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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 |
|---|---|
| Acklan'd | See: Mad Mullah Acklan'd. [WHFB Human] |
| Alarielle | See: Ariel. [WHFB Elf HighElf AoS Order Aelf Sylvaneth God] |
| Albi Schutz ¹ | Latin albi, "of white" + German Schutz, "protection". [WHFB Human] |
| Amex ¹ | American Express (founded 1850), a payment card company. [WHFB Elf SeaElf God] |
| Anfingrimm | See: Scyla Anfingrimm. [WHFB Norscan AoS BloodBowl Chaos Khorne ChaosSpawn] |
| Antonio Epstein ¹ | Antonio, a character from The Merchant of Venice (c. 1596), a play by William Shakespeare + Epstein, a name. [WHFB Human] |
| Archaon | Blend of "arch" (high) + "chaos". Also Ancient Greek ἀρχαῖον, "primeval". [WHFB Human AoS Chaos] |
| Ariel | Ariel, a character from The Tempest (1611), a play by William Shakespeare. [WHFB Elf WoodElf] |
| Arka Zargul ¹ | Arthur Scargill (1938-), a British trade unionist that led the 1984-85 UK miners' strike. See also: Een McWrecker. [WHFB Dwarf] |
| Arkhan the Black | Blend of Arkham (a fictional city created by H. P. Lovecraft) and "arcane" (mysterious). [WHFB AoS Death OssiarchBonereapers Mortarch] |
| Avelorn | Avalon, a legendary island in Arthurian mythology. [WHFB Elf HighElf] |
| Aygar Mistletaine ¹ | Agar, a jelly used in science experiments + mistletoe, a plant important in Druidic mythology. [WHFB Human Norscan] |
| Bahb-Elonn ¹ | Babylon, with the floating gardens of Bahb-Elonn referring to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. [WHFB] |
| Banquo ¹ | Banquo, a character from Macbeth (published 1623), a play by William Shakespeare. See also: McDeath. [WHFB Human] |
| Barrachus ¹ | B. A. Baracus, a character from The A-Team TV series (first aired in 1983). [WHFB Human] |
| Be'lakor | "Blacker", more black. [WHFB AoS WH40k Chaos Daemon DaemonPrince] |
| Bloab Rotspawned | Blend of "bloat" (distend) and "blob" (shapeless mass) + "rot", decay, + "spawned", given birth to. [WHFB AoS Chaos Nurgle] |
| Bloodletter | "Bloodletter", one who removes blood. [WHFB AoS BloodBowl WH40k Chaos Khorne Daemon LesserDaemon] |
| Bogel ¹ | See: Corabell Bogel, Hunk Bogel, John-Boy Bogel, Lorabeth Bogel, Willy Bogel. [WHFB Human] |
| Bovigor | Latin bovinus, "of cattle" + Gor. [WHFB Chaos Beastman] |
| Calaco ¹ | See: Grimwald Calaco. [WHFB Human] |
| Caprigor | Latin caprinus, "of goats" + Gor. [WHFB Chaos Beastman] |
| Charles ¹ | Charles Edward Stuart (1720-1788), known as Bonnie Prince Charlie. Note that the character Prince Charles is at one point nicknamed "Boney Prince Charley" in the adventure. [WHFB Human] |
| Corabell Bogel ¹ | Corabeth, a character from The Waltons TV Series (first aired in 1972) + bogle, a spirit from Northumbrian and Scots mythology. See also: Lorabeth Bogel. [WHFB Human] |
| Daemon | Ancient Greek δαίμων, a divine being or guardian spirit or departed soul, and later an evil spirit. [WHFB AoS WH40k Chaos Daemon] |
| Daemonette | Daemon + "-ette", female. [WHFB AoS BloodBowl WH40k Chaos Slaanesh Daemon LesserDaemon] |
| Daemonspew | See: Orghotts Daemonspew. [WHFB AoS Chaos Nurgle] |
