Uncommon names

[randy_byers]

I just noticed that there's a reporter named Theoden Janes at the Charlotte Observer. That first name can't have come from anywhere other than Tolkien, can it? I've never seen it anywhere else before.

Comments

[kalimac.livejournal.com]

It's an Old English word meaning "king," so it could come from elsewhere. It occurs in Beowulf, iirc. But I agree that Tolkien is the likeliest source.

What'd be really great would be if his name were Theoden King, since that's how the Rohirrim actually address their leader.

[k6rfm.livejournal.com]

I am pleased by my google fu finding "þéoden" in Beowulf, though given it appears on line 34 maybe more manual searching would have worked too. Haney (the translation I have) makes it "prince" not "king" but that's not a meaningful distinction I think.

[kalimac.livejournal.com]

I would have consulted my print copy of the Anglo-Saxon, and my several different translations, were they not several hundred miles away right now. And Google might be easier if I were not writing this on an ancient steam-powered tablet.