Football club names

From UK Football Wiki

Football club names are a part of the sport's culture, reflecting century-old traditions. Club names may reflect geographical, cultural, religious or political affiliations — or simply be the brand name of a club's primary sponsor. Because of the British origin of the sport, many clubs, even outside Europe, have their names written in English.

Contents 1 Formation of the name 1.1 Common components 1.2 Common versus official usage 2 Club names referring to a profession or education 2.1 Club names referring to a profession 2.2 Club names referring to education 3 Club names referring to days and dates 4 Club names referring to the club's specific origins 5 Club names referring to an ethnic, social, national or religious background 6 Club names referring to geographical features 6.1 Club names referring to specific geographical features 7 Club names referring to plants 8 Club names referring to real or mythical creatures 9 Club names referring to real or mythical people 10 Club names referring to sport 10.1 Sports societies 11 Club names referring to values and ideals 12 Club names referring to natural phenomena 13 Unknown 14 Initials 15 References

[edit] Formation of the name

[edit] Common components

A club's name is usually composed of two or more of the following elements, in most cases in the language of the club's home country:

• a word describing the type of entity that runs the club (or ran it when it was founded), such as "Club", "Association", "Society", "Centre", "League", "Union", etc. More recently some clubs are regular commercial enterprises^{[citation needed]} and may have this reflected in their names.
• a word indicating that the club is associated with some sport(s), usually (but not always) including football. Examples are "football", "athletics", "exercises", "sports", etc.
• a geographical name associating the club with some place (usually the town or region where it plays home matches). Examples: "Paris", "Milano", "Recife", "Croatia", "Goiás" or, alternatively, a word that associates the club with something else (a religious, cultural or political tradition). Sometimes the name of the town or the country may be written as in English (AC Milan).
• a proper name, mascot or nickname, like "Cruzeiro" "Betis", or "Crusaders".
• in Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands some clubs are associated with the monarchy like Real Madrid.

Official names often also contain common component (prepositions, conjunctions, etc.) (See List of common club name components section).

In Europe, many (if not most) clubs are named after their towns or cities (e.g. "Deportivo La Coruña", "Liverpool FC", "Hamburger SV", etc. In South America, clubs are more likely to have proper names than to bear the city's name. Some clubs, like Hansa Rostock or Torpedo Moscow may have both.

[edit] Common versus official usage

Template:See also It is not uncommon for a club to be known in common usage by a name other than its official name, or the name on the badge.

Official names may reflect the instances where two different clubs with exactly (or more or less) the same name, prompting one or both to be suffixed with a geographical distinction. Famous instances of this are PFC CSKA Moscow and CSKA Sofia; Dynamo Moscow, Dynamo Kyiv, Dynamo Dresden and Dinamo Tbilisi; América de Cali (Colombia) and Club América (Mexico).

Other clubs are more usually known by nicknames or contractions of their full names, for instance, Vasco da Gama is usually called simply "Vasco", F.C. Internazionale Milano is contracted to Inter, Sporting Clube de Portugal are often called Sporting. Manchester United is ofted shortened to Man United (or even Man U), and Lyon used instead of Olympique Lyonnais.

Some clubs are commonly referred to by their initials, such as QPR, for Queens Park Rangers.

In a few cases there are even common misconceptions about the official name of the club. A common example being Glasgow Rangers and Glasgow Celtic, where their proper official names are simply Rangers F.C. and Celtic F.C. Another misunderstanding is Belfast Crusaders where the proper name is just Crusaders F.C.

