Quenya Names: First Aid by Himring
Fanwork Notes
Please note: this is not an official list!
This is a quick help list only, with no claim to canonical authority, compiled in haste for any new readers who might need help during the ongoing Silmarillion40.
I have read most of the canonical sources containing this material at some time or other (many of the names of the Noldor are discussed in "The Shibboleth of Fëanor" in Peoples of Middle-earth). But what I've actually used here is the "Quenya names" links page on Tolkien Gateway and the linked entries.
Suggestions for corrections and additions welcome, but please don't cite any of this as canonical without checking it first or shoot me for any error you may find.
Fanwork Information
Summary: A quick and dirty compilation of Quenya names used in fan fiction and their meanings, for readers who are having problems with working out who is who in fic. Major Characters: Major Relationships: Genre: Nonfiction/Meta Challenges: Rating: General Warnings: |
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Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 685 |
Posted on 1 October 2017 | Updated on 1 October 2017 |
This fanwork is a work in progress. |
Chapter 1
Read Chapter 1
A
Aikanáro: Aegnor's mother-name, glossed as "fell fire"
Aiwendil: Radagast in Valinor, glossed as "lover of birds"
Alatar: one of the Blue Wizards
Altáriel: glossed as "maiden crowned with radiant garland", Galadriel, Quenya equivalent of name given her by Celeborn in Telerin as Alatáriel or in Sindarin as Galadriel
Ambaráto: glossed as "champion of doom", Aegnor's father-name
Ambarto: name given to Amras, changed from Umbarto, which meant "the fated", glossed as: "upwards-exalted" (sometimes applied to Amrod)
Ambarussa: Nerdanel's mother-name for her twin sons Amrod and Amras, glossed as "top-russet"
Angamaitë: Angrod's epessë (by-name), glossed as "iron hand"
Angaráto: Angrod's father-name, glossed as "iron champion"
Aracáno, Arakáno: Fingolfin's mother-name, glossed as "high chieftain"; also the name of his youngest son Argon
Arafinwë: Finarfin's father-name, glossed as "noble Finwë"
Artaher: later name for Orodreth (Arothir in Sindarin)
Artanis: Galadriel's father-name, glossed as "noble woman"
Artanáro: apparently Gil-galad's father-name (corresponding to Sindarin: Rodnor)
Artano: one of the epithets of Sauron when he presented himself as Annatar
Artaresto: Orodreth, apparently meaning "mountain climber"
Astaldo: "the Valiant", epithet both of Tulkas; also used in fandom to translate Fingon's epithet "the Valiant"
Atarincë, Atarinkë: mother-name of Curufin, glossed as "little father"
Aulendil: one of the names of Sauron when he presented himself as Annatar
C (see also K)
Carnistir: mother-name of Caranthir, glossed as "red-face".
Curufinwë: "skillful (son of) Finwë", father-name of Fëanor, and also of Curufin his son
Curumo: "cunning", the name (in Valinor) of Saruman
Curvo: Curufin's nickname, used by his family
E
Eldalótë: glossed as "high-elven flower", Angrod's wife (Sindarin: Edhellos, Eðellos)
Elerondo: apparently the Quenya form of Elrond (glossed as "star dome", earlier also glossed as: "elf of the cave")
Elerossë: Elros Tar-Minyatur (glossed as "elf of the spray" or "star-foam")
F
Falmari: glossed as "wave-folk", Teleri (apparently properly referring to Teleri of Aman)
Fëanáro: mother-name of Fëanor, glossed as "spirit of fire"
Findaráto: glossed as "(golden-)haired champion", Finrod Felagund
Findekáno, Findecáno: Fingon's father-name, seemingly consisting of findë ("hair") + káno ("commander"), but the first element here probably really means "skill" or "Finwean".
I
Ingoldo: mother-name of Finarfin, glossed as "The Noldo" or "The Wise" (also earlier as: Ingalaurë), also a name of Finrod
Itarildë, Itarillë: glossed as "sparkling brilliance", Idril
Írimë: Lalwen (earlier Írien, perhaps her father-name)
Írissë: Aredhel, Ar-Feiniel (Sindarin Íreth)
K (see also C)
Kanafinwë: father-name of Maglor, glossed as "strong-voiced Finwë" (short form: Kano)
L
Lalwendë: Lalwen's mother-name
Laurefindil: glossed as "golden head of hair", Glorfindel
Lómion: glossed as "child of the Twilight", mother-name of Maeglin
M
Makalaurë, Macalaurë: mother-name of Maglor, glossed as "gold-cleaver"
Maitimo: mother-name of Maedhros, glossed as "well-shaped one"
Melyanna: Melian, glossed as "love + gift"
Morifinwë: father-name of Caranthir, glossed as "dark Finwë" (short form: Moryo)
Morinehtar: glossed as "darkness-slayer", one of the Blue Wizards
N
Nelyafinwë: father-name of Maedhros, glossed as "third Finwë" (short form: Nelyo)
Nelyar: Teleri
Nerwen: Galadriel's mother-name, glossed as "man-maiden".
