Naming customs of the Eldar

[artanaro]

Elvish naming customs



Summarized from: Of the Laws and Customs Among the Eldar, Morgoths Ring pp 214-217 by Ithildin

This essay (penned by JRRT possibly in the late 1950s) pertains specifically to Noldorin customs, though the wording suggests that the customs may possibly extend to other Eldar with the exception of Essecilmë, the chosen name. I highly recommend the entire essay, as it deals with many other aspects of elvish belief and custom in addition to those I have attempted to summarize here.

Essecarmë Name-Making
This ceremony took place soon after the childs birth, and in it the father announced the name he had devised for the child to kin on both sides of the family. This name was considered the childs true name and remained unchanged throughout life (except as the language itself evolved and changed over the ages).

It seems that this name remained the persons official name even when other names replaced it in general use.

Essecilmë Name-Choosing (apparently primarily a Noldorin custom)

Noldor children had the option of choosing a name for themselves when they achieved mastery of the language. The ceremony could not take place before the child was deemed ready and capable of lámatyávë, as the Noldor called it: that is the individual pleasure in the sounds and forms of words.

This seldom occurred before the age of 7 and usually Essecilmë ceremonies occurred around the end of the 10th year.

This name expressed some personal characteristic of the person, something more individual than physical features. Though rarely done, an additional name could be chosen at a later date if desired. Each name became part of the Noldos full title, the sequence of all the names that had been acquired in the course of life.

The chosen name was considered a true name (as opposed to a nickname) but unlike the father-name, the chosen name would be considered private property and would be used only by immediate family and the closest of friends. It would be considered presumptuous or insulting for someone to use it without permission.

In the early ages, these names were usually freshly devised however as ages went on (and more names were available) they were more often chosen from existing names, though the name might be modified in some way. Essecilmë ceremonies were never frequent and became more rare as the ages wore on.

Anessi Given (added) Names

The most important of the anessi would be the mother-names: The amilessi tercenyë (mother-names of insight) and of foresight, amilessi apacenyë. These were bestowed upon the child when the mother perceived by insight some dominant feature of the childs nature; or if through foresight she perceived the child was destined for some special fate. The essi tercenyë (names of insight) were highly regarded, and sometimes replaced the father-name and chosen name in general use, though the father-name (and chosen name when applicable) were always considered the true/official name(s). These were public names if placed after the father-name in the full title. The amilessi tercenyë were more common (and more often came into public use) in the early years of the Eldar when father-names were usually a modification of the fathers name.

Other anessi could be given by anyone, and might not even be recognized by the person unless they were adopted or self-given. They pertained to some deed or event or some prominent feature of body or mind. These given names or nicknames were not considered true names, though some achieved wide general use. They were seldom included in the full title and if by wide general use they were, they came at the end.

Examples
Fëanor (son of Finwë):

Father-name: Finwion (later modified to: Curufinwë when his talent was revealed)*

amilessi tercenyë (mother name of insight) Feanáro Spirit of Fire

Chosen name: Feanáro (in honor of his mother whom he never saw) **

Fëanor = blend of Quenya Feanáro and Sindarin Faenor



Elwë lord of the Teleri
Anessë (given name): Sindicollo Grey-cloak

Sindarin form: Elu Thingol

Commonly called Thingol by others,

However, Elu or Elu-thingol would have been the proper title in his own realm.



* This modification seems to conflict with the earlier statement that the father-name remained unchanged throughout life.

** According to this essay, apparently it was reported but not known for certain if Fëanor in fact took his amilessë tercenyë as his chosen name.

[artanaro]

From Morgoth's Ring pgs 214- 217

" OF NAMING

This is the manner in which the naming of children was achieved among the Noldor. Soon after the birth the child was named. It was the right of the father to devise this first name, [13] and he it was that announced it to the child's kindred upon either side. It was called, therefore, the father-name, and it stood first, if any other names were afterwards added. It remained unaltered [save for such changes as might befall its spoken form in the passing of the long years; for (as is elsewhere told) even the tongues of the Eldar were subject to change] for it lay not in the choice of the child.

But every child among the Noldor (in which point, maybe, they differed from the other Eldar) had also the right to name himself or herself. Now the first ceremony, the announcement of the father-name, was called the Essecarme or 'Name-making'. Later there was another ceremony called the Essecilme or 'Name-choosing'. This took place at no fixed date after the Essecarme, but could not take place before the child was deemed ready and capable of lamatyave, as the Noldor called it : that is, of individual pleasure in the sounds and forms of words. The Noldor were of all the Eldar the swiftest in acquiring word mastery; but even among them few before at leasts the seventh year had become fully aware of their own individual lamatyave, or had gained a complete mastery of the inherited language and its structure, so as to express this tyave skillfully within its limits. The Essecilme, therefore, the object of which was the expression of this personal characteristic [ this lamatyave was held a mark of individuality, and more important than others, such as stature, color, and features of face.] usually took place at or about the end of the tenth year.

