Name

Your character’s name is important, and it’s going to come up a lot in the game. Pick a name you are happy with that feels right for your character. Don’t get hung up on finding the perfect name; after some time, whatever you choose will feel natural.

There is no single naming convention or system in the Imperium. Different communities on a single world may vary wildly in approach, whether due to local tradition, religious practices, or formal rules enforced by the planetary government. Some citizens have a surname, but this is far from standardised. Many an Administratum scribe has cursed the inventiveness of Human nomenclature while attempting to reconcile records originating from different worlds.

The Name Table provides examples of names common to the Askellon Sector. Use these as inspiration, choose a name you like, or roll randomly. Your character can have as many names as you decide fits them, and they might have different names for different occasions.

• Low Gothic: Low Gothic names come from the Imperium’s common tongue, a debased form of the official language of High Gothic. There is great variety among Low Gothic names, and they are common among the lowly masses.
• High Gothic: High Gothic names are drawn from the Imperium’s most ancient and prestigious language, and are typical of those born into influence and authority. These names are encountered in halls of power, borne by individuals highly placed in the Adeptus Terra as well as among ancient noble lineages.
• Archaic: Many names predate the Imperium and its languages. These archaic names are revered, though their true meaning or history is often a matter of dispute. It is common practice for individuals who dedicate their life to the Ecclesiarchy to adopt a name heavy with pious history, such as that of a saint.
• Informal: People acquire informal names during the course of their life, usually bestowed by friends or peers. Such names can often tell more about a person than their official name, and are particularly common among criminals and outcasts.
• Esoteric: Codenames, pseudonyms, and aliases offer even more variety — anything could fit this category. With certain exceptions (such as mind-wiped agents of the Inquisition), an esoteric name is not a character’s only name. Often an alias is only used with certain people or in certain situations, while the character uses the name officially recorded in Administratum records for day-to-day business.