The name Anducal is almost certainly composed from two elements andu, 'west', and cal, 'light', but the significance of this combination is less than clear. The idea of the Light in the West was usually connected with the Two Trees of Valinor, but as the name of a Man - even a King of Númenor - that association would seem preposterously prideful. Perhaps a more likely reference would be to the Star of Eärendil. That star could be seen shining in the West, and it was borne by Eärendil, a distant ancestor of Tar-Anducal, so it fits a name meaning 'light of the West'.

Whatever its precise meaning, the choice of the name Tar-Anducal was doubtless influenced by this King's previous name of Herucalmo, apparently meaning 'lord of light'.