| Donalbane ¹ | Donalbain, a character from Macbeth (published 1623), a play by William Shakespeare. See also: McDeath. [WHFB Human] |
| Druchii | "Dark", ultimately from the Dökkálfar (dark elves) in Norse mythology. [WHFB Elf DarkElf] |
| Dunco ¹ | King Duncan, a character from Macbeth (published 1623), a play by William Shakespeare. See also: McDeath. [WHFB Human] |
| Durthu | Welsh dâr, "oak". [WHFB Treeman AoS Order Aelf Sylvaneth] |
| Dwarf | Dwarf, a supernatural being in European mythology. [WHFB Dwarf] |
| Een McWrecker ¹ | Ian MacGregor (1912-1998), a Scottish-American industrialist whose management actions led to the 1984-85 UK miners' strike. See also: Arka Zargul. [WHFB Human] |
| Elf | Elf, a supernatural being in Germanic mythology. [WHFB Elf] |
| Epidemius | "Epidemic", widespread disease. [WHFB AoS WH40k Chaos Nurgle Daemon Herald] |
| Epstein ¹ | See: Antonio Epstein. [WHFB Human] |
| Fateweaver | See: Kairos Fateweaver. [WHFB AoS WH40k Chaos Tzeentch Daemon GreaterDaemon] |
| Festus the Leechlord | Latin festus, "joyful" (but also referencing "infected") + leech + "lord", master of a household. [WHFB Human AoS Chaos Nurgle] |
| Fimir | Fomorians, a supernatural race in Irish mythology. [WHFB AoS Destruction] |
| Finehelm ¹ | See: Gimbrin Finehelm. [WHFB Dwarf] |
| Franz | See: Karl Franz. [WHFB Human Empire] |
| Fritzy ¹ | "On the fritz", US slang for malfunctioning. [WHFB] |
| Frugelhofen ¹ | "Frugal", avoiding waste + Hofen / Höfen, various places in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. [WHFB] |
| Frugelhorn ¹ | Blend of Frugelhofen and Matterhorn (a mountain on the Swiss-Italian border). [WHFB] |
| F'yar ¹ | "Fire". [WHFB Orc] |
| Gimbrin Finehelm ¹ | Blend of Gimli and Durin, dwarves in the Middle-earth setting created by J. R. R. Tolkien (1892-1973) + "fine", good quality + "helm", armour for the head. [WHFB Dwarf] |
| Goblin | Goblin, a monster in European mythology. [WHFB Goblin] |
| Gor | "Gore", to pierce with a horn. Note that it is the presence of horns that determines whether an individual beastman is truly a Gor. [WHFB AoS Chaos Beastman] |
| Gorger | "Gorger", one who eats greedily. [WHFB Ogre AoS Destruction Ogor] |
| Gork | See: Gork and Mork. [WHFB BloodBowl Orc WH40k Ork God] |
| Gork and Mork ¹ | Blend of Gog and Magog (two individuals/peoples/lands from the Bible) and Ork. Later, Gogmagog, a giant in Welsh mythology. [WHFB BloodBowl Orc WH40k Ork God] |
| Greenwake ¹ | See: Gurggl Greenwake. [WHFB Lizardman Slann] |
| Grimwald Calaco ¹ | Grimwald, a name + Calico Jack (1682-1720), a pirate captain. [WHFB Human] |
| Gurggl Greenwake ¹ | "Gurgle", a bubbling sound + "green" + "wake", a gathering to remember someone dead. [WHFB Lizardman Slann] |
| Gutrot Spume | "Gut", intestines + "rot", decay + "spume", sea foam. [WHFB Human Norscan AoS Chaos Nurgle] |
| Hagar Sheol ¹ | Hägar the Horrible, a Viking comic character first published in 1973 + Sheol, a dark afterlife in Hebrew mythology. [WHFB Orc] |
| Haslefriesian ¹ | See: Sven Haslefriesian. [WHFB Dwarf] |
| Heinrich Kemmler ¹ | Blend of Heinrich Kramer (1430-1505, the inquisitor that wrote Malleus Maleficarum) and Heinrich Himmler (1900-1945, Nazi leader who introduced occultism into the SS). [WHFB Human] |
