What was J.R.R. Tolkien’s third given name?

J.R.R. Tolkien’s third given name was Reuel.

The author was born John Ronald Reuel Tolkien. His initials therefore represent John, Ronald, and Reuel, although he was generally known publicly as J.R.R. Tolkien. Reuel was also used within his family, and Tolkien’s full name appears in biographical and official records.

Ronald was his preferred everyday name during much of his life, while “John” reflected his first given name and family tradition. Reuel is sometimes mistaken for a surname or for the name of one of Tolkien’s fictional characters, but it was part of his own personal name. His son Christopher Tolkien, who edited many posthumous works, shared the family’s strong connection with Tolkien’s literary legacy.