Help Understanding Space Marine Names

[Duke Danse Macabre]

I'm looking to get some custom name plates printed for my Deathwatch, I've been painting DW for about 9 years now back in the days of no codex and special order metal shoulder pads and they are more of a labour of love and I'm trying to constantly update and elevate them as I add to the force.

 

The site I have found can print 20 characters (spaces count as 2), I'm thinking of both names for regular marines, as for ranks Sargent before squad leaders, Captain, Librarian, Chaplin and Watchmaster will need full titles so I'm unsure if only to include either surname or first name, with this in mind I would appreciate people's help to figure out which to use for ranking space marines and regular marines.

As I can find examples of both marines in regular squads and ranking marines being referred to in the writing and in codex by first or surname only but I can't identify if this is a choice such as Luis Dante and Mephiston respectively or if different chapters follow different conventions, as I'm mainly a DW player I'm not entirely sure the rules when naming white scars or Ravenguard this is a unique problem and would appreciate any advice.

 

 

Below is a list of names being considered (will edit depending on naming conventions), all units are mostly painted with the exception of the Gravis armour Primaris and leviathan, all chapters are fixed with the exception of the leviathan and watch master, neither have chapter markings and suggestions are welcome for name and chapter, please keep in mind I will have to freehand paint the chapter markings onto the dreadnought and consider its age as its heresy tech.

 

 

Male Inquisitor Name:

Mortdecai

 

BT Captain Name:

Aldrich

 

DA Chaplin Name:

Belethor

 

BA Librarian Name:

Noctis

 

BT Apothecary:

Clermont

 

Watch Master Name:

Chapter Undecided, could be a black shield

 

Leviathan Name: (needs to be first founding)

Chapter Undecided

 

BT Redemptor Names: (The Brothers Grimm, just looking for first names)

Gerhart Grimm

Rammius Grimm

 

5 Terminator Names:

Sgt Space Wolf: Horthgar

Imperial Fist: Erastus

Blood Angel: Dantalion

Dark Angel: Seraphus

Ultra Marine: Falerius

 

10 Marines Names

Sgt White Scar: Ulkanor

Sgt Ultra Marine: Asmodius

Salamander: Naveem

Imperial Fist: Carnak

2 Flesh Tearers: Jophiel, Valak

Iron Hands: Korvaan

Minotaurs: Geryon

Raven Guard: Orlos

Black Templars: Tarrison

 

10 Primaris Gravis Names:

Chapters not decided but will need to freehand so simple designs (8)

Sgt Imperial Fist: Pertinax

2 Black Templars: Bremen, Haldrak

Ultra Marine: Issam

Blood Angel: Lassedon

Dark Angel: Zarial

Iron Hand: Sarokk

Ravenguard: Verano

Salamander: Omkar

Space Wolf: Thorik

[Debauchery101]

This dude has made name generators for marines, chapters, craft worlds. Some even include cool titles like...Sentinel blood rock Tomb.

https://www.realmofplastic.com/warhammer-40k-blog/space-marines-character-name-generator

 

Also the previous and I think the more recent chapter supplements..except for Deathwatch have themed name generators.

All of the original Chapters have themed origins with names based off Greek names, Trojan names,spartan, Mongol, viking, etc. Some chapters don't allow use of surnames. Some will never know them...ie Psykers who may have been plucked by a black ship as a child. Some value them because some chapters recruit from very modern societies that train their children for the potential chance to become a recruit. Some families have multiple space marine heroes

 

As for your idea of the ranks...there really is only 3 ranks in Deathwatch that are mostly tied to the game. I would see if you could have a Rank Symbol stamped.

 

It doesn't carry over from origin chapter. Also in Deathwatch beyond Watch Master and captains the Kill Teams and Deployment can be completely rearranged.

The WM will appoint certain marines with the best knowledge and skill vs certain enemies and scenarios. Which could be the guy who tracked down, infiltrated and exterminated a genestealer cult by himself but has never actually fought vs Eldar.

If it's full on tyranids you'd probably choose an Ultramarine because they wrote the book on tyranids and are very systematic, which helps fighting a numerous and dynamic enemy

[Duke Danse Macabre]

This dude has made name generators for marines, chapters, craft worlds. Some even include cool titles like...Sentinel blood rock Tomb.

https://www.realmofplastic.com/warhammer-40k-blog/space-marines-character-name-generator

Also the previous and I think the more recent chapter supplements..except for Deathwatch have themed name generators.

All of the original Chapters have themed origins with names based off Greek names, Trojan names,spartan, Mongol, viking, etc. Some chapters don't allow use of surnames. Some will never know them...ie Psykers who may have been plucked by a black ship as a child. Some value them because some chapters recruit from very modern societies that train their children for the potential chance to become a recruit. Some families have multiple space marine heroes

As for your idea of the ranks...there really is only 3 ranks in Deathwatch that are mostly tied to the game. I would see if you could have a Rank Symbol stamped.

It doesn't carry over from origin chapter. Also in Deathwatch beyond Watch Master and captains the Kill Teams and Deployment can be completely rearranged.

The WM will appoint certain marines with the best knowledge and skill vs certain enemies and scenarios. Which could be the guy who tracked down, infiltrated and exterminated a genestealer cult by himself but has never actually fought vs Eldar.

If it's full on tyranids you'd probably choose an Ultramarine because they wrote the book on tyranids and are very systematic, which helps fighting a numerous and dynamic enemy

I saw his stuff before and it looked good but without knowing the chapter it's hard to pin down which is what put me off using it, I understand the historical rl equivalents GW take inspiration from in their naming conventions, what I don't quite understand is the naming convention for first or surnames when given to ranked astartes, (maybe in this case I should look up German and Latin naming traits when applied to ancient military history)I do agree things like librarians lie outside the typical command structure but it would be nice to include and sadly symbols are not an option though I wish it was.

 

That's one of the things I love most about death watch is their fluidity as an army, kill marines and flexible load outs and specialists but the cost of ordering name plates isn't as low as I would like and it will take likely the next year to do it to 14k points worth of them so I'm just focusing on a very exact list at the moment.

 

 

The names you've picked are good enough, but you've mispelled some of the titles.

Pay attention to that, it'll look embarassing on the models.

 

Correct form is "Sargeant" (there's an A after the E) or sometimes "Sergeant", but the former is more frequently used.

 

"Chaplain" has an A in front of the I, otherwise you're referencing the famous silent film comedian.

 

Luckily just at draft stage but auto correct is a pain.

If I managed to print and paint that I would never live it down. Lol

 

Your right with Sargeant, though it's the wrong spelling technically it is the most common and most importantly what's printed in the book, damn good spot.

[TheRickRoberts]

If you want to save on space you could use the common shorthand for ranks like sgt cpt lt etc, though typing it out right now I think it might be better to spell them out lol.

[Debauchery101]

The link I posted has some other links that the guy has for chapter specific generators

[Claws and Effect]

Raven Guard tend to use a lot of Ks, Ys, and double As in their names. Kayvaan being a prime example. The names you picked will work, though. The second one I would spell Veraano.

 

Salamanders frequently have apostrophes in their names. Tu'Shan and He'Stan being canon examples.

 

For White Scars, just do a Google search for Mongolian names and you're good. They didn't even try to hide their inspiration for that chapter.

Edited March 31, 2021 by Claws and Effect