| Hekarti | Hecate, goddess of magic in Greek mythology. [WHFB Elf God] |
| Hunk Bogel ¹ | "Hunk", an attractive muscular man + bogle, a spirit from Northumbrian and Scots mythology. [WHFB Human] |
| Hydra | Lernaean Hydra, a many-headed water monster in Greek mythology. [WHFB Elf DarkElf AoS Order Aelf WH40k Imperial ImperialGuard Vehicle Tyranid HiveFleet] |
| Ironfist ¹ | See: Magyar Ironfist. [WHFB Orc] |
| Isha | Aisha (c. 613-678), a scholar in the early history of Islam. [WHFB Elf WH40k Eldar God] |
| Jacsen ¹ | See: Mikeal Jacsen. [WHFB] |
| John-Boy Bogel ¹ | John-Boy, a character from The Waltons TV Series (first aired in 1972) + bogle, a spirit from Northumbrian and Scots mythology. [WHFB Human] |
| Juggernaut | Juggernaut, an unstoppable force. The word is itself a corruption of Jagannath (lord of the universe), a god in Hindu mythology. [WHFB AoS WH40k Chaos Khorne Daemon] |
| Julbrinna ¹ | Yul Brynner (1920-1985), an actor whose roles included the lead in The Magnificent Seven (1960). [WHFB Norscan Weapon] |
| Kairos Fateweaver | Ancient Greek καιρός, "time" + "fate", destiny + "weaver", one who weaves. [WHFB AoS WH40k Chaos Tzeentch Daemon GreaterDaemon] |
| Karl Franz | Archduke Franz Karl of Austria (1802-1878). [WHFB Human Empire] |
| Karra Lakota ¹ | Lakota, a subculture of the Sioux, with the character named in reference to Siouxsie Sioux (1957-), a singer. [WHFB Human Amazon] |
| Keeper of Secrets | "Keeper of Secrets" is a title of the angel Raziel in Judaic mythology. [WHFB AoS WH40k Chaos Slaanesh Daemon GreaterDaemon] |
| Kemmler ¹ | See: Heinrich Kemmler. [WHFB Human] |
| Khaine | Cain, a character from the Bible who was the first murderer. [WHFB Elf DarkElf AoS Aelf WH40k Eldar God] |
| Kharibdyss | Charybdis, a sea monster in Greek mythology. [WHFB Elf DarkElf AoS Order Aelf] |
| Khorne | Possibly a clipping of Khornerstone, a computer performance testing benchmark created by Workstation Laboratories in 1986 (the same year that Khorne first appeared, in Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay). Khornerstone is named in the same style as Dhrystone and Whetstone, two benchmarks that it incorporates, with an "h" inserted as the second letter, and the first letter changed to "k" to retain the pronunciation of "cornerstone". Dhrystone (1984) was named as a pun on Whetstone. The Whetstone (1972) benchmark gets its name from the Whetstone Compiler (1964) for ALGOL, which was developed in the village of Whetstone in the UK. [WHFB AoS BloodBowl WH40k Chaos Khorne God] |
| Khorngor | Khorne + Gor. [WHFB AoS WH40k Chaos Khorne Beastman] |
| Kroak | "Croak", to make a sound like a frog, and also a slang word meaning "to die". [WHFB Lizardman Slann AoS Order Seraphon] |
| Kurnous | Cernunnos, god of nature in Gallo-Roman mythology. [WHFB Elf WH40k Eldar God] |
| Kwae Karr ¹ | "Quaker", one who trembles. Possibly Kwae Karr Orcs is a corruption of Quaker Oats. [WHFB Orc] |
| Laeron ¹ | Laeron, a river in the Roman province Gallaecia (present-day Galicia, Portugal). [WHFB Elf Human] |
| Lahmia | Lamia, a monster in Greek mythology. [WHFB Nehekhara City] |
| Lakota ¹ | See: Karra Lakota. [WHFB Human Amazon] |
