What if... nobody reused names?

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

Does this also explain the origins of Gil-galad? Is he the son of both Fingon and Orodreth: his own namesake superimposed in time and therefore one and the same? A simultaneous double incarnation?

Oh, no, there's a totally different explanation for that: "Orodreth" is a girl's name (Orod-Elleth, 'Mountain-maid'). That's why she plays such a subordinate rule, letting first Finrod, then Cel'n'Cur, and finally Turin run her life - as we all know, Tolkien's female characters are all completely passive.

Anyway, she was married to Fingon, but got so annoyed at his "close friendship" with Maedhros that she took both the kids (well, all three, but we don't talk about Hallas) and went to hang out with her big brother.

It's all in the upcoming Nature of Middle-earth, of course.

hS