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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 |
|---|---|
| Aelf | Trademarkable variation of Elf. [AoS Order Aelf] |
| Aether-Khemist | Aether, a postulated element that filled space + "chemist", a practitioner of chemistry. [AoS Order Duardin Kharadron] |
| Aggradon | "Aggro", aggravation or aggression + Ancient Greek ὀδών, "tooth". [AoS Order Seraphon] |
| Akhelian | Achelous, god of the longest river in Greece in Greek mythology. [AoS Order Aelf Idoneth] |
| Alarielle | See: Ariel. [WHFB Elf HighElf AoS Order Aelf Sylvaneth God] |
| Allopex | Ancient Greek ἀλώπηξ, "fox". Used for the shark-like Allopex due to the genus of the thresher shark (also known as fox shark), Alopias. [AoS Order Aelf Idoneth] |
| Annihilator | "Annihilator", one who completely destroys. [AoS Order StormcastEternal] |
| Arkanaut | Blend of "arcane" (mysterious) and Argonauts, a group of heroes in Greek mythology. [AoS Order Duardin Kharadron] |
| Astreia Solbright | Asteria, Titan of the stars in Greek mythology + Latin sol, "sun" + "bright", emitting or reflecting much light. [AoS Order StormcastEternal] |
| Astrolith | Ancient Greek ἄστρον, "celestial body" + λίθος, "stone". [AoS Order Seraphon] |
| Auralan | Latin aureus, "golden". [AoS Order Aelf Lumineth] |
| Auric | "Auric", an ion of gold. [AoS Order Duardin Fyreslayer] |
| Avalenor | Avalon, a legendary island in Arthurian mythology. [AoS Order Aelf Lumineth] |
| Aventis Firestrike | Latin aventis, "of the craving" + "fire" + "strike", hit. [AoS Order StormcastEternal] |
| Bastian Carthalos | "Bastion", a stronghold + Carthalo, an officer in Hannibal's army. [AoS Order StormcastEternal] |
| Bastiladon | French bastille, "fortress" + Ancient Greek ὀδών, "tooth". [AoS Order Seraphon] |
| Branchwych | "Branch", tree limb + "witch", female magician. [AoS Order Aelf Sylvaneth] |
| Carthalos | See: Bastian Carthalos. [AoS Order StormcastEternal] |
| Castigator | "Castigator", one who punishes. [AoS Order StormcastEternal WH40k Imperial SistersofBattle Vehicle] |
| Celennar | Selene, goddess of the Moon in Greek mythology. [AoS Order Aelf Lumineth] |
| Celestite | Blend of "celestian" (heavenly) and "-ite" (suffix denoting a mineral). [AoS Order Seraphon Material] |
| Concussor | "Concuss", to injure the brain through violent impact. [AoS Order StormcastEternal] |
| Decimator | "Decimator", a one who devastates. [AoS Order StormcastEternal] |
| Demigryph | French demi, "half" + gryphon (a monster in European mythology). [AoS Order StormcastEternal] |
| Desolator | "Desolator", one who lays waste. [AoS Order StormcastEternal] |
| Dracoth | "Drake", a dragon. [AoS Order StormcastEternal] |
| Drycha Hamadreth | Welsh drych, "mirror" + Hamadryad, a tree spirit in Greek mythology. [AoS Order Aelf Sylvaneth] |
| Duardin | Trademarkable variation of Dwarf. [AoS Order Duardin] |
| Durthu | Welsh dâr, "oak". [WHFB Treeman AoS Order Aelf Sylvaneth] |
| Eidolon | Eidolon, a spirit-image in Greek mythology. [AoS Order Aelf Idoneth WH40k Chaos Slaanesh SpaceMarine EmperorsChildren] |
| Endrinmaster | "Engine", mechanical device + "master", person in control. [AoS Order Duardin Kharadron] |
| Endrinrigger | "Engine", mechanical device + "rigger", one who fits sails to a ship. [AoS Order Duardin Kharadron] |
| Evocator | "Evocator", one who calls something forth. [AoS Order StormcastEternal] |
