What was J.R.R. Tolkien’s full first name, including the names between John and Tolkien?

J.R.R. Tolkien’s full name was John Ronald Reuel Tolkien.

He was born John Ronald Reuel Tolkien in 1892. “John” honored his paternal grandfather, while “Ronald” was the name commonly used for him in childhood and adulthood. “Reuel” was an unusual family name; Tolkien later explained that it had biblical associations and had been used in his family.

The initials J.R.R. became internationally famous through his books, especially The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien generally signed his name as J.R.R. Tolkien in literary and academic contexts, although friends and family used names such as Ronald. The middle name “Reuel” is sometimes incorrectly expanded or replaced in trivia sources, but the standard biographical form is John Ronald Reuel Tolkien.