A name for region of Beleriand where the people of Círdan dwelled (WJ/379). This name is effectively a combination of the prefixal form Egla- of Eglan “Forsaken (Elf)” and bâr “home”, derived from ancient ✶(h)ekla-mbar (WJ/365).
Conceptual Development: In the Gnomish Lexicon from the 1910s, the name G. Eglamar “Elfinesse, Elfhome” appeared (among other variations) as the Gnomish equivalent of ᴱQ. Eldamar, home of the Elves in Valinor (GL/32). This name also appeared with this meaning in drafts of the Lays of Beleriand from the 1920s (LB/157, 181). A number of variations of this name appeared in early name lists, including G. Eglavain (LTI2/320) and ᴱN. Uidhelian (PE13/155) >> Idhelian (PE15/61), but these variations did not appear in later writings.
After Tolkien revised the phonology of the Noldorin language in The Etymologies from the 1930s, this name became Ilk. Eglamar “Elvenhome” containing the Ilkorin word for “Elf”: Ilk. Egla (Ety/ELED). However, the name did not appear in the narratives of that period. After Tolkien abandoned the Ilkorin language, the name reappeared in his Quendi and Eldar essay from 1959-60, with the revised meaning given above (WJ/379).
egla- (from PQ hekla “elf, Falathrim”) + (m-)bar (“land, dwelling”) It is said to be an old name, which is reflected by its formation, with the genitival element preceding: ekla-mbar; #the fact that the first part of the compound is egla-, not eglan- probably explains the mutation of mb- to m, in contrast to Eglador.