The history of Amrod's name is fraught with complication. According to one tale, his mother Nerdanel originally gave the name Ambarussa ('top-russet') to both the red-haired twins later known as Amrod and Amras. Fëanor insisted that she give them different names, and so she chose Umbarto ('Fated') as a new name for one of the twins. Fëanor was disturbed by this ominous name, and altered it in turn to Ambarto (meaning approximately 'top-lofty').

In versions of the story outside the published Silmarillion, the name 'Fated' was tragically appropriate: Ambarto was burned to death in the firing of the ships at Losgar. In the published version, however, he survived, and appears to have taken on a new name, Amrod, derived from a 'Sindarisation' of the original form Ambarato.