Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2025 July 13

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July 13

Leyndell/Lendle/Lundeyll

- In Joel Rosenberg's 1983 fantasy novel The Sleeping Dragon there is a major town called Lundeyll.

- In the 1980s/1990s Fighting Fantasy series of gamebooks there's a city called Royal Lendle.

- In the recent video game Elden Ring, the royal capital is called Leyndell.

Does this vague sound have some sort of etymological grounding which has led three separate writers to name fantasy cities after it, or is this just an odd coincidence? Dr-ziego (talk) 08:13, 13 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Lundeyll is also referenced in later books of the Guardians of the Flame series. "Leyndell" makes me think of Rivendell  ​‑‑Lambiam 09:18, 13 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Lundeyll reminds me of Lunedale, the valley of the County Durham River Lune, and Lunesdale, the upper part of the valley of the Lancashire/Cumbria Lune. But then I'm from that part of the world and Joel Rosenberg wasn't. --Antiquary (talk) 11:47, 13 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

The names remind me of Lendal (a road), Lendal Tower, and Lendal Bridge in York. -- Verbarson  ^talk_edits 13:43, 13 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

They're all secret tributes to Ivan Lendl, a high-ranking member of the WP:CABAL. Clarityfiend (talk) 23:51, 13 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

In the context of Fantasy Fiction, these may be inspired by The Lord of the Rings. On the map of Middle-earth, an estuary called the Gulf of Lune is prominent, into which the River Lune (not the one in County Durham!) runs. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 94.5.172.125 (talk) 10:17, 14 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

So Lunedale? -- Verbarson  ^talk_edits 11:29, 14 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, as mentioned by Antiquary above. So? {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 94.5.172.125 (talk) 15:25, 14 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

So I didn't notice that, sorry. But I did link the article. -- Verbarson  ^talk_edits 16:36, 14 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

-dell or -del are rare but not unknown suffixes in English place names, having the same meaning as -dale: "valley." Arundel is one example that comes to mind. Chuntuk (talk) 15:44, 22 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]