| Lileath | Lilith, the first woman in Judaic mythology. [WHFB Elf WH40k Eldar God] |
| Lorabeth Bogel ¹ | Corabeth, a character from The Waltons TV Series (first aired in 1972) + bogle, a spirit from Northumbrian and Scots mythology. See also: Corabell Bogel. [WHFB Human] |
| Lustria | "Lustre", shine. [WHFB Lustria] |
| Mad Mullah Acklan'd | "Mad Mullah", a nickname given to Mohammed Abdullah Hassan (1856-1920) + Tony Ackland, the original illustrator for Warhammer. [WHFB Human] |
| Magritta ¹ | Margaret Thatcher (1925-2013), noting that both the British prime minister and Empress Magritta of Marienburg came to power in the year 1979. [WHFB Human Empire] |
| Magyar Ironfist ¹ | "Magyar", Hungarian + "iron", a metallic element + "fist", clenched hand. [WHFB Orc] |
| Malekith | Latin male, "wickedly" + Middle English kith, "relation". [WHFB Elf DarkElf] |
| Malter ¹ | "Malter", a maker of malt (in this case malt whisky). The Malter's Falchion is a further reference to the The Maltese Falcon (most famous as a 1941 film, but first published as a novel by Dashiell Hammett in 1930). [WHFB Human] |
| Mannfred von Carstein | Manfred (1817), a drama by Lord Byron. [WHFB AoS Death SoulblightGravelords Vampire Mortarch] |
| McDeath ¹ | Macbeth (published 1623), a play by William Shakespeare. See also: Banquo, Donalbane, Dunco, Runsinane Hill. [WHFB Human] |
| McWrecker ¹ | See: Een McWrecker. [WHFB Human] |
| Mikeal Jacsen ¹ | Michael Jackson (1958-2009), singer, particularly for his music video "Thriller" involving zombies. [WHFB] |
| Mistletaine ¹ | See: Aygar Mistletaine. [WHFB Human Norscan] |
| Morai-Heg | The Morrígan, goddess of war in Irish mythology, associated with crows. [WHFB Elf WH40k Eldar God] |
| Morbidex Twiceborn | "Morbid", relating to disease + "twice born", having come into being two times. [WHFB AoS Chaos Nurgle] |
| Mork | See: Gork and Mork. [WHFB BloodBowl Orc WH40k Ork God] |
| Moulder | "Moulder", to decay or rot. [WHFB AoS Chaos Skaven Clan] |
| Mourngul | "Mourn", grieve + ghoul, a monster from Arabian mythology. [WHFB AoS Death Nighthaunt] |
| Neferata | Nefertiti (c. 1370-1330 BC), queen of Ancient Egypt. [WHFB AoS Death SoulblightGravelords Vampire Mortarch] |
| Nurgle ¹ | Nergal, a god of war and plague in Mesopotamian mythology. [WHFB AoS BloodBowl WH40k Chaos Nurgle God] |
| Nurgling | Nurgle + "-ling", small. [WHFB AoS BloodBowl WH40k Chaos Nurgle Daemon LesserDaemon] |
| Ogre | Ogre, a monster in European mythology. [WHFB Ogre] |
| Orc | Orc, a monster in European mythology. [WHFB Orc] |
| Orc's Drift ¹ | Battle of Rorke's Drift (1879) between the British and Zulu. [WHFB Orc] |
| Orghotts Daemonspew | Perhaps a blend of "organ" and "guts" + Daemon + "spew", vomit. [WHFB AoS Chaos Nurgle] |
| Pestigor | Latin pestis, "plague" + Gor. [WHFB BloodBowl AoS WH40k Chaos Nurgle Beastman] |
| Pestilens | Latin pestilens, "infected". [WHFB AoS Chaos Skaven Clan] |
| Plaguebearer | "Plague", a pestilential epidemic + "bearer", one who carries. [WHFB AoS BloodBowl WH40k Chaos Nurgle Daemon LesserDaemon] |
| Preyton | Peryton, a monster in European mythology. [WHFB AoS Chaos] |
