The wizards told them?️

well, I suppose it wasn't his proper name that he called himself, but maybe one the dwarves or men of the lake gave him?

wait, no, that won't work, because Bilbo called him Smaug in the book, didn't he? Unless Smaug knew what he was referred to by his "neighbors"...

Maybe dragons like to keep their real names secret, like certain fey creatures in the old fairy tales and legends?

And here's another one for you from the movie version: how did Smaug know Thorin's epithet was Oakenshield? Thorin didn't get that surname until the battle of Moria (I'll call it that because I can't spell the dwarven word for it :) ), and that happened almost 30 years AFTER the mountain was lost to the dragon. And even if you believe that Jackson was using a contracted timeline in comparison to the books (though, while he left some things out, he never EXPRESSLY states in the movie that the timeline had been shortened; that's just a general opinion some people form because of Thorin's age in the flashback sequence), the battle for Moria STILL didn't occur until well after Erebor fell. And it's not like Erebor is close to Moria, either, so rumor couldn't have reached Laketown.

And also, why did Smaug seem to have a grudge against Thorin directly? They hardly interacted at all when Smaug attacked, and Thorin was just one of thousands of dwarves trying to hold the gate against him; they didn't speak or have any direct contact, so how would Smaug even know who Thorin was or even care? Thorin was 3rd in line to the thrown at the time, and a youth - Smaug would have been more interested in Thror or even Thrain; not Thorin. So how would Smaug even know who Thorin was, let alone know that he was after the Arkenstone and that it would drive him mad? And Bilbo never said who he was with - so why would Smaug, especially if he had been alseep inside the mountain long enough for folks to start thinking he was dead - even suspect that was who Bilbo was with? Why would that be the first thought to cross his mind? I mean - how would he even known Thror and Thrain were dead! Why would he immediately suspect Thorin was the dwarf trying to take the mountain, and not dwarves from the Grey Mountains or even the Iron Hills?

Unelss Sauron had been in talks with Smaug...(which is what I have going on in my own head canon - this would explain, to me, Gandalf's sudden urgency in wanting Smaug "evicted")

Well, this one wasn't quite as long as the other - you'll learn not to ask for my thoughts in the future "grins" lol

More please

-giggles hysterically- I never thought about it before but the 'lucky guess' part makes me ecstatic.

LOL!
Possibly the elves of old passed on information? Or the Maiar did?

I am finding this story quite hilarious... It is true thought. How do they know his name?

Bahahahahaaaa! OMG that is too freaking funny! I bet that the dwarves only got so huffy about it was because they realize that they don't have an answer. XD

Grrrrr! This should have been my fist review but I hit the wrong button and sent it too soon. :P

Bwahahahaaa! OMG that is

Oh that is hilarious! Thank you!

LOL! That was a good laugh! Good job.

Great start - I wonder why no-one else thought of that?

More please

A very good question :)
Borys

LOL
Its a good question though!

Maybe the name was given by dwarves, elves, men or the all knowing wizards?:)))