[edit] Club names referring to a profession or education

[edit] Club names referring to a profession

Topic	Meaning	Country	Clubs
Armed forces	For sport clubs affiliated with the armed forces of a country. See also CSKA.	Template:Country data Bhutan	Royal Bhutan Army FC
		Template:Country data Botswana	Botswana Defence Force XI
		Template:Country data Cambodia	Army Division of Logistics, Royal Cambodian Air Force, Royal Navy
		Ecuador	El Nacional
		Template:Country data Myanmar	Army
		Template:Country data North Korea	Haeju Army
		Template:Country data Pakistan	Pakistan Army, Pakistan Navy
		Template:Country data Singapore	Singapore Armed Forces Football Club
		Trinidad and Tobago	Defence Force
Arsenal	Factories creating weapons	Argentina	Arsenal de Sarandí
		England	Arsenal
		Template:Country data Honduras	Arsenal Roatán
		Ukraine	FC Arsenal Kiev
Beer		File:Flag of Eritrea.png Eritrea	Asmara Brewery
		Ethiopia	Harrar Beer Botling
Cobre-	Spanish for copper, after association with copper mining	Chile	Club de Deportes Cobreloa, Club Deportes Cobresal
Company name	Club names containing the name of a company. These clubs were either founded as works teams by a company for its employees (e.g. PSV) or bought by a company (e.g. Red Bull Salzburg)	Austria	Red Bull Salzburg
		Colombia	La Equidad
		Germany	Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Wacker Burghausen
		Mexico	Cruz Azul
		England	Vauxhall Motors, Rolls Royce Leisure, Billingham Synthonia (An ICI fertiliser brand), Sunderland Nissan, Cammell Laird
		Netherlands	Philips Sport Vereniging
		Russia	Lada Togliatti, FC Torpedo-RG, FC Torpedo-ZIL
		Turkey	Türk Telekomspor
		USA	Red Bull New York
		Wales	Airbus UK
Electrical	Bargh: Persian for Electricity	Iran	Bargh Shiraz F.C., Bargh Tehran F.C.
		Ecuador	Emelec (The club was founded by the E.M.E.L.E.C. Company.)
		United States	Houston Dynamo (Refers to Houston's energy-based industrial economy)
		Germany	1. FFC Turbine Potsdam(The club was initially supported by the local energy supplier.)
Industrial Revolution	formed during the late Victorian Industrial boom	England	Middlesbrough Ironopolis F.C.
Metallurgy	Foolad, Zob Ahan, and Mes: Persian for Steel, Steelworks, and Copper. Vasas: "Vas- és Fémmunkások" Hungarian for "Iron and Steel Workers"	Iran	Foolad F.C., F.C. Zob Ahan, Mes Kerman F.C.
		Hungary	Budapesti Vasas Sport Club
		File:Flag of Latvia.png Latvia	FK Liepājas Metalurgs
		Russia	Metallurg Krasnoyarsk, Metallurg Lipetsk, Metallurg-Kuzbass Novokuznetsk
		Ukraine	Metalurh Donetsk, Metalurh Nikopol, Metalurh Zaporizhia, FC Stal Alchevsk
		Poland	Stal Mielec
		Germany	Stahl Eisenhüttenstadt
			Stålkameratene
Mining	Górnik: Polish for miner Zagłębie: Polish for coalfield Minero: Spanish for miner Colliery: Coal mine	England	Atherton Collieries, Bentley Colliery, Harworth Colliery Institute, Pontefract Collieries, Thoresby Colliery Welfare, Thorne Colliery, Welbeck Colliery Welfare
			Blackwell Miners Welfare, Calverton Miners Welfare, Gedling Miners Welfare, Holbrook Miners Welfare
		Poland	Górnik Łęczna, Górnik Polkowice, Górnik Wieliczka Górnik Zabrze, Zagłębie Lubin, Zagłębie Sosnowiec
		Template:Country data Venezuela	Atlético Club Mineros de Guayana
Municipal	Indicates a club formed by workers of, or associated with, a city hall or otherwise related local government unit.	Template:Country data Guatemala	CSD Municipal
		Peru	Deportivo Municipal
		File:Flag of El Salvador.png El Salvador	Once Municipal
Navy	Malavan: Persian for Sailor	Iran	Malavan F.C.
Petroleum	Naft: Persian for Petrol	Angola	Académica Petróleo Kwanda Soyo, Atlético Petróleos do Huambo, Atlético Petróleos do Namibe, Atlético Petróleos Luanda
		Template:Country data Bolivia	Oriente Petrolero
		Colombia	Alianza Petrolera
		Ecuador	Esmeraldas Petrolero
		Iran	Sanat Naft F.C.
Police	For football clubs affiliated with a police force	Template:Country data Botswana	Police XI
		Template:Country data Cambodia	Military Police
		China	Vanguard Hubei Police Academy
		Ecuador	Escuela Superior de Policía (ESPOLI)
		England	Metropolitan Police, West Midlands Police
		Template:Country data India	Punjab Police
		Template:Country data Iraq	Al-Shorta
		File:Flag of Lithuania.png Lithuania	Sostinės Policija Vilnius
		Template:Country data Isle of Man	Police
		Template:Country data Nepal	Mahendra Police Club
		Template:Country data Uganda	Police FC
Railroad workers	Rah Ahan (Persian), Ferro Carril (Spanish), for Railroad (noun). Ferroviário (Portuguese) for Railroad (adjective).	Argentina	Ferro Carril Oeste, Rosario Central (from Central Argentine Railway)
		Brazil	Ferroviário Atlético Clube, Associação Ferroviária de Esportes
		England	Darlington Railway Athletic, Harrogate Railway Athletic, Leigh RMI
		Iran	Rah Ahan F.C.
		Template:Country data Mozambique	Clube Ferroviário da Beira, Clube Ferroviário de Maputo, Clube Ferroviário de Nampula
Ship-building	After the Cammell Laird ship yard	England	Cammell Laird F.C.
Textile	Nassaji: Persian for Textile Industry	Argentina	Textil Mandiyú
		Croatia	NK Varteks Varaždin
		Iran	Nassaji Mazandaran F.C.
		Template:Country data Mozambique	Grupo Desportivo da Companhia Têxtil do Punguè
Tractor manufacturing		Iran	Teraktor Sazi F.C.
		Russia	Rotor Volgograd
General		Italy	SPAL 1907 (Società Polisportiva Ars et Labor)

