What was J.R.R. Tolkien’s full name at birth?

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

He was born John Ronald Reuel Tolkien on 3 January 1892 in Bloemfontein, in what was then the Orange Free State. The initials used in his pen name came from his first three names: John, Ronald and Reuel. “Reuel” was a family name associated with his father’s side and was sometimes treated as a middle name.

Tolkien generally used “Ronald” in everyday life rather than “John.” His initials became internationally famous through his work on Middle-earth, including The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. The form “J.R.R. Tolkien” is therefore an abbreviation, not his complete birth name.

A common mix-up is assuming that the second initial stands for “Richard” or that “Reuel” was a title. It was part of his personal name.