| Executioner | "Executioner", one who carries out capital punishment. [AoS Order StormcastEternal] |
| Firestrike | See: Aventis Firestrike. [AoS Order StormcastEternal] |
| Fulminator | "Fulminator", one who criticises strongly. [AoS Order StormcastEternal] |
| Gardus Steel Soul | "Guard us", protect us + "steel", hardened iron alloy + "soul", essence. [AoS Order StormcastEternal] |
| Grundstock | German Grundstück, "real estate". [AoS Order Duardin Kharadron] |
| Hamadreth | See: Drycha Hamadreth. [AoS Order Aelf Sylvaneth] |
| Hamilcar Bear-Eater | Hamilcar Barca (275.288 BC), Carthaginian general and father of Hannibal. [AoS Order StormcastEternal AstralTemplars] |
| Helstorm | "Hell", place of great suffering + "storm", very strong wind. Also a corruption of the name Helstrom. [AoS Order] |
| Hurakan | "Hurricane", a strong tropical cyclone. [AoS Order Aelf Lumineth] |
| Hurricanum | "Hurricane", a strong tropical cyclone. [AoS Order] |
| Hydra | Lernaean Hydra, a many-headed water monster in Greek mythology. [WHFB Elf DarkElf AoS Order Aelf WH40k Imperial ImperialGuard Vehicle Tyranid HiveFleet] |
| Isharann | Ishara, a goddess of oaths in Mesopotamian mythology. [AoS Order Aelf Idoneth] |
| Judicator | "Judicator", one who acts as a judge. [AoS Order StormcastEternal] |
| Kharibdyss | Charybdis, a sea monster in Greek mythology. [WHFB Elf DarkElf AoS Order Aelf] |
| Khinerai | Kinnara, a half-human half-bird being in Buddhist and Hindu mythology. [AoS Order Aelf DaughtersofKhaine] |
| Knight-Heraldor | Knight + "heralder", one who announces. [AoS Order StormcastEternal] |
| Knight-Questor | Knight + "quest", mission (but note that there is an English word "questor", an alternative spelling of "quaestor", a type of public official). [AoS Order StormcastEternal] |
| Knight-Relictor | Knight + Latin relictus, "abandoned". [AoS Order StormcastEternal] |
| Knight-Venator | Knight + Latin venator, "hunter". [AoS Order StormcastEternal] |
| Knight-Vexillor | Knight + Latin vexillum, "banner". [AoS Order StormcastEternal] |
| Kroak | "Croak", to make a sound like a frog, and also a slang word meaning "to die". [WHFB Lizardman Slann AoS Order Seraphon] |
| Kroxigor | "Crocs", crocodiles + Gor. [AoS Order Seraphon] |
| Kurnoth | See: Kurnous. [AoS Order Aelf Sylvaneth] |
| Leviadon | Blend of Leviathan (a sea serpent in Judaic mythology) and Ancient Greek ὀδών ("tooth"). [AoS Order Aelf Idoneth] |
| Liberator | "Liberator", one who frees. [AoS Order StormcastEternal] |
| Lord-Celestant | "Lord", master of a household + "celestial", of the heavens. [AoS Order StormcastEternal] |
| Lord-Exorcist | "Lord", master of a household + "exorcist", one who drives out evil spirits. [AoS Order StormcastEternal] |
| Lord-Ordinator | "Lord", master of a household + Latin ordinator, "arranger". [AoS Order StormcastEternal] |
| Lord-Veritant | "Lord", master of a household + Latin veritas, "truth". [AoS Order StormcastEternal] |
| Lotann | Lotan, servant of the sea god Yam in Levantine mythology. [AoS Order Aelf Idoneth] |
| Luminark | Latin lumen, "light" + "ark" (as per the Ark of the Covenant). [AoS Order] |
| Magmadroth | Magma, molten rock + "drake", a dragon. [AoS Order Duardin Fyreslayer] |
| Melusai | Blend of Melusine (a water spirit in the form of a woman with a serpent's tail) and Medusa (a snake-haired monster in Greek mythology). [AoS Order Aelf DaughtersofKhaine] |
| Mistweaver Saih | "Mist", light fog + "weaver", one who weaves + "sigh", exhalation. [AoS Order Aelf] |
