Names in Middle-Earth, Quick Guide

[gitanoLOTR]

A correction:
Er, Ir, Ur are NOT pronounced as English "fur" but rather (in respective order) air, eer, oor.

Great post! Thank You!

[PerfectApproach]

so, to understand this correctly, elves would name themselves in Sindarin. Men would name themselves in Westron? Which would mean a pseudo-derivative of Ye Olde English?

[Porlock]

That was Old English.

Pffft. Heofod? Such a rare form. Heafod is much more common!

[Edit: Nice home-made kenning, though!]

[Serin36]

That was Old English.

Yeah, doesn't everyone missed boilled fyssche?

[PerfectApproach]

OKay, now that I'm getting two more character slots soon enough...

I have a couple of research requests...

He who inspires, or
Leader of Men

I don't know how deep your study of the languages of Men goes so I'm not expecting an exact answer and anywhere but Gondor wouldn't have the name in pure form anyways. Yes I know Sindarin 'would' work..but Mannish languages would help.

If you were to accept Sindarin, you could try using something like this:
"Gwaithoniel," which loosely translates as "Kindler of a force of men."

Surprisingly, I'm not able to locate a suitable Sindarin word for Inspire, Motivate, Rouse, or any other common synonym for Inspire. "Kindler" would be literally "firestarter." The "Gwaith" part literally translates "Manhood," but it is intended to mean manpower, such as a regiment, or a force of men. It's actually not intended to be race-specific.

[gildhur]

so, to understand this correctly, elves would name themselves in Sindarin. Men would name themselves in Westron? Which would mean a pseudo-derivative of Ye Olde English?

It depends. Men of Gondor generally use Sindarin for their names. Men of Rohan use their own dialect, which is based on Old English. Men of Bree, as we have in the game now, use basic English names derived from things in nature (Heathstraw, Ferny).

[Porlock]

Really, Berephon's kenning works. Rohirric was expressed by Tolkien as Old English.

If you didn't want to use a kenning, you could use Mannesheofod, "head of men."

You could also use "Heafodmann," which is a real OE word meaning "captain" or "head-man."

[Berephon]

If you were to accept Sindarin, you could try using something like this:
"Gwaithoniel," which loosely translates as "Kindler of a force of men."

Surprisingly, I'm not able to locate a suitable Sindarin word for Inspire, Motivate, Rouse, or any other common synonym for Inspire. "Kindler" would be literally "firestarter." The "Gwaith" part literally translates "Manhood," but it is intended to mean manpower, such as a regiment, or a force of men. It's actually not intended to be race-specific.

Except that thoniel is specifically feminine.

[Berephon]

It depends. Men of Gondor generally use Sindarin for their names. Men of Rohan use their own dialect, which is based on Old English. Men of Bree, as we have in the game now, use basic English names derived from things in nature (Heathstraw, Ferny).

Indeed. To break it down further:

Elves/Men of Gondor -- Sindarin
Rohan/Dale/Eglain -- Anglo-Saxon
Bree -- English, with surnames specifically geared towards agriculture
North Downs -- General English
Lossoth -- Finnish
Gauredain -- Cornish
Woodmen -- Gothic
Angmarim/Hillmen -- Scots-Gaelic
Dunlending -- Welsh
Dwarves -- Old Norse (especially Old Gutnish)
Hobbits -- Anglo-Saxon/Middle English/Flowers/Gems with earthy surnames

If I missed anything, let me know.

[Berephon]

Really, Berephon's kenning works. Rohirric was expressed by Tolkien as Old English.

Specifically Mercian, which we are still researching...it's a hard dialect to find valid info on.

[TheOneRinger]

Specifically Mercian, which we are still researching...it's a hard dialect to find valid info on.

The REAL reason we don't have Rohan yet!

[Porlock]

Specifically Mercian, which we are still researching...it's a hard dialect to find valid info on.

Aye, the Anglian dialects are difficult to work with.

[BINKLEY1]

Specifically Mercian, which we are still researching...it's a hard dialect to find valid info on.

Awesome:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercian_(Old_English)
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Categor...glish_dialects
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Saxons
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angeln

Thank your for leading me to such gems!

Cheers,
Beagol/Gloimli

[Drakkonus]

If you were to accept Sindarin, you could try using something like this:
"Gwaithoniel," which loosely translates as "Kindler of a force of men."

Surprisingly, I'm not able to locate a suitable Sindarin word for Inspire, Motivate, Rouse, or any other common synonym for Inspire. "Kindler" would be literally "firestarter." The "Gwaith" part literally translates "Manhood," but it is intended to mean manpower, such as a regiment, or a force of men. It's actually not intended to be race-specific.

Except that thoniel is specifically feminine.

