Does anyone know what kind of real world source the Iron Hands get their names from? With many chapters it's pretty obvious, like the Space Wolves using nordic names, and with others they take recruits from all manner of worlds, so there isn't really a set rule for names.

But Iron Hands take their recruits from Medusa, which implies that there's a common theme to the names, and looking at a listing of known Iron Hands characters there seems to be a theme going on, but I cant figure out what it is...

Veteran Brother Avidan
Venerable Dreadnaught Axagoras
Captain Balhaan
Iron Father Paullian Blantar
Dreadnaught Comech
Iron Father Gebren
Iron Father Anatolus Gdolkin
Venerable Dreadnaught Talumec
Librarian Madeus
Librarian Melchor
Captain Pelles
Captain Rumann
Captain Sien
Iron-Captain Strake

You're right that the concept for most marine chapters is based upon some sort of martial archetype from human history. But I suspect the Iron Hands aren't, or at least not to the same extent as other chapters.

This is part of the reason I like them so much! I personally think that where a writer draws too much on archetypes, it is used as a substitute for genuinely attempting to create an internally consistent world.

The fact that the Iron Hands use less obvious names suggests that the GW and BL writers don't really have an archetype in mind when creating them. So if you're looking for a theme, it may be the case that there just isn't one. I would suggest using names that "feel" right for your own personal interpretation of the chapter.

Avidan is a Hewbrew surname.

Sien is pseudo Irish perhaps? ~Shaun?

Melchor is Spanish.

The rest all look to be classic fantasy 'made up name' material; though some are slightly Latin and Greek in feel (particularly word endings) while a few of the opening characters are slightly similar to mis-spelled Irish names (Rumann ~ Ronan).

Essentially: There isn't really much of a theme. Make up whatever you fancy, I guess!

For a more complete list:

www.bolterandchainsword.com/index.php

The comprehensive history series in general is the neatest thing since sliced bread. First class.

Alex

PS I would lean into the direction of Czech/Bohemia/Balkan first names?

for chapters to close to AdMech i would first use their human names, then when some battle experience and cybernetics take place i would change it to numeric signatures: k240a/2m40 or something like that. with every piece of code having actual meaning for those who know more about such chapters or admech.

Iron Master marine (Iron Hands progeny) from my gaming group used such name.