Aragorn is commonly called Strider when he first appears in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.
The Hobbits meet him at the Prancing Pony in Bree, where he is known as a mysterious Ranger named Strider. This name reflects his life traveling through the wild lands of Eriador and conceals his royal heritage from enemies and strangers. Gandalf has arranged for him to protect the Hobbits after their departure from the Shire.
As the story develops, Aragorn’s identity becomes central to the history of Middle-earth. He is the heir of Isildur and a descendant of the kings of Arnor and Gondor. Other names reveal different parts of his life: Thorongil was a name he used in his youth, while Elessar is a royal title associated with his reign. “Strider” is therefore not his birth name, but it is the name most closely linked to his first major appearance in the narrative.