In elder times, the 'Chosen Name', or second name, was usually freshly devised, and though framed according to the structure of the language of the day, it often had no previous significance. In later ages, when there was a great abundance of names already in existence, it was more often selected from names that were known. But even so some modification of the old name might be made.[14]

Now both these names, the father-name and the chosen name were 'true names', not nicknames; but the father-name was public and the chosen name was private, especially when used alone. Private, not secret. The chosen names were regarded by the Noldor as part of their personal property, like (say) their rings, cups, or knives, or other possessions which they could lend, or share with kindred and friends, but which could not be taken without leave. The use of the chosen name, except by members of the same house (parents, sisters, and brothers), wsa a token of closest intimacy and love, when permitted. It was, therefore, presumptuos or insulting to use it without permission. (This sentiment had thus nothing to do with 'magic' or with taboos, such as are found among Men)[15]

Since, however, the Eldar were by nature immortal within Arda, but were by no means changeless, after a time one might wish for a new name [16]. He might then devise for himself a new chosen name. But this did not abrogate the former name, which remained part of the 'full title' of any Noldo : that is the sequence of all the names that had been acquired in the course of life.[17]

These deliberate changes of chosen name were not frequent. There was another source of the variety of names borne by any one of the Eldar, which in the reading of their histories may to us seem bewildering. This was found in the Anessi: the given (or added) names. Of these the most important were the so-called 'mother-names'.[18] Mothers often gave to their children special names of their own choosing. The most notable of these were the 'names of insight', essi tercenye, or of 'foresight', apacenye. In the hour of birth, or on some other occasion of moment, the mother might give a name to her child, indicating some dominant feature of its nature as perceived by her, or some foresight of its special fate.[19] These names had authority, and were regarded as true names when solemnly given, and were public not private if placed (as was sometimes done) immediately after the father-name.

All other given names were not true names, and indeed might not be recognized by the person to whom they were applied, unless they were actually adopted or self-given. Names, or nicknames, of this kind might be given by anyone, not necessarily by members of the same house or kin, in memory of some deed , or event, or in token of some marked feature of body or mind. They were seldom included in the 'full titel', but when they were, because of their wide use and fame, they were set at the end in some form such as this : 'by some called Telcontar (that is, Strider); or 'sometimes known as Mormacil' (that is, Blacksword).

The amilessi tercenye, or mother-names of insight, had a high position, and in general use sometimes replaces, both within the family and without, the father-name and chosen name, though the father-name (and the chosen among those of the Eldar that had the custom of the essecilme) remained ever the true or primary name, and a necessary part of any 'full title'. The 'names of insight' were more often given in the early days of the Eldar, and in that time they came more readily into public use, because it was then still the custom for the father-name of a son to be a modification of the father's name (as Finwe/Curufinwe) or a patronymic (as Finwion 'son of Finwe). The father name of a daughter would likewise often be derived from the name of the mother.

Renowned examples of these things are found in the early histories. Thus Finwe, first lord of the Noldor, first named his eldest son Finwion;[20] but later when his talen was revealed this was modified to Curufinwe.[21] But the name of insight which his mother Miriel gave to him in the hour of birth was Feanaro 'Spirit of Fire'; and by this name he became known to all, and he is so called in all the histories. (It is said that he also took this name as his chosen name, in honor of his mother, whom he never saw)[22] Elwe, lord of the Teleri, became widely known by the anesse or given name of Sindicollo 'Greycloak', and hence later, in the changed form of the Sindarin tongue, he was called Elu Thingol. Thingol indeed was the name most used for him by others, though Elu or Elu-thingol remained his right title in his own realm.

Notes
[13] It is said in MS A that is was the right of the father, not to 'devise' the first name, but to 'announce' it, and this is followed by a note: 'Thought the name was often the mother's choice. But it was held to be the right of the father to devise the name of [the first son>] his sons, if he would, and of the mother to devise the name of [the first daughter>] her daughters. But in any case the father proclaimed the name. To the words ' This name was thus called the "father-name" or first name' was added later in A : 'It always had a meaning adn was made of known words.'

[14] At this point there is a footnote in B (deriving closely from A) which was later struck through:
It will be observed in the histories how seldom the same name recurs for different persons. this is because, both in Essecarme and in Essecilme, there was usually an attempt to mark individuality; and names were regarded as the property of those who first bore them.

[15] The footnote here reads thus in A:
This feeling had nothing to do with 'magic' or taboo. The Eldar did indeed believe in a special relation between a name of a person and his life and individuality; but this concerned both first and second name (alone or together), which they might conceal from enemies.

