Son of Bór, an Easterling in Beleriand (S/157). The initial element of his name appears to be a combination of [N.] bor(th) “steadfast” and [N.] hann “intelligent” (Ety/BOR, KHAN). As this name was Sindarin, it was probably not his true name.

Conceptual Development: In Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s, this name first appeared as N. Borthandos (LR/134), and in The Etymologies, it was given as a combination of N. borth and N. handos “intelligence”, which is the source of the derivation given above. His name was changed to Borthand in Silmarillion revisions from the 1950s-60s (WJ/240).