Warhammer 40000
Good Space Marine Names

(27-DEC-2000)
I always said I was going to do this, and finally I did. Sadly, due to a hard disk failure, I lost a large number of the good names people have sent me since I first asked for suggestions for the name of my Blood Angels standard bearer.

Names of angels or other biblical/Hebrew characters seem to make good names for Blood Angels and especially Dark Angels (Ezekiel, anyone?). For those of you familiar with Neon Genesis Evangelion, there are Space Marine names all over the place in that show. Here are some I thought might be good:
  • Anahel
  • Araboth
  • Arael
  • Bardiel
  • Caiaphas
  • Cassiel
  • Gabriel
  • Gagiel
  • Gamaliel (what the "G" in "Warren G. Harding" stands for)
  • Gideon
  • Herod
  • Iruul
  • Israfel
  • Issachar
  • Lazarus
  • Leriel
  • Levi
  • Leviticus
  • Longinus
  • Matriel
  • Michael
  • Pontius
  • Ramiel
  • Raphael (There is a "Squad Rafael" mentioned in the 2nd Edition 40K game)
  • Raziel
  • Reuben
  • Sachiel
  • Sandalphon (also "Sammael")
  • Shamusiel
  • Simeon
  • Tabris
  • Tzachquiel
  • Zebulun
  • Zelel
  • Zuriel
While the origins of the angels' names are obvious, it's also worth noting that the humans in Neon Genesis Evangelion have deliberately derivative names - they're all named after ships or nautical terms!



The 2nd edition codex Angels of Death lists the names of the ten squads of the Blood Angels' first company's terminators. They are

I. Redemptor
II. Invictor
III. Avengor
IV. Damnator
V. Venator
VI. Vindictor
VII. Destructor
VIII. Vexator
IX. Signator
X. Praetor



Space Wolves always seem to have Nordic-sounding names (Ranulf, Logan, etc.). I even met one player who named the important models in his Space Wolf army after characters in the epic Beowulf.
  • Beowulf
  • Bjorn
  • Gunthar or Gunther
  • Hagar
  • Hrothgar (also "Rothgar")
  • Lief
  • Lotor
  • Lupo or Lupis
  • Magne
  • Magnar
  • Morgan
  • Morten
  • Sven
  • Thorin
  • Wotan



In addition to angelic names, I like names that evoke Greek or Roman imagery. This seems to be a common theme with many of the "generic" Space Marine names in WH40K.
  • Achilles
  • Actaeon
  • Annihilus
  • Apollo (also "Apollon")
  • Argus (also "Arugess")
  • Augustus
  • Brutus
  • Cassius
  • Indomitus
  • Imperius
  • Khyron (also "Charon" or "Chiron" - although these refer to two different figures)
  • Lithonius (Deathwing Captain in Space Hulk computer game)
  • Orion
  • Phaedrus
  • Phoebus
  • Polonius
  • Titus
  • Vindictus (Captain of the Ultramarines 1st Company)



Space Marines also honour their Land Raiders, often inducting the vehicle's Machine Spirit into their chapter as a fellow battle-brother. I've already decided to name mine "Warspite", but here are a few others:
  • Doombringer
  • Emperor's Light or Emperor's Will
  • Hammer of Foes (ship described in Codex Ultrmarines as reporting the Tyranid Hive Fleet)
  • Wrath of _______ (fill in favourite Primarch's name)



Some names just sounded good to me, regardless of origin.
  • Adorno (There is a "Squad Adorno" mentioned in the 2nd Edition 40K game)
  • Caramon
  • Cedric
  • Isaac
  • Kryten
  • Lister
  • Lyndon or Lydon
  • Nolan
  • Markus
  • Nimrod
  • Paulus (There is a "Squad Paulus" mentioned in the 2nd Edition 40K game)
  • Roland
  • Severin
  • Simon
  • Vincent
  • Xerius (also "Zerius")


Back to the WH40K Page
Comments? More name suggestions? Send me E-mail