A good name turns a box of plastic into your army. Whether you're creating a homebrew chapter, regiment or warband, the trick is to match the naming style of your faction so it sounds like it belongs in the setting.
The short answer: pick one or two words that reflect your army's colours, homeworld or personality, then shape them to your faction's style – noble and Latin-flavoured for Imperial forces, guttural and misspelt for Orks, ancient and dynastic for Necrons.
Naming styles by faction
| Faction | Naming style | Original example names |
|---|---|---|
| Space Marine chapters | "The" + noble noun; colours, beasts, weapons | Ashen Sentinels, Iron Wardens, Storm Herons |
| Astra Militarum regiments | Homeworld + number + nickname | Varrow 88th "Mudlarks", Kessian 12th Rifles |
| Chaos warbands | Dark, ominous, often "the" + plural | The Hollow Choir, Sons of the Ninth Wound |
| Orks | Phonetic, misspelt, loud | Da Rusty Krumpaz, Gitbusta Boyz |
| Necrons | Ancient dynasty + title | The Sehkara Dynasty, Throne of Ankhet |
| Aeldari | Flowing, elegant, vowel-heavy | Ilthiarra Host, Shades of Cael'ir |
| T'au | Sept + descriptive name | Vash'ya Sept Firebreak Cadre |
| Tyranids | Hive fleet + mythic creature | Hive Fleet Lamia, Hive Fleet Basilisk |
Space Marine® is a registered trade mark of Games Workshop Limited. The example names above are our own inventions; this guide is not affiliated with, endorsed or sponsored by Games Workshop.
Is there a free name generator for Warhammer 40,000 armies?
Yes. Our free generators create original names in one click: the Space Marine chapter name generator, Ork name generator, Necron name generator and Imperial Guard regiment name generator, plus an all-archetype army name generator.
How do I come up with a name for my army?
Start with what makes your army distinctive: its colour scheme, homeworld, fighting style or a key character. Combine one of those ideas with your faction's naming style. Our colour scheme guide is a good starting point if you haven't chosen colours yet.
How do I name a homebrew chapter?
Most chapter names follow "The [adjective] [noun]" or a single strong plural noun. Tie the name to your colours or symbol – a grey and white scheme suggests ash, storms or wolves; red suggests fire or blood.
How do I name an Imperial Guard-style regiment?
Use a homeworld name, a regiment number and a nickname earned in battle. The nickname is where the personality comes in, and it's often slightly humorous.
How do I name an Ork warband?
Spell it how it sounds, use a "Da" or "Boyz" and pick something violent or silly. Ork names should be fun to say out loud at the table.
Should my army name match its lore?
It helps. A name that reflects a homeworld or a past battle gives you hooks for characters, banners and painting details such as freehand symbols.
Can I name individual characters and squads?
Yes, and it makes games more memorable. Name your warlord, then give squads short nicknames based on their role or a memorable moment on the table.
Should I check my name isn't already official?
It's worth a quick search, so your homebrew stays original and doesn't get confused with an existing faction.
More hobby guides
- How to Choose a Colour Scheme for Your Army
- How to Paint Your First Warhammer 40,000 Miniature
- How Long Does It Take to Paint an Army?
- Warhammer 40,000 Hobby Guides & Free Tools
Warhammer 40,000® is a registered trade mark of Games Workshop Limited. This is an independent hobby guide and is not affiliated with, endorsed or sponsored by Games Workshop.