[edit] Club names referring to education

Topic	Meaning	Country	Clubs
Academical	Affiliation with academics. See also Estudiantes, University, Polytechnic.	Bulgaria	Akademik Sofia, Akademik Svishtov
		Denmark	Akademisk Boldklub
		Germany	Akademischer BC 1897 Charlottenburg, Akademischer SC 1893 Berlin
		Template:Country data Mozambique	Associação Académica de Maputo
		Portugal	Académica de Coimbra
		Scotland	Hamilton Academical
Old Boys	Named by ex-pupils of the English High School of Rosario in homage to its director and football coach, English immigrant Isaac Newell	Argentina	Newell's Old Boys
Young Boys	Named in contrast to nearby club Old Boys Basel (see Old Boys above)	Switzerland	BSC Young Boys
Polytechnic	Affiliation with academics. See also Academical, Estudiantes, University.	Template:Country data Moldova	FC Politehnica Chişinău
		Romania	FC Politehnica Iaşi, Politehnica Ştiinţa Timişoara
Students	Affiliation with students. See also Academical, Polytechnic, University.	Argentina	Estudiantes de La Plata, Estudiantes de Río Cuarto, Estudiantes de Buenos Aires
		Brazil	Estudiantes Sport Club
		Peru	Estudiantes de Medicina
		Romania	Sportul Studenţesc
		Template:Country data Venezuela	Estudiantes de Mérida
University	Affliation with universities. See also Academical, Estudiantes, Polytechnic.	Template:Country data Bolivia	Club Universitario
		Brazil	Sport Club Ulbra, Universidade Estácio de Sá Futebol Clube
		Chile	Club Deportivo Universidad Católica, Club de Fútbol Universidad de Chile, Club Deportivo Universidad de Concepción
		File:Flag of Costa Rica.png Costa Rica	Club de Futbol Universidad de Costa Rica
		Ecuador	Liga Deportiva Universitaria (Quito)
		England	Cambridge University A.F.C., University of Exeter, Oxford University A.F.C.
		Ireland	University College Dublin A.F.C.
		Mexico	Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara, Club Universidad Nacional, Club Deportivo UANL
		Peru	Universitario de Deportes, Universidad San Martín de Porres
		Romania	FC Universitatea Craiova, Universitatea Cluj, Universitatea Craiova
		Scotland	Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh University
		South Africa	Pretoria University FC
		Spain	AD Universidad de Oviedo, Universidad de Las Palmas CF
		Template:Country data Venezuela	Universidad de Los Andes Fútbol Club

