Valië of the stars, spouse of Manwë (S/26). Her name is variously translated “Exalted” (RGEO/61), “Lofty” (Let/282) or “Sublime” (WJ/402). It is derived from the primitive name ✶Baradā from the root √BARAD “lofty, high” (PE17/22).
Conceptual Development: The name ᴱQ. Varda dates back to the earliest Lost Tales (LT1/58), though at this early stage it was a derivative of the root ᴱ√VṚÐṚ along with ᴱQ. varni “queen” and the verb ᴱQ. vard- “rule, govern” (QL/102, LT1A/Varda). In The Etymologies from the 1930s, Tolkien changed the derivation of ᴹQ. Varda to the one given above (Ety/BARAD), and this etymology reappeared in writings from the 1950s (PE17/22).
Varda fem. name "the Sublime", name of a Valië, spouse of Manwë, the Queen of the Valar, called Elbereth in Sindarin (BARATH, BARÁD, WJ:402; in Letters:282 Varda is translated the "Lofty"). As a general adjective "sublime", †varda could still occur as a poetic word in verse (PE17:23), but normal prose would apparently rather use the related word varanda (q.v.) Genitive Vardo (for Vardao). (Nam, RGEO:66). Vardamir masc. name, "Varda-jewel" (Appendix A, UT:210); vardarianna ?"Varda-gift", name of a tree (but the ri element is obscure) (UT:167)