Where does “Gandalf” come from?

Gandalf is from Old Norse Gandálfr, from Old Norse alfr and Proto-Germanic gandaz, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots albʰós and bʰon-.

Gandalf (English): known in history, and in the books of Tolkien, but not usually bestowed on children

Definitions

  1. known in history, and in the books of Tolkien, but not usually bestowed on children

Ancestry of “Gandalf”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old NorseGandálfrelf with a magic staff
2Old Norsegandrmagic wand; stick, staff; magic, monster; magic...
3Proto-Germanicgandazstick, staff
4Proto-Indo-Europeangʷʰen-to strike, slay, kill
5Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰon-—

Words derived from “Gandalf”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰon- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷʰen- →Every word from Proto-Germanic gandaz →