[edit] Club names referring to days and dates

Topic	Meaning	Country	Clubs
Days of the week	Clubs named after a specific day of the week	England	Sheffield Wednesday
		Wales	Abergavenny Thursdays
Independence Day	Clubs named after the day of independence of the country	Argentina	9 de Julio de Rafaela, 9 de Julio de Morteros, Sportivo 9 de Julio Río Tercero (July 9)
		Ecuador	Club 9 de Octubre (October 9)
		Portugal	Sociedade União 1º de Dezembro (December 1)
Labour Day		Angola	Estrela Clube Primeiro de Maio
		Portugal	Associação Naval 1º de Maio
Political change		Brazil	Clube 15 de Novembro, Esporte Clube XV de Novembro (Piracicaba), Esporte Clube XV de Novembro (Jaú) (November 15, 1889)
		Template:Country data Yemen	May 22 San'a' (May 22, 1990)
Year of establishment	Club names containing a reference to the year in which the club was established (clubs are listed in chronological order by country)	Belgium	Eendracht Aalst 2002
		Finland	Pallokerho-35, Tampereen Peli-Pojat-70, Klubi-04
		Germany	1860 München, Hannover 96, SV Darmstadt 98, 1899 Hoffenheim, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Schalke 04, Mainz 05, Paderborn 07, SG Wattenscheid 09, 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam 71
		Netherlands	Be Quick 1887, UDI '19, ADO '20, Quick '20, HSC '21, Be Quick '28, CSV '28, Achilles '29, Zwaluwen '30, Excelsior '31, PKC '83
Other	For unidentified and unclassified days and dates in club names	Angola	Clube Desportivo Primeiro de Agosto (August 1)
		Template:Country data Bolivia	Club 27 de Mayo (May 27), 31 de Octubre (October 31)
		Paraguay	Club 12 de Octubre (October 12), Club Atlético 3 de Febrero (February 3), Club 2 de Mayo (May 2)

[edit] Club names referring to the club's specific origins

Topic	Meaning	Country	Clubs
Angels	After their original home ground, the Angel Ground, itself named after a nearby hotel.	England	Tonbridge Angels F.C.
Argyle	Named after The Argyle Tavern or Argyle Terrace, both in Plymouth.	England	Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Ittihad	Arabic for "the union", meaning the merger of clubs or clubs founders	File:Flag of Saudi Arabia.png Saudi Arabia	Al-Ittihad (Jeddah)
		File:Flag of Libya.png Libya	Al-Ittihad (Tripoli)
Dons	Named after the nickname of MK Dons' predecessors, Wimbledon F.C.	England	Milton Keynes Dons F.C.
North	Clubs that originated 'north' of a specific place	England	Glossop North End A.F.C., Preston North End
East	Orient = from the East, Leyton is in East London	England	Leyton Orient
Park Avenue	The club originally played at the Park Avenue ground	England	Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C.
Rangers (Glasgow)	The club founder saw the name Rangers in a Rugby annual	Scotland	Rangers F.C.
Homeless	Rovers, Wanderers. Excursionistas translates roughly as "The Voyagers". Originally a team without a home ground	various	Blackburn Rovers, Bristol Rovers, Tranmere Rovers, Albion Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Bray Wanderers, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Sliema Wanderers, Montevideo Wanderers, Santiago Wanderers, Excursionistas, Wanderers F.C., Wycombe Wanderers
		Republic of Ireland	Sligo Rovers
		Scotland	Raith Rovers
Trinity	The club was formed in 1873 by the vicar of the Holy Trinity Church	England	Gainsborough Trinity F.C.
United	Often (but not always) refers to the result of a merger. "Pers-" is short for "Persatuan," Indonesian for "United".	Template:Country data Indonesia	Persib, Persik Kediri, Persipura Jayapura
		various	Manchester United, Newcastle United, West Ham United, D.C. United, Colchester United, Sheffield United, Carlisle United, Leeds United, Limavady United, Ayr United, Dundee United, KVSK United, Tampere United, Yerevan United, Unión de Santa Fe, União de Leiria, União São João
Stanley	Named after the Stanley Arms on Stanley Road, Accrington.	England	Accrington Stanley
Villa	Named after Villa Cross Wesleyan Chapel in Aston, Birmingham.	England	Aston Villa

[edit] Club names referring to an ethnic, social, national or religious background

