S. Fingolfin m.
Second son of Finwë and high king of the Noldor in Beleriand until his death (S/60). His name is an adaptation of his father-name Nolofinwë, with the prefixed element fin often seen in the Sindarin names of the descendants of Finwë (PE17/118, PM/344).
Conceptual Development: The earliest name of this character was ᴱN. Golfin, as suggested by Christopher Tolkien (LB/147), though he did not yet have his proper place in the geneologies of the Houses of the Noldor. In the Lays of Beleriand from the 1920s, his name emerged as ᴱN. Fingolfin, and so remained thereafter.
In The Etymologies from the 1930s, the Noldorin name Fingolfin was glossed “Magical Skill” (Ety/PHIN). When Tolkien revised the history of the Elvish languages, he briefly considered revising this name to S. Ingolfin, based on his mother-name Ingoldo, but quickly rejected this idea, using the etymology given above instead (PE17/118). He later reassigned Ingoldo as the mother-name of his younger brother Finarfin (PM/360).
References ✧ LT1I; MRI; PE17/118; PM/344, 360; PMI; SI; UTI; WJI
Variations
Cognates
Derivations
N. Fingolfin m. “Magical Skill”
References ✧ Ety/PHIN; LR/406; LRI; RSI; SDI1/Fingolfin; SMI/Fingolfin, Golfin
Glosses
Elements
| ᴹ√ÑGOL | “wise, wisdom, be wise” | |
| ON. phinya | “skillful” | ✧ Ety/PHIN (-phini) |
Element In
Cognates