[ 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 |
|---|---|
| Armageddon | Armageddon, the location of the battle for the end times from the Bible. [WH40k SegmentumSolar ArmageddonSector System] |
| Cthonia | "Chthonian", relating to the underworld. [WH40k SegmentumSolar System SonsofHorus] |
| Hegemon | See: Tower of Hegemon. [WH40k SegmentumSolar SolarSector SolSystem Imperial Custodes] |
| Hive Primus | Latin primus, "first". [WH40k SegmentumSolar Necromunda City] |
| Luna | Latin luna, "moon". [WH40k SegmentumSolar SolarSector SolSystem] |
| Necromunda | Ancient Greek νεκρός, "dead" + Latin mundus, "world". [WH40k SegmentumSolar System ImperialFists Necromunda] |
| Sol | Latin sol, "sun". [WH40k SegmentumSolar SolarSector System SolSystem] |
| Somnus Citadel | Somnus, god of sleep in Roman mythology + "citadel", fortress above a city. [WH40k SegmentumSolar SolarSector SolSystem Imperial SistersofSilence] |
| Terra | Latin terra, "earth". [WH40k SegmentumSolar SolarSector SolSystem] |
| Tower of Hegemon | Ancient Greek ἡγεμών, "leader". [WH40k SegmentumSolar SolarSector SolSystem Imperial Custodes] |
| Zalktraa | Anagram of "alkatraz", in reference to Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary. [WH40k SegmentumSolar Necromunda City] |
| 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 Great Lord of Decay