Ñolofinwë: Fingolfin's father-name, glossed as "wise Finwë"
Nowë: earlier name of Círdan
O
Olórin: Gandalf in Valinor, name associated with the word olos or olor, meaning "dream" or "vision / of mind"
P
Pallando: one of the Blue Wizards
Pityafinwë: father-name of Amrod, glossed as "little Finwë" (short form: Pityo)
Q
Quendingoldo or Quengoldo: Pengolodh, glossed as "'teaching sage, doctor of lore"
R
Rómestámo, Róme(n)star: glossed as "east-helper", one of the Blue Wizards
Russandol: epessë (by-name) of Maedhros, eldest son of Fëanor, glossed as "copper-top" (with allusion to red hair)
S (also TH)
Sindicollo, Þindicollo: Thingol, glossed as: "grey cloak"
T
Telperinquar (also: Tyelperinquar): Celebrimbor's father-name, glossed as: "silver fist"
Teleporno (also: Telporno): Celeborn, glossed as "silver-tree" or "silver-tall"
Telufinwë: father-name Amras, glossed as "last Finwë" (short form: Telvo)
Turcafinwë, Turkafinwë: father-name of Celegorm, glossed as "Strong, powerful (in body) Finwë" (short form: Turko)
Turukáno: Turgon's father-name, contains the element káno "commander"
Tyelkormo, Tyelcormo: mother-name of Celegorm, glossed as "hasty riser"
U
Umbarto: a mother-name given to Amras meaning " the fated" (sometimes applied to Amrod)
Ungweliantë: glossed as "dark spider", Ungoliant
Urundil: glossed as "copper-lover", a name given to Mahtan
(1) Comment by oshun for Quenya Names: First Aid [Ch 1]
I can see how this will be useful to many, myself included.
Tyelkormo, Tyelcormo!! Thanks for reflecting both the "k" and the "c" where they apply.
Re: (1) Comment by oshun for Quenya Names: First Aid [Ch 1]
I'd be delighted if it's useful to you! I'll improve it if and where I can.
Dawn has suggested we could give the list a proper workover at some point and then we could use it for the References section.
(2) Comment by Grundy for Quenya Names: First Aid [Ch 1]
As one of the ones apparently responsible for some (much?) of the confusion, thank you for compiling this list!
Re: (2) Comment by Grundy for Quenya Names: First Aid [Ch 1]
You're not the only one who has used Quenya names and I don't think you'll be the last!
It can be difficult, sometimes, for readers unfamiliar with them to imagine that sometimes, for the writer, the fic doesn't work without them, because they just don't sound right, for the characters at that point in the narrative.
And for writers, it can be difficult to remember that not all readers work out quickly that those names do have a basis in canon (in HoME) and that there are online reference works like Tolkien Gateway in which they are quite thoroughly covered.
Anyway, I hope this list will help a bit!
(3) Comment by Keiliss for Quenya Names: First Aid [Ch 1]
The Quenya names at times cross my eyes and give me a headache. Seriously, there have been fics I've stopped reading because I got tired of trying to remember who was who. (yes, late first age onwards writer, don't get to use them much). Thank you for this very comprehensive list!!
Re: (3) Comment by Keiliss for Quenya Names: First Aid [Ch 1]
I'm glad to hear that it looks useful to people and I hope to improve it.
I caught a heavy dose of Quenya names very early on and they come naturally to me, for the most part, but I do realize that to others, they don't.
(4) Comment by Robinka for Quenya Names: First Aid [Ch 1]
What a great idea to compile all those Quenya names together! Very useful. Thank you so much :)
Re: (4) Comment by Robinka for Quenya Names: First Aid [Ch 1]
Thank you! Glad it seems useful and I will try to make it better, if I can!
(5) Comment by Lyra for Quenya Names: First Aid [Ch 1]
What a great idea! Thank you for looking/writing this all up.
What might be useful is to note that C and K actually denote the same sound (which is why Tolkien uses them interchangeably, of course), since there still seems to be some confusion about that - not so much in this list, but in Quenya studies in general.
Aracáno could also be Argon, no? (glossed as 'noble gas' -- now I'm just being silly. I'll shut up now!)
Re: (5) Comment by Lyra for Quenya Names: First Aid [Ch 1]
Thank you very much!
I've added Argon, without mentioning his gaseous state.
I'll also add a note about C/K but I need to think about the best way to phrase it.
(I'm not sure whether "glossed as" was the best choice to standardize on, really. I might need to re-think that.)