Dol literally means 'head', but often appears in the names of hills or mountains. Baran also appears in the river name Baranduin, where it was said to mean 'golden-brown' rather than simply 'brown'. The hill is described as being green on its lower slopes, and purpled with heather on its heights, so the 'brown' of its name seems to come from the dried bracken that was found in the valleys leading up to the hill.