finwë

masculine name. Finwë

The first lord of the Noldor (S/52). His name is an ancient compound of uncertain meaning. Its final element is the suffix -wë common in ancient names (PM/340). Its initial element is probably derived from the root √PHIN “clever, skillful” (PE17/17, Ety/PHIN), though it was sometimes affiliated with derivatives of the root √SPIN(ID) “fine thread, filament; hair” (PE17/17, 119) after it developed in Common Eldarin into phin- (PM/340).

His name appears as an element in the Quenya names of many of his children and grandchildren, either incorporated directly or alluded too via the element findë “hair” < √SPIN(ID), as in Findecáno (PM/345). In the Sindarin names of his descendants, the element S. fin also alluded to his name (VT41/10).

Conceptual Development: This name appears in the earliest Lost Tales in exactly the same form, though ᴱQ. Finwe was not at first the father of Feanor (LT1/115, 145). Christopher Tolkien suggested the earliest form of this name was derived from the root ᴱ√FINI “✱cunning” (LT1A/Finwë). In The Etymologies, the name ᴹQ. Finwe is given as an ancient combination of the roots ᴹ√PHIN and ᴹ√WEG (Ety/PHIN, WEG), basically the same as its later derivation.

Finwë

finwë

Finwë masc. name, apparently displaying the frequent ending -wë suffixed to a stem normally having to do with hair, but the name is obscure (see Tolkien's discussion in PM:340-341). Also in Etym (PHIN, WEG). According to VT46:9, Finwë was also the name of tengwa #10 in the pre-classical Tengwar system presupposed in the Etymologies, but Tolkien would later call #10 formen instead.

arafinwë

masculine name. *Noble Finwë

Father-name of Finarfin (PM/344) from which his Sindarin name was derived. It is a compound ar(a)- “high, noble” and the name of his father, Finwë.

morifinwë

masculine name. Dark Finwë

The father-name of Caranthir (PM/353). It is a compound of morë (mori-) “dark” and the name of is grandfather Finwë, in reference to his black hair. The short form of this name was Moryo.

telufinwë

masculine name. Last Finwë

The father-name of S. Amras, youngest of the sons of Fëanor (PM/353). It is a compound of telu “last” and the name of his grandfather Finwë. The short form of his name was Telvo.

Telufinwë

last finwë

Telufinwë noun "Last Finwë", masc. name; he was called Amras in Sindarin. Short Quenya name Telvo. (PM:353)

curufinwë

masculine name. *Skilled-Finwë

The father-name of S. Curufin, from which his Sindarin name was derived (MR/217, PM/352). It is a compound of curu “skill” and his grandfather’s name Finwë. The short form of this name was Curvo (PM/352). This name was also the father-name of Curufin’s father, Fëanor (S/63, MR/87).

canafinwë

masculine name. Strong-voiced Finwë

The father-name of Maglor. Its initial element is from cáno “commander”, apparently intended to mean “strong-voiced” (or “commanding?”) in this context (PM/352). The final element is the name of his grandfather Finwë. The short form of this name was Cáno.

Canafinwë

strong-voiced or ?commanding finwë

Canafinwë masc. name "strong-voiced or ?commanding Finwë"; his Sindarin name was Maglor (see Macalaurë). Short Quenya name Cáno. (PM:352)

Finwë

Finwë

The name Finwë is said to be one of the oldest recorded names of the Eldar. It is not certain if Finwë had any clear meaning, but it can be analyzed as fin- (derived from Common Eldarin PHIN "hair") + -wë (suffix generally used for male names).

nelyafinwë

masculine name. Finwë third

The father-name of Maedhros, referring to the fact that he was third in the line of succession (PM/352). It is a combination of archaic †nelya “third” and the name of his grandfather Finwë. The short form of this name was Nelyo.

Nelyafinwë

finwë third

Nelyafinwë noun "Finwë third" (after the original Finwë and Curufinwë = Fëanor), masc. name; he was called Maedhros in Sindarin. Short Quenya name Nelyo. (PM:352)

finwion

masculine name. Son of Finwë

A name of Fëanor as the son of Finwë (MR/217). It is a combination of his father’s name and the patronymic suffix -ion “-son”.

nityafinwë

masculine name. Little Finwë

The father name of Amrod (PM/353). It is a compound of the nitya “little” and the name of his grandfather Finwë.

Conceptual Development: Tolkien first wrote this name as Pityafinwë, but then changed the initial pitya >> nitya. He also wrote the short form of this name as Pityo, but this name was not revised (PM/365).

ingoldo

masculine name. The Noldo

The mother-name of Finarfin (PM/360), and also the mother name of his son Finrod (PM/346). It is an archaic combination of the definite article i “the” and ✶Ñgoldō > Noldo, with the ñg- preserved because it was not at the beginning of the word (PE19/76). It would have been Sindarized as S. Angolodh, but this name was not used because Finarfin did not go to Middle-earth with his brothers (PM/360). A similar name was common in Númenor and Gondor, where it was reduced to Ingold (PM/360, LotR/749).

Conceptual Development: In earlier writing, the mother-name of Finarfin was Ingalaurë, while Ingoldo was the mother-name of Fingolfin (MR/230, PE17/118). At this stage, Tolkien said that it was a combination of the names of the peoples of Fingolfin’s mother and father, the Ingar and Noldor (MR/230). As the mother-mame of Fingolfin, Tolkien also considered having this name develop into Fingoldo (PE17/39) or Ingoldofinwe (PE17/118, MR/230) to better match his Sindarin name.

Pityafinwë

little finwë

Pityafinwë masc. name "Little Finwë"; he was called Amrod in Sindarin. Short Quenya name Pityo (PM:353)

Turcafinwë

strong, powerful (in body) finwë

Turcafinwë masc. name, "strong, powerful (in body) Finwë", masc. name; he was called Celegorm in Sindarin. Short Quenya name Turco. (PM:352), compare #turco "chief" (q.v.)

namna finwë míriello

the Statute of Finwë and Míriel

pityafinwë

masculine name. Little Finwë