What was J.R.R. Tolkien’s middle name commonly shortened to as “R.R.”?

J.R.R. Tolkien’s initials stand for John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, so “R.R.” represents Ronald Reuel. He was born John Ronald Reuel Tolkien in 1892. “Ronald” was his everyday personal name, while “Reuel” was a family name associated with his paternal line.

The initials became internationally recognizable through the publication of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien’s author name is often written with periods as J.R.R. Tolkien, although styles vary by publisher and language. The form distinguishes him from his son Christopher Tolkien and from other members of the Tolkien family.

Tolkien’s first name, John, reflected family tradition, and Ronald was chosen by his mother. Reuel has sometimes been mistaken for a title or invented Elvish word, but it was part of Tolkien’s legal name. His full name appears in biographical records, university documents and the catalogues of his manuscripts.