J.R.R. Tolkien’s middle name was Reuel. His full name was John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, although he was commonly known by the initials J.R.R. Tolkien. Reuel was a name used in his family and appears in records connected with his early life.
Tolkien was born John Ronald Reuel Tolkien in 1892. His first name was John, while Ronald became the name most often used by his family. The unusual middle name has sometimes led readers to assume that the initials stand for more conventional names such as Robert or Richard, but Tolkien’s own name was Reuel.
Tolkien’s naming practices also matter in his fiction, where names often carry linguistic history and cultural associations. The initials J.R.R. became internationally recognizable through The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. His son Christopher Tolkien retained the family name while becoming the principal editor of his father’s posthumously published Middle-earth writings.