Topic	Meaning	Country	Clubs
Ahly	Arabic for "national"	Egypt	El-Ahly
		File:Flag of Qatar.png Qatar	Al-Ahli (Doha)
Albion	Archaic name for Great Britain	England	Brighton & Hove Albion, Burton Albion
		Scotland	Stirling Albion
Arabi	Al-Arabi is the Arabic for "Arab".	Template:Country data Kuwait	Al Arabi Kuwait
		File:Flag of Qatar.png Qatar	Al-Arabi Sports Club
		Panama	CD Árabe Unido
Armenia	Clubs founded by and for members of the Armenian diaspora.	Argentina	Club Deportivo Armenio
Assyria	Clubs founded by and for members of the Assyrian diaspora.	Sweden	Assyriska Föreningen
Beitar	Refers to Betar, for "Brit Yosef Trumpeldor", a Zionist youth movement founded in 1923.	Israel	Beitar Jerusalem F.C., Beitar/Shimshon Tel Aviv F.C.
Bohemians	After Bohemianism	Republic of Ireland	Bohemians
Bohemians	After Bohemia	Czech Republic	Bohemians 1905
Borussia	Latin name for Prussia.	Germany	Borussia Dortmund, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Borussia Fulda, Borussia Neunkirchen
Celtic	Clubs founded by and for members of the Irish diaspora.	England	Farsley Celtic A.F.C., Stalybridge Celtic F.C.
		Ireland	Cork Celtic, Wayside Celtic F.C.
		Northern Ireland	Donegal Celtic, Lurgan Celtic F.C.
		Scotland	Celtic F.C.
Chief	Reflecting tribal origins of home town	South Africa	Kaizer Chiefs
		United States	Atlanta Chiefs
Croatia	Clubs founded by and for members of the Croatian diaspora.	Australia	Adelaide Croatia Soccer Club, SC Croatia, Sydney Croatia, North Perth Croatia, Newcastle Croatia, Whyalla Croatia, Fremantle Croatia, Gwelup Croatia
		Canada	Toronto Croatia,
		Germany	Croatia Berlin
Español	Refers to the Spanish people.	Argentina	Club Social, Deportivo y Cultural Español
		Chile	Unión Española
		Spain	RCD Espanyol
		Uruguay	Central Español
Germania, Alemannia	Alternative names of Germany.	Germany	BFC Germania, Alemannia Aachen
Guaraní	Name of a group of culturally related indigenous peoples of South America.	Brazil	Guarani Futebol Clube, Guarany Futebol Clube
		Paraguay	Club Guaraní
Hibernia	Clubs founded by and for members of the Irish diaspora.	Malta	Hibernians F.C.
		Scotland	Hibernian F.C.
Inter-	International.	various	FK Inter Bratislava, UWIC Inter Cardiff F.C., F.C. Internazionale Milano, FC Inter Baku, Inter Bom-Bom, Inter Club d'Escaldes, Inter Monaro, Sport Club Internacional, Internazionale Torino
Italy	Clubs founded by and for members of the Italian diaspora.	Argentina	Sportivo Italiano
		Chile	Audax Club Sportivo Italiano
		Australia	Marconi Stallions
		Template:Country data Venezuela	Deportivo Italia
Monarchy	Real is Spanish for Royal. Koninklijke is a Dutch equivalent. Spanish clubs with the "Real" name, as well as the Honduras club Real España, enjoy the patronage of the Spanish monarchy.	Belgium	Royal Antwerp FC
		Template:Country data Bolivia	Real Potosí
		Colombia	Real Cartagena, Real Santander
		Template:Country data Honduras	Real España
		Netherlands	Koninklijke HFC
		Spain	Real Madrid, Real Mallorca, Real Zaragoza, Real Sporting de Gijón, Real CD Espanyol de Barcelona
National		Brazil	Nacional FC
		Colombia	Atlético Nacional
		Ecuador	El Nacional
		Portugal	C.D. Nacional
		Romania	Naţional Bucureşti
		Uruguay	Nacional de Montevideo
Palestine	Clubs founded by and for members of the Palestinian diaspora.	Chile	Club Deportivo Palestino
Pogoń	Polish for "knight-in-pursuit", depicted on the Pogoń Litewska, the Polish Coat of Arms.	Poland	Pogoń Lwów, Pogoń Szczecin
Polonia, Lechia	Alternative names of Poland.	Poland	Polonia Warsaw, Lechia Gdańsk
Portugal	Clubs founded by and for members of the Portuguese diaspora.	Andorra	Lusitanos
		Brazil	Associação Portuguesa de Desportos, Associação Atlética Portuguesa (RJ), Associação Portuguesa Londrinense, Associação Atlética Portuguesa Santista
		Canada	Toronto Supra Portuguese
		Template:Country data Venezuela	Portuguesa Fútbol Club
Revolution	Named after the American Revolution	USA	New England Revolution
Saint	Santos is Portuguese and Spanish for saints.	Brazil	Santos FC
		Mexico	Santos Laguna
		Angola	Santos de Angola
		File:Flag of Costa Rica.png Costa Rica	Santos de Guápiles
Serbia	Clubs founded by and for members of the Serbian diaspora.	Australia	Fitzroy City Serbia, Wollongong Srbija, Berwick Kings Krajina, Noble Park United, Westgate Sindjelic,
		Canada	Serbian White Eagles
Slavia	Refers to the Slavic peoples	Template:Country data Belarus	Slavia Mozyr
		Template:Country data Bosnia-Herzegovina	Slavija Istočno Sarajevo
		Bulgaria	Slavia Sofia
		Czech Republic	Slavia Praha
		Poland	Sława Lwów
		Serbia	Slavija Kragujevac, Slavija Novi Sad
Syriac	Refers to Syriacs.	Sweden	Syrianska FC, Arameiska/Syrianska KIF, Syrianska IF Kerburan, Valsta Syrianska IK
Turkey	Clubs founded by and for members of the Turkish diaspora.	Germany	Türkiyemspor Berlin
		Netherlands	FC Türkiyemspor

