúthien’, meaning ‘twilight’ or ‘dark night’ or even ‘Luthien-like’. It was the name looked for Lúthien in T.A. 1980 as she came back to Middle-earth from the Undying Lands after she had been reincarnated by Aulë. She had been reincarnated as a mortal in Valinor and then taken to Nargothrond after her own people were destroyed.
94. Aoibheann
The Sindarin form of ‘Eowyn’, a name of one of the daughters of Theoden, King of Rohan and sister to Éomer. It means ‘beautiful woman’.
95. Aredhel
The Sindarin form of ‘Ar-Feiniel’, one of the Queens of Nargothrond and daughter to Fingolfin, son of Finarfin from Angband who became High King after his brother Fingon’s death in T.A. 455.
96. Dryadalis
The Sindarin form of ‘Dyrnwyn’, who was the name of a mighty sword passed down from Beleriand to Gondolin, which was said to be made by Fëanor himself in T.A. 2509. Its Sindarin name is ‘Nauglamir’. It means ‘crystal-blade’.
97. Vilde
The Sindarin form of ‘Vilda’, who was a daughter of the Dwarves and sister to the Havelock of Mirkwood. Her name came from their words for “wild” or “free.” It means ‘wild-woman’.
98. Brethil
The Sindarin form of ‘Brethil’, who was a son of Bregolas and brother to Beru and Amras. His name means ‘white-fells’, as well as ‘white-peak’. He was a friend of Túrin during the First Age.
99. Alberad
The Sindarin form of ‘Albero’, one of the sons of Bregolas, who was a friend of Túrin during the First Age. His name means ‘white-beard’.
100. Batī
The Sindarin form of ‘Batty’, who was a friend of Túrin during the First Age. His name means ‘bow-man’.