Man-maiden

The Elf who would later be known across Middle-earth as Galadriel was not born with that name. By the custom of the Elves, she was named at the time of her birth by her father Finarfin, and he chose the name Artanis (simply 'noble woman'). Following the same custom, she would later receive a second name, a 'mother-name', that would more suited to her nature and abilities as they became apparent.

As Galadriel grew, her mother Eärwen, seeing that her daughter had become tall and strong even for one of the Noldor, chose the name Nerwen. This name means 'man-maiden', reflecting the fact that Galadriel was the equal of any of her fellow Eldar, man or woman alike, in both strength and wisdom.

After Galadriel abandoned the Blessed Realm and travelled to Middle-earth, she abandoned the names given to her by both her father and mother. Instead she chose to use a third name, a name granted in later life by others (an epessë or 'after-name', as the Elves termed such a name). This was, at least in Sindarin form, Galadriel, 'crowned with a radiant garland', referring to her extraordinary golden-silver hair.