The Golem hypothesis is interesting, and I wouldn't discount it as a possibility. The fact that it was a contemporary invention does not make it less valuable. Like any legend/invention it served a certain purpose at that moment in history, in this case, the wishful thinking that one could fashion a creature from mud (with the aid of faith) who would then fight for his creator. What is very important about the Golem myth is that the Golem is said to be brought to life by writing a word onto the back of his hand: the Hebrew equivalent of 'life'. To bring it back to Gollum, consider what
Saraphim said. Gollum's will was no longer his own, he was as much a servant of the Ring as the Golem was his master's. And also don't forget the power of words all throughout LOTR, (i.e., the Ring poem and its effect when uttered in Dark Speech at the Council of Elrond.
So, can we call it plausible?
It could also be the fact that he forgot how to laugh, as
Imladris suggested, so 'gollum' would be a strangled attempt to show his pleasure, which now only derived from the Ring; or that he kept choking on fish (how often does one have to choke, though, before the sound he makes becomes his nickname?
). Call me crazy, but I actually tried immitating the sound many times, and it never came out right (as is described in the book). It sounds somehow unnatural. And I agree the movie sound is not at all how I imagined it when reading the book description if it. However these theories do not contradict the Golem hypotheses - while one is true in the context of the 'real life inspiration', the others are true in the fictious world of ME (
did I say fictious - I uttered a blasphemy!).
Anyway, the only certainty we have so far is
ElanorGamgee 's post, the rest is speculation.
Well, I say, let's keep the speculations coming!
