[ Models | Lore | Sources | Inspiration ]
With a rich background stretching back decades in time, the various Warhammer games contain a vast array of names (of people, places, items, and so on). Many of these names are original, but some happen to have a meaning in the real world, as obscure terms, foreign words, or cultural references. This page lists some of these underlying etymologies for your edification. Note that some of these are best guesses (speculative fan theory) rather than confirmed derivations.
Where a name is followed by the symbol ¹, if you hover over or click on that symbol you will see when that name was first mentioned in a publication.
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Acastus | Acastus, a hero (one of the Argonauts) in Greek mythology. [WH40k Imperial Knight] |
| Acheron | Acheron, a river in Greece. The river of woe in Greek mythology, that flows in the underworld. [WH40k Imperial Knight] |
| Armiger Helverin | Latin armiger, "carrying weapons or armour" + German Helferin, "helper". [WH40k Imperial Knight] |
| Armiger Warglaive | Latin armiger, "carrying weapons or armour" + "war", armed conflict + "glaive", large-bladed polearm. [WH40k Imperial Knight] |
| Canis Rex | Latin canis, "dog", + rex, "king". [WH40k Imperial Knight] |
| Castellan | Castellan, the governor of a castle. [WH40k Imperial Knight SpaceMarine BlackTemplars AdeptusCustodes] |
| Cerastus | Latin cerastes, "horned viper". [WH40k Imperial Knight] |
| Crusader | "Crusader", one who goes on a military expedition. [WH40k Imperial Knight Inquisition SpaceMarine Vehicle] |
| Desecrator | "Desecrator", one who violates sanctity. [WH40k Chaos Knight] |
| Despoiler | "Despoiler", one who plunders. See also: Abaddon the Despoiler. [WH40k Chaos Knight] |
| Dominus | Latin dominus, "master". See also: Tech-Priest Dominus. [WH40k Imperial Knight AdeptusMechanicus] |
| Forgeshrine | See: Sacristan Forgeshrine. [WH40k Imperial Knight] |
| Gallant | "Gallant", honourable. [WH40k Imperial Knight] |
| Helverin | See: Armiger Helverin. [WH40k Imperial Knight] |
| Magaera | Megaera, one of the Furies in Greek mythology. [WH40k Imperial Knight] |
| Porphyrion | Ancient Greek πορφύρεος, "purple". [WH40k Imperial Knight] |
| Preceptor | Latin praeceptor, "commander". [WH40k Imperial Knight] |
| Questoris | Latin quaestores, "public officials". [WH40k Imperial Knight] |
| Rampager | "Rampager", one who moves in a frenzy. [WH40k Chaos Knight] |
| Rex | See: Canis Rex. [WH40k Imperial Knight] |
| Sacristan Forgeshrine | "Sacristan", a maintainer of sacred objects + "forge", a smith's workshop + "shrine", a sacred place. [WH40k Imperial Knight] |
| Tyrant | "Tyrant", one who rules through absolute power. [WH40k Chaos Knight] |
| Valiant | "Valiant", courageous. [WH40k Imperial Knight] |
| War Dog | "War dog", a veteran soldier. [WH40k Chaos Knight] |
| Warden | "Warden", guardian. [WH40k Imperial Knight] |
| Warglaive | See: Armiger Warglaive. [WH40k Imperial Knight] |
| Inspiration | |
| Warhammer Setting | The Dark Tongue; Daemonic Names; Lexicon; Short Stories; Cut-ups; Cool Stuff |
| Art | Golden Demon; Nurglesque Music |
| Speculation | Chaos God Correspondence; Dark Heresy Backgrounds; Sevenfold Path; Sevenrot; Seven Deadly Sins |
| Real World References | Nergal in Mesopotamian History; Symbolism of Three Circles; Symbolism of Seven |
dedicated to the Master of Pestilence