About Those Hobbit Names - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Thinlómien · 07-09-2008, 05:39 PM

I had quite forgotten about this - if not about the existence of translation, but at least of the actual names of the Hobbits. I had a sudden urge to think that if I ever have a daughter, I just might have to name her Maura...!

To be a bit more serious and on-topic, I must say this issue is a bit confusing to me too. It does not feel nice to use the "wrong names of the heroes, but then again, would it be the same if they had those alien names? I don't think so. The Hobbits would indeed feel a little less familiar to me - and I'm Finnish, not English like the "primary audience". I trust Tolkien knew what he was doing.

Eomer of the Rohirrim · 07-09-2008, 06:03 PM

Regarding our earlier side-note, our newest forum member is Aragorn. I suspect this evidence supports my case.

Peregrin Took · 07-09-2008, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eomer of the Rohirrim

Regarding our earlier side-note, our newest forum member is Aragorn. I suspect this evidence supports my case.

Haha, I still must disagree...I like thinking I got lucky

Side-note: Just maybe nobody thought to create an "Aragorn" because they all kept thinking it was taken without looking it up?

Edit: When looking through the member forum, I notice a lot of last visited: 1969. All the same day and year, and obviously this site was not around in 69, let alone the internet. So if those are still there, which I assume are names that people made and just never used, they couldn't just free dormant names up.

If an admin sees this, could you clear this up for us? Thanks!

Peregrin Took · 07-09-2008, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thinlómien

To be a bit more serious and on-topic, I must say this issue is a bit confusing to me too. It does not feel nice to use the "wrong names of the heroes, but then again, would it be the same if they had those alien names? I don't think so. The Hobbits would indeed feel a little less familiar to me - and I'm Finnish, not English like the "primary audience". I trust Tolkien knew what he was doing.

I agree - the "real" names I mentioned just do not roll off the tounge as nicely as the translated ones.

07-09-2008, 05:39 PM	#1
Thinlómien Shady She-Penguin Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: In a far land beyond the Sea Posts: 8,093	I had quite forgotten about this - if not about the existence of translation, but at least of the actual names of the Hobbits. I had a sudden urge to think that if I ever have a daughter, I just might have to name her Maura...! To be a bit more serious and on-topic, I must say this issue is a bit confusing to me too. It does not feel nice to use the "wrong names of the heroes, but then again, would it be the same if they had those alien names? I don't think so. The Hobbits would indeed feel a little less familiar to me - and I'm Finnish, not English like the "primary audience". I trust Tolkien knew what he was doing. __________________ Like the stars chase the sun, over the glowing hill I will conquer Blood is running deep, some things never sleep Double Fenris

07-09-2008, 06:03 PM	#2
Eomer of the Rohirrim Auspicious Wraith Join Date: May 2002 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 4,859	Regarding our earlier side-note, our newest forum member is Aragorn. I suspect this evidence supports my case. __________________ Los Ingobernables de Harlond

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