At the time of Aragorn's birth, it was foretold that he would be known as Elessar, the 'Elfstone'. The details of this foretelling are not recorded, but according to one tradition the prophecy dated back even further, to a time when Gandalf travelled to Lórien. He was said to have brought with him a green gem of power from beyond the Great Sea, and granted it to Galadriel to await the coming of one who would share the name of the stone.2
During his southward journey with the Company of the Ring, Aragorn passed through the land of Lórien, a place he already knew well. As the Company departed from that land, Galadriel gave each of its members a gift, but to Aragorn she also gave a green stone, the Elessar or Elfstone, a clear green stone set in a silver brooch with the shape of an Eagle. Galadriel was well aware of this stone's prophetic significance, directly associating the green Elfstone with the name that was foretold for Aragorn.
Aragorn's journey led him on southward through Rohan and the Paths of the Dead, eventually to reach Minas Tirith and aid in the victory at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, and later to use his healing skills to bring Faramir back from the brink of death. The people of Minas Tirith cheered him for his bravery and skill, but did not know his name. Thus they called him 'Lord Elfstone' from the green stone that he wore, and so fulfilled the prophecy that this would be his name.
As the direct Heir of Isildur, Aragorn was soon accepted by the people of Gondor as their new King. He chose to rule under the name of Elessar, so that the 'Lord Elfstone' proclaimed by the people of Minas Tirith became King Elessar Telcontar (where Elessar meant 'Elfstone' and Telcontar was Elvish for 'Strider', Aragorn's nickname among northern Men).
Notes
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Aragorn had been known as 'Elfstone' long before he formally took the royal name Elessar, at least among those who were aware of his heritage and the prophecies surrounding it. Indeed, as the name was subject to a prophecy, it might conceivably have been used before Aragorn was even born. The prophecy of the name was fulfilled on 15 March III 3019, when the people of Gondor, not knowing the true name of the captain of the Rangers who had helped save their city, spontaneously proclaimed him as 'Elfstone' from the green jewel that he wore.
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2 |
This account comes from Unfinished Tales Part Two IV, The History of Galadriel and Celeborn, but it should be noted that it is only one variant of several possible histories of the green gem known as the Elfstone. The ultimate origin of Aragorn's foretold name 'Elfstone' is not categorically explained in any source.
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