Don't know about LotR names never becoming popular...Both my parents are teachers and boy do we have fun at the beginning of the school year trying to pronounce all the names. The winner from last year: Elijsha (pronounced without the 'sh', but it's more fun to try with it).
But I do think it'd be hard for a kid to be named even Frodo. Can you imagine the hardships for a boy named Merry in today's soceity? I can hear the bullies chanting now: "Mister Merry, quite contrary, how does your garden grow?" *shudder* Sam, Elanor, sure, Pippin at the craziest, but otherwise I think it would mess with the poor child's mind.
The closest I'd ever come to a M-E name is Ariel, Elvish 'royal daughter' and Hebrew 'lion of God'. Also, as a slight detour from Peregrin, is Kestrel, which I think makes a wonderful name.
Maybe even Faramir as a middle name, so hardly anyone would know...
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