Subject: Yeah, but name one elf who did that.
Author:
Posted on: 2015-02-09 21:25:00 UTC

I can barely think of a handful who even used two names. In fact, let's see:

Finrod Felagund (always top of my list ^_^)
Luthien Tinuviel
(Possibly) Aredhel Ar-Feiniel
Idril Celebrindal
Elrond Peredhil
(Ereinion) Gil-Galad
Arwen Undomiel
Um...
Legolas Thranduilion?
Elu Thingol (duh)
Oh! Beleg Cuthalion
And...
Um...
... yeah.

I'm sure I've missed someone/s, but even so. That's ten characters; one of them's a 'son of Thranduil', one (Gil-Galad) barely qualifies, and one (Aredhel) we never see them written together. According to Middle-earth Statistics, there are 98 named elves in the Legendarium.

Most commonly, the Eldar would take either their father- or mother-name (and there's no evidence they even had both outside Valinor, interestingly), and - when it was significant - would add an epesse of one kind or another. Stringing names together in a long line... wasn't really done. I mean, yes, the first son of Feanor and Nerdanel technically had the names 'Nelyafinwe Matimo Maedhros Russandol' - but he only used the one.

As for the 'business name' concept... as Aragorn points out in the book, he was given the name Strider by the folk of Bree. He doesn't use it by particular choice, though he grows quite fond of it when he keeps getting it from the hobbits. There's no indication that he regularly gave his name - or, if he did, that he gave it as anything other than Aragorn.

More generally, the only real reason people in Middle-earth hide their names is when they're... hiding them! Aragorn was Thorongil, 'the Eagle of the Star', in Gondor in his youth, because revealing himself to be Isildur's Heir in front of the Steward wouldn't exactly have been politic (and that 'Ar-' prefix is very iconic of that family). Turin, famously, tried to hide his name everywhere he went - but it didn't work.

Luthien once claimed to be Thuringwethil, and Finrod claimed to be an orc - but that was disguise. In fact, the only elves I know of to have deliberately kept their names hidden... were Celegorm and Curufin, when they entrapped Luthien. They're... not a good role model.

And... well, see what I said about magic. When Luthien was enchanting her hair, she did it by naming the various things she was drawing on. If you try to disavow your own name - won't you become less 'yourself'? And among the Eldar, quite literally the most grounded people in Arda, that's a terrifying idea. I'd be willing to guess they told ghost stories about houseless spirits who had been wandering so long, they'd forgotten their own names...

(Which also explains why Feanor made such a fuss over renaming Melkor as 'the Dark Enemy of the World'. Is it significant that he was never able to assume a fair form after that point? Nah... can't be... right?)

((ALSO: 'you all thought I was merely Axabras, but in secret I am [DRAMATIC CHORD] Inuska!!!' is a very Suvian scene which should be avoided at all costs. Remember how early we're given Aragorn's true name?))

hS

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