Taniquetil meant 'High White Peak', but it was also called the White Mountain, the Holy Mountain, Elerrína ('Crowned with Stars'), and the Mountain of Manwë. The common name for Taniquetil among the Eldar was Oiolossë (‘Ever-Snow-White’) and it was named Amon Uilos in Sindarin.

Taniquetil was the tallest peak of the Pelóri (and in the whole of Arda). It was located at the northern end of the mountain chain. On its summit was Ilmarin, the dwellings of Manwë and Varda. The Vanyar, the first group of the Eldar to travel west, also came to dwell there.