Legolas Greenleaf was the son of King Thranduil of the Mirkwood Realm. The name 'Legolas' literally meant 'green leaf'. He was a Silvan elf of Sindarin descent and his birthdate is not known.

He lived in Mirkwood until he was sent to Rivendell to tell the news of Gollum escaping. There he ended up becoming part of the Fellowship of the Ring. He travelled with Aragorn and Gimli, and named Gimli 'elf-friend'. He fought at the Battle of the Hornburg and the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. He travelled on the Paths of the Dead, and often rode with Gimli behind him on his horse.

After the War of the Ring he lived in Ithilien with elves from Mirkwood.

When Aragorn died, he finally followed the sea-longing the gulls had awoken in him, and sailed West in a boat he built himself. It was said that he took Gimli with him, because of their great friendship, and that the two passed into the West in 120 of the Fourth Age.

There is also a Legolas in the story of the Fall of Gondolin (in the First Age), but it is not known if they are the same elf. That Legolas led the refugees over the plains, because he was night-sighted.