| Morgwaeth | Welsh mor, "so" + gwaeth "worse" (although in practice mor causes a soft mutation, so together they should be mor waeth). [AoS Order Aelf DaughtersofKhaine] |
| Namarti | Namor, the Sub-Mariner, a comic character who is adapted to underwater. [AoS Order Aelf Idoneth] |
| Pallador | Pallas is one of the names given to Athena, goddess of strategy in Greek mythology. [AoS Order StormcastEternal] |
| Praetor | Latin praetor, "leader". [AoS Order StormcastEternal WH40k Imperial ImperialGuard Vehicle AdeptusCustodes SpaceMarine] |
| Prosecutor | "Prosecutor", one who presents the legal case against the accused. [AoS Order StormcastEternal WH40k Imperial AdeptusCustodes] |
| Protector | "Protector", one who guards. [AoS Order StormcastEternal] |
| Raptadon | Latin raptor, "thief" (used in English to refer to a bird of prey) + Ancient Greek ὀδών, "tooth". [AoS Order Seraphon] |
| Raptor | Latin raptor, "thief", used in English to refer to a bird of prey. [AoS Order StormcastEternal WH40k Chaos SpaceMarine] |
| Retributor | "Retributor", one who punishes from moral outrage or vengeance. [AoS Order StormcastEternal WH40k Imperial SistersofBattle] |
| Ripperdactyl | Blend of "ripper" (one who tears) and Pterodactyl (a prehistoric winged reptile). [AoS Order Seraphon] |
| Saih | See: Mistweaver Saih. [AoS Order Aelf] |
| Saurus | Ancient Greek σαύρα, "lizard". [WHFB Lizardman AoS Order Seraphon] |
| Scinari | Latin scin, "do you know?". [AoS Order Aelf Lumineth] |
| Sequitor | Latin sequor, "I follow after". [AoS Order StormcastEternal] |
| Seraphon | Seraph, a class of angel in Judaic mythology. [AoS Order Seraphon] |
| Sevireth | Blend of "seventh" and Sephiroth (ten God-created attributes in Kabbalah). [AoS Order Aelf Lumineth] |
| Skaeth | Scots skaith, "harm". [AoS Order Aelf Sylvaneth] |
| Skink | Skink, a type of lizard. [WHFB Lizardman AoS Order Seraphon] |
| Slann | Slan (1946), a science fiction novel by A. E. van Vogt. The Slan are a race of psychic super-beings that are persecuted by humanity. [WHFB Lizardman Slann AoS Order Seraphon WH40k] |
| Solbright | See: Astreia Solbright. [AoS Order StormcastEternal] |
| Sotek | Sobek, crocodile-headed god in Egyptian mythology. [AoS Order Seraphon God] |
| Stegadon | Ancient Greek στέγος, "roof" (as per Stegosauria) + ὀδών, "tooth". [AoS Order Seraphon] |
| Sylvaneth | "Sylvan", pertaining to forests. [AoS Order Aelf Sylvaneth] |
| Tauralon | Blend of Latin taurus ("bull") and "talon", hooked claw. [AoS Order StormcastEternal] |
| Tempestor | "Tempest", a severe storm. [AoS Order StormcastEternal] |
| Terradon | Blend of "terror" (extreme fear) and Pteranodon (a prehistoric winged reptile). [AoS Order Seraphon] |
| Troglodon | Blend of "troglodyte" (someone/something living in caves or underground) and Ancient Greek ὀδών ("tooth"). [WHFB Lizardman AoS Order Seraphon] |
| Vanari | "Vanguard", the leading units of an army. [AoS Order Aelf Lumineth] |
| Vanquisher | "Vanquisher", one who conquers. [AoS Order StormcastEternal] |
| Venator | See: Knight-Venator. [AoS Order StormcastEternal] |
| Vigilor | Latin vigilo, "I keep watch". [AoS Order StormcastEternal] |
| Vindictor | Latin vindicta, "punishment". [AoS Order StormcastEternal] |
| Volturnos | Latin Vulturnus, the Volturno river in Italy. [AoS Order Aelf Idoneth] |
| 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 Grandfather Nurgle