LOL! that could so be taken the wrong way!
A female named "Fire starter of manhood"

[thefallenringbearer]

Remember that Sindarin is far from complete. Who's to say that you couldn't shorten the name up a bit to make it more presentable (and pronounceable). Tolkein himself was known to modify the language when he "discovered" new words. Tolkein's original invention of the language was based VERY MUCH on how it sounded. Welch and Finnish do have a way of rolling off the tongue gracefully.

Consider:
Manofod
Maneofod
Manhofod
Manheofod

If your kinmates give you guff about your new name, offer to tell them what their own gibberish names mean... and of course, feel free to "discover" your own definitions...hehehe....

OH i have...one kinmate is 'traveller's girl' lol, another has just strung together cool sillables...I'm the only one who tries to have names with meaning really. And to all the others...thanks a jillion for the added input...stories are already circulating about a great 'Leader of Men' who has heard of the troubles and is ready to lend his aid.

[thefallenringbearer]

so, to understand this correctly, elves would name themselves in Sindarin. Men would name themselves in Westron? Which would mean a pseudo-derivative of Ye Olde English?

pretty much...but Gondorian names were usually a mutation of Sindarin passed down and probably a further mutation...look at modern English names and trace their roots...it can be fun for some brands of nerd like myself.

[PerfectApproach]

Berephon, any chance we could get this thread stickied somehwere? It's REALLY a good resource for the language nerds like myself, and I'm sure there are other RP'ers who would appreciate a good resource for naming their characters with proper, meaningful names.

And, thank you for being such an informative, forthcoming resource. In an environment where the slightest bit of information about Lord of the Rings Online is pounced on, devoured voraciously, and spit back out in any number of (mis?)interpretations, it's good to see a thread like this one. I guess the only difference is that clearly you know CONSIDERABLY more about the Lotro languages than we do, whereas with the other issues, we players like to think WE have all the answers. ((Guilty))

[Dom12]

On a related topic, could I get some help with pronunciation? Specifically, the hammer I just picked up last week, [weapon]Túrdring[/weapon]. One would hope it's safe to assume that's not supposed to be \ˈtərd-riŋ\ (terd'-ring). I assume it's something more like \ˈtu̇r-driŋ\ (tour'-dring)?

[Berephon]

On a related topic, could I get some help with pronunciation? Specifically, the hammer I just picked up last week, [weapon]Túrdring[/weapon]. One would hope it's safe to assume that's not supposed to be \ˈtərd-riŋ\ (terd'-ring). I assume it's something more like \ˈtu̇r-driŋ\ (tour'-dring)?

u is always long in Sindarin, and ú and û are longer still. So yes, tour, not ter, and the d would be prounced with ring as dring, tour-dring.

[Berephon]

Berephon, any chance we could get this thread stickied somehwere? It's REALLY a good resource for the language nerds like myself, and I'm sure there are other RP'ers who would appreciate a good resource for naming their characters with proper, meaningful names.

And, thank you for being such an informative, forthcoming resource. In an environment where the slightest bit of information about Lord of the Rings Online is pounced on, devoured voraciously, and spit back out in any number of (mis?)interpretations, it's good to see a thread like this one. I guess the only difference is that clearly you know CONSIDERABLY more about the Lotro languages than we do, whereas with the other issues, we players like to think WE have all the answers. ((Guilty))

You could always nominate it for the Hall of Fame forum.

[skorpion352]

could i get an elvish translation for Staff of Truth and Book of Curses please. thanks in advance


Edited ot add:

You could always nominate it for the Hall of Fame forum.

and how would we do that?

[Berephon]

could i get an elvish translation for Staff of Truth and Book of Curses please. thanks in advance

Closest for Staff of Truth is True Branch (Thenidolf or Theninolf). Now Book of Curses...hehe...hehehehahahaa!

Book = Parf, Curse = Rhach. So Curse-book would be Rachbarf. Or you could go with the two-word genetive format, Parf Rhech. Either way, they're both full of puke.

Edited ot add:



and how would we do that?

I would guess holler at Sapience or Patience.

[TheOneRinger]

Now Book of Curses...hehe...hehehehahahaa!

Book = Parf, Curse = Rhach. So Curse-book would be Rachbarf. Or you could go with the two-word genetive format, Parf Rhech. Either way, they're both full of puke.

Awesome. Rofl.

[MissGrace]

So, I'm thinking of creating an Elf Hunter, and I want to name her Wind-maiden. Would Gwaewen be correct?

[skorpion352]

Closest for Staff of Truth is True Branch (Thenidolf or Theninolf). Now Book of Curses...hehe...hehehehahahaa!

Book = Parf, Curse = Rhach. So Curse-book would be Rachbarf. Or you could go with the two-word genetive format, Parf Rhech. Either way, they're both full of puke.

awesome. my lm thanks you