Gandalf in Old Norse

Gandalf (Gandálfr) as the name appears in Old Norse texts.

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[acsumama]

In the earliest draft of the Hobbit, "Gandalf" was the name of the leader of the dwarves, and the wizard was named Bladorthin. When he got to the Laketown scenes, he decided to switch the names around and call the wizard "Gandalf" and the dwarf leader "Thorin."

[penguinman]

So "Elf" in Norse would be equivalent to "Fae" in Gaelic. That actually does make sense.

[radagast]

I always thought it was funny that Gandalf is so similar to Odin (even having Shadowfax /Slepnir) and he goes to recruit a Burgler (trickster) to help out his friend Thor..in.
I recently started thinking of Bilbo as a trickster, and now I can't unsee it.
When he wins the ring, he does sp by exploiting a loophole in the Riddle Game. He distracts the dim witted trolls with his superior wit. He taunts Smaug while invisable, and starts the chain reaction of his demise. I dont know... am I off base here?
Also, there is a theory Gandalf wanted Smaug gone because he thought he would be too powerful if he ever joined Sauron... which kind of reminds me of the Thor /Jormungandr Odin / Fenrir prophecy.
Im also not suggesting direct allegory here, but it seems there was more than casual inspiration at the same time.

[marcusfridh]

I also heard somewhere that Gand also is the origine of English word Wand, as is magic wand and Gandalf in that sense would be translated to the wand carrying elf

[DavidCowie]

"Is that ice?"
"No, it's mice."

[jrpipik]

Tolkien playfully threw the Dwarf names from the Eddas into The Hobbit and later came to regret it when it came to be such a big part of his personal mythology. He preferred his own nomenclature. Later, he devised an explanation: Dwarves do not use their real names in public, and the names we know them by (Thorin, Balin, Fili, etc.) were given them by the Humans and Elves they came in contact with; and in keeping with the conceit that LOTR is a translation of the Red Book of Westmarch, the reason for using Old Norse names is similar to the reason for giving the Riders of Rohann Anglo Saxon names and speech, representing an older form of the language of the Modern English of the rest of the book.

Also in a playful way, he thought of the name Gandalf as "Elf with a Wand." He knew is wasn't exactly accurate, but the idea amused him enough to use it for a Wizard, a tall magical creature who carried a staff.

[midtskogen]

In modern Norwegian the word "gand", meaning "spell", is usually associated with the Sami. Might be a post-Christianity shift of use.

[davidspencer]

The dwarf association with shape-changing may be the central feature. The magical shape changing of the self is parallel to smithing, which changes the shape and even the substance of materials into tools and items with their own magic. Compare Old English scop for poet (possibly related to scepan, to create), who performed the same function with words.

[MrXiphoid]

The name Gandalf still persists even in present day names. The person that sticks out in my head is James Gandolfini, the actor who played Tony Soprano. I wonder if his surname has any connection to the Eddas.

[trondsi]

In Old Norse is there a connection between elf (Nor. alv) and river? (Nor. elv) The area Alfheim, where there was a king Gandalf, has been translated as both elf-home and river-land.

[animistchannel]

In previous research, I found references to the mortal king Gandalf, and they identified "Gand" as stick or staff, and the Alva (white or pale) people who lived near Ringiri -- thus he was the Alf who carried/used a battle stave. In that source, Gandalf was killed in war against the king of Oslo.

Anyway, that's how I remember it. I was actually tracking down something else at the time, but the Alva turned up as being known for being a particularly pale inland group/tribe (but not sami), and they didn't live along the Alba River.

[ernestomora]

Someone else hears the audio of this video in Spanish (as generated by an AI), or I'm just going emented?

[technovikingnik]

Awesome explanation of Gandalfr aside.. You two are so beautiful coupled together, I just come to watch you two together to feel joy. Thanks for sharing :)

[jessephillips]

Is that Mammoth hot springs in the background?

[VeteranVandal]

That Tolkien meme of Tolkien being the least creative person in naming anything has another chapter.

[Aswaguespack]

I must be part dwarf because of my lack of height. Haha. My ancestry is Scandinavian-French-German from the Alsace. I’m 5’5” my nephew 6’7”. 😮

[jamestaylor]

Magical fairy/elf. This is super basic stuff here. He was almost named Gandwere(magical man/wizard).

[Perisemiotics]

Lauren doesn't look thoroughly convinced about the etymology of "gand"...

[darnacb]

Is there any known connection between dwarven smiths and jewelry makers in Norse legend and those in Egyptian culture (Ptah, for instance, and the depictions on tomb walls of dwarf jewellers)?

[manoloestradas]

The spanish name “Gonzalo” and surname “Gonzalez” comes from that same root.