What was J.R.R. Tolkien’s full first name?

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

He was born John Ronald Reuel Tolkien on 3 January 1892. “John” was chosen partly in honor of his paternal grandfather, while “Ronald” was the name by which he was generally known in childhood. “Reuel” came from a family tradition and was also the name of a French-born relative on his father’s side.

The initials “J.R.R.” became inseparable from Tolkien’s public identity, appearing on the title pages of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and his scholarly work. The repeated “R” can lead readers to assume that the middle names are Robert or Richard, but neither is correct.

Tolkien’s legal name also included the surname Tolkien, whose family history traced through German ancestry. His formal names are documented in biographies and library records.