The father of Húrin (S/148). The name was also used by an Elf of the Grey Havens appearing in the Council of Elrond from The Lord of the Rings. The meaning of this name is unclear, though David Salo suggested it might be a combination of the root GAL¹ “light” and the suffix -dor “lord” (GS/350). It could as also be a name derived from his own language, like those of his youngest son and grandson Huor and Tuor (PM/348, 364 note #49).

Conceptual Development: In the earliest Lost Tales, G. Galdor was a Noldo lord in Gondolin, lord of the People of the Tree (LT2/215). In the unfinished story “The Lost Road” from the 1930s, the name Galdor or Agaldor was given to an exiled Númenórean in rough notes (LR/77-9). The name N. Galdor appeared in The Etymologies from the 1930s, where its initial element was explained as either the root ᴹ√GAL² “thrive” or ᴹ√GALAD “tree” (Ety/GALA). In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, Galdor was an early name for Legolas (TI/148).

Conversely, in Silmarillion drafts from the 1930s the name of Húrin’s father was initially N. Gumlin (LR/275).

A name for Legolas in Lord of the Rings drafts (TI/148). This name also appeared in The Etymologies from the 1930s along with another form Gallor, which probably developed when voiced stops became spirants after liquids [ld > lð] and then medial [lð] became [ll]. Later the name S. Galdor was used for the father of Húrin.

In the earliest Lost Tales, Galdor was a Noldo lord in Gondolin, lord of the people of the Tree. In later writings, N. Galdor was an early name for Legolas in Lord of the Rings drafts and S. Galdor was used for the father of Húrin.