[16]The Eldar hold that, apart from ill chances and the destruction of their bodies, they may in the course of their years each exercise and enjoy all the varied talents of their kind, whether of skill or of lore, though in different order and in different degrees. With such changes, of 'mind-mood' or ingwisti their lamatyaver might also change. But such changes and progressions were in fact seen most among the neri(men), for the nissi(women), even as they came sooner to maturity, remained then more steadfast and were less desirous of change. [According to the Eldar, the only 'character' of any person that was not subject to change was the difference of sex. For this they held to belong not only to the body(hroa) but also to the mind(inno) equally: that is, to the person as a whole. This person or individual they often called esse (that is 'name'), but it was also calle erde, or 'singularity'. Those who returned from Mandos, therefore, after the death of their first body, returned always to the same name and to the same sex as formerly.]

[17] A has a different account here: 'They might then devise a new "Chosen Name" but this replaced the former, and became the Second Name. Identity was preserved by the permanence for all formal and legal purposes of the First Name or father's name.'

[18] A has : 'this was the Anessi, the given names, or "nick-names" (with reference to the original meaning of nick-name, changed from (an) eke-name, meaning an additional or added name).

[19] The passage following this in A reads thus:
Later, when the character and gifts of the child were revealed, as it grew, she might also give a similar name to it (or modify its father-name). But this latter branch of 'mother-names' differed in authority only rather than in kind from general given or nick-names. These were given to persons by anyone (not necessarily even members of their 'house' or kin), in memory of some deed, or event, or some striking peculiarity. Though these names had no authority and were not 'true names', they often became widely known and used, and were sometimes recognized by the persons themselves and their families. The 'mother-names of insight' had an intermediate position. They had parental authority and the authority of maternal terken [added:insight], and were often used instead of either father-name or chosen name, or might replace them both - replaced by them, that is, in actual usage. The 'true' or primary Esse of any person remained the father-name. The 'names of insight', though at no time frequent, were more frequent in the early days of the Eldar....

[20] In A it is said that 'Finwe originally named his eldest son Finwe'
[21] A has here a passage that was omitted in B :
Finwe then named his second son (by another mother, Indis) also Finwe, modifying it later to Nolofinwe. But the mother name which Indis gave to him was Ingoldo, signifying that he was partly of both the Ingar (people of Ingwe), her own kin, and of the Noldor. By this name he also became generally knownl; though after the rule of the Noldor was committed to him by Manwe (in place of his elder brother and his father) he took the name of Finwe, and was in fact usually called Ingoldo-Finwe. similarly the third son was Arafinwe and also Ingalaure (because he had the golden hair of his mother's kin).
As in the name Noldor throughout the later texts, Nolofinwe is written with a tilde over the N.

Namarie
Artanaro

[artanaro]

I think it would be a good idea to keep the elven naming tradition in this tradition...In some ways it is very similar to the "Craft name" that is adopted by many involved in the pagan ways.

I will begin with myself: In keeping with elven tradition, I have taken the father-name I had in the incarnation that I have the strogest connection to and that name is Artanaro. Now according to Noldorin tradition my second name would be one chosen by me which would remain private, though not secret and revealed only to those closest to the person, it being used as a token of great love and/or friendship. This name I have not yet devised. Then there are names given to a person, such as a mother-name, or honorary titles, or names of insight (under which mother-names are considered) given by others, though the given names may be rejected by the person named. This is a name I propose we give to each other after awhile as we get to know each other better, a name reflecting a dominant feature of personality or some such association.

Two points of interest concerning the Elven belief concerning names:
* The use of the chosen name, except by members of the same house (parents, sisters, and brothers), wsa a token of closest intimacy and love, when permitted. It was, therefore, presumptuos or insulting to use it without permission. (This sentiment had thus nothing to do with 'magic' or with taboos, such as are found among Men)[15]

*15] The footnote here reads thus in A:
This feeling had nothing to do with 'magic' or taboo. The Eldar did indeed believe in a special relation between a name of a person and his life and individuality; but this concerned both first and second name (alone or together), which they might conceal from enemies.

Artanaro

[Melfaroth]

I believe that going back to the naming tradition would be an excellant tradition to fall back on. I know not what mothers gain once they become mothers for I have not been one; in any life that I know of. But I can say this. I believe that mothers have an understanding for their children that no other can ever have, so I believe that it is possible that we can in fact use the mother naming tradition. For I have had a gift in this life. That gift is the capability of 'reading' an individual. I can literally tell if someone is being truthful when it means the most. I have learned to read people as well as if they were those books and the written history that I love so very much. Anyways, I am babbling and I feel it is probably about time I shut my mouth. (No ill intended towards myself of course ^_^) So blah blah blah and so on and so forth. I think it is an excellent idea Artanaro. I say, let's go for it!

Namarie Mellon,
Melfaroth

p.s. Sorry for not talking to you Friday night. I was have difficulties 'within'. More about that later if you really want to know. Tootles!

p.p.s. I have decided to put another poem onto the forum. Check it out if you like. It is kind of fun. I like it anyways.