Sindarin king of Lórien for the first half of the Third Age, lover of Nimrodel. His name was Silvan in origin, adapted into Sindarin (LotR/1127). This name is translated as “upclimber”, referring to the high talan on which he (and other Elves of Lórien) dwelled (UT/245; NM/367). The name is a compound of am “up” and a derivative of the root √RATH “climb” (UT/255), derived from (Ancient) Telerin Ambarātho (NM/367).

Conceptual Development: In first drafts of the “Fall of Númenor” from the early 1930s, the name N. Agaldor > N. Amroth was used for the character who would eventually become Q. Elendil (LR/12, 31). In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, the lover of Nimrodel was first named N. Ammalas >> Amaldor before Tolkien settled on the name Amroth (TI/223).

Perhaps the earliest name for Q. Elendil, immediately revised to Amroth, appearing in the earliest version of the tale of the Fall of Númenor (LR/12, 31). The language and the meaning of the name are unclear, but it appears to be Noldorin. Its initial element might be based on an augmented form of √KAL “light”.

See Q. Elendil for further discussion.

Earliest form of the name of Amroth, first changed to Amaldor and then Amroth (TI/223). The meaning of these name are unclear, but Roman Rausch suggested they both contain the element am “up” appearing in his later name, and possibly end with the lenited forms of lhass “leaf” (or possibly glass “joy”) and Galdor (EE/2.26).

See S. Amroth for further discussion.