| Raidocks Timmowit ¹ | Radox, a toiletry brand founded in 1908 + Timotei, a shampoo brand launched in the 1980s. [WHFB Halfling] |
| Ratling Gun | Blend of rat and Gatling gun. [WHFB AoS Chaos Skaven Weapon] |
| Raybees ¹ | Rabies, a fatal infectious disease. [WHFB Halfling] |
| Razorgor | "Razor" + Gor. [WHFB AoS Chaos Beastman] |
| Rigg ¹ | Diana Rigg (1938-2020), an actress whose work includes The Avengers. This reference is confirmed by the illustration of the goddess Rigg which shows her with Diana Rigg's distinctive hairstyle. [WHFB Amazon God] |
| Riolta Snow ¹ | Rialto, part of Venice, Italy + "snow". [WHFB Elf] |
| Rotspawned | See: Bloab Rotspawned. [WHFB AoS Chaos Nurgle] |
| Runsinane Hill ¹ | Dunsinane Hill, a location mentioned in Macbeth (published 1623), a play by William Shakespeare. See also: McDeath. [WHFB] |
| Samgaff ¹ | Corruption of Samwise Gamgee, a hobbit from The Lord of the Rings (1954-1955) by J. R. R. Tolkien. [WHFB Halfling] |
| Saurus | Ancient Greek σαύρα, "lizard". [WHFB Lizardman AoS Order Seraphon] |
| Schutz ¹ | See: Albi Schutz. [WHFB Human] |
| Scyla Anfingrimm | Scylla, a monster in Greek mythology + German anfing, "I/he began" + Old English grimm, "savage". [WHFB Norscan AoS BloodBowl Chaos Khorne ChaosSpawn] |
| Sheol ¹ | See: Hagar Sheol. [WHFB Orc] |
| Sigvald | Sigvaldi Strut-Haraldsson, a legendary chieftain from Denmark. [WHFB AoS Chaos Slaanesh Daemon DaemonPrince] |
| Skarbrand | "Scar", a permanent mark from a wound + "brand", a permanent mark from a burn. [WHFB AoS WH40k Chaos Khorne Daemon GreaterDaemon] |
| Skaven | Clipping of "scavenger". [WHFB AoS Chaos Skaven WH40k] |
| Skeggi | Skeggy, slang shortening of Skegness, a seaside town in England. [WHFB Lustria Norscan City] |
| 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] |
| Snow ¹ | See: Riolta Snow. [WHFB Elf] |
| Spume | See: Gutrot Spume. [WHFB Human Norscan AoS Chaos Nurgle] |
| Sven Haslefriesian ¹ | The Magnificent Seven (1960), a Western film remake of Seven Samurai + David Hasselhoff (1952-), lead actor from Knight Rider + "Frisian", from Frisia in Northwest Europe. [WHFB Dwarf] |
| Timmowit ¹ | See: Raidocks Timmowit. [WHFB Halfling] |
| Troglodon | Blend of "troglodyte" (someone/something living in caves or underground) and Ancient Greek ὀδών ("tooth"). [WHFB Lizardman AoS Order Seraphon] |
| Troll | Troll, a monster in Scandinavian mythology. [WHFB Troll] |
| Twiceborn | See: Morbidex Twiceborn. [WHFB AoS Chaos Nurgle] |
| Ungor | "Un-", not + Gor. [WHFB AoS Chaos Beastman] |
| Valkia | Valkyrie, one of those who choose who dies in battle in Norse mythology. [WHFB AoS Chaos Khorne Daemon DaemonPrince] |
| Vaswaser ¹ | German Wasser, "water", blending both the pronunciation and spelling. [WHFB] |
| Voltsvagn ¹ | Volkswagen, a German car manufacturer. [WHFB Dwarf Vehicle] |
| Willy Bogel ¹ | "Willy", British slang for a penis + bogle, a spirit from Northumbrian and Scots mythology. [WHFB Human] |
| Yhetee | Yeti, a legendary creature in Himalayan mythology. [WHFB Ogre BloodBowl AoS Destruction Ogor] |
| Zargul ¹ | See: Arka Zargul. [WHFB Dwarf] |
| Zoat | Ancient Greek ζῷα, "animals". [WHFB WH40k Tyranid] |
| 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 Grandfather of Plagues