[edit] Club names referring to geographical features

Topic	Meaning	Country	Clubs
Borough		England	Stevenage Borough, Nuneaton Borough, Eastbourne Borough, Radcliffe Borough, Hampton & Richmond Borough
		Netherlands	Feyenoord,
City		Australia	Adelaide City, Brisbane City SC
		Canada	London City
		Ecuador	Cuenca (ECU)
		England	Norwich City, Leicester City,Manchester City, Birmingham City, Gloucester City, Lincoln City, Bristol City
		Ireland	Cork City, Derry City
		Italy	Città di Palermo
		Northern Ireland	Armagh City
		Scotland	Brechin City, Elgin City
		Spain	Ciudad de Murcia
		Wales	Cardiff City, Swansea City
County		England	Derby County, Notts County, Stockport County, Newport County
		Scotland	Ross County,
Forest	Indicates a close proximity to a forest	England	Nottingham Forest, Forest F.C., Forest Green Rovers, Forest Town, Waltham Forest
Hamlet		England	Dulwich Hamlet
Ocean	Indicates a close proximity to an ocean	Nigeria	Ocean Boys F.C.
River		Brazil	River Atlético Clube
		Argentina	River Plate
		Poland	Wisła Kraków
Town		Ecuador	Macara
		England	Yeovil Town,Huddersfield Town, Halifax Town, Grimsby Town, Ipswich Town, Luton Town
		Wales	Aberystwyth Town, Caernarfon Town
Vale	Named for teams located in a town in a vale	England	Port Vale, Aylesbury Vale, Pewsey Vale, Raynes Park Vale

[edit] Club names referring to specific geographical features

Topic	Meaning	Country	Clubs
Africa	Named after the African continent.	Ivory Coast	Africa Sports
Americas	Named after the American continent.	Argentina	Sol de América de Formosa
		Brazil	América Football Club, América de Natal, América Mineiro, América Paulista, América do Sergipe , América de Manaus, América de Três Rios, Americano
		Colombia	América de Cali
		Mexico	Club América
		Template:Country data Nicaragua	América Managua
		Paraguay	Sol de América
Ancient cities	Corinth (often refers to the "Corinthian ideal" of amateurism in sport)	Brazil	Corinthians Paulista, Corinthians Alagoano, Atlético Clube Coríntians
		England	Corinthian, Corinthian-Casuals, Corinthian (Kent)
	Sparta	Czech Republic	Sparta Prague
		England	Blyth Spartans, Brache Sparta
		Malta	Hamrun Spartans
		Netherlands	Sparta Rotterdam, Nivo Sparta, Sparta Nijkerk
		Norway	Sparta Sarpsborg
		Scotland	Spartans
Ararat		Armenia	FC Ararat Yerevan
		Iran	F.C. Ararat Tehran
The Baltic		Poland	Bałtyk Gdynia
		Russia	FC Baltika Kaliningrad
Black Sea	Cherno More in several Slavic languages	Bulgaria	Chernomorets 919 Burgas, Chernomorets Burgas Sofia, Cherno More Varna
		Russia	Chernomorets Novorossiysk
		Ukraine	Chornomorets Odessa
River Plate		Argentina	Club Atlético River Plate
		Uruguay	Club Atlético River Plate (Uruguay)

[edit] Club names referring to plants

Topic	Meaning	Country	Clubs
Arecaceae	Palmeiras: Portuguese for palm trees.	Brazil	Palmeiras
Bluebell		Scotland	Dundonald Bluebell F.C.
Hawthorn		Scotland	Hill of Beath Hawthorn F.C.
Hollyhock		Japan	Mito HollyHock
Laburnum		England	Atherton Laburnum Rovers
Lily		Scotland	Easthouses Lily
Oak		Ghana	Hearts of Oak
Pepper		Template:Country data Bermuda	Hamilton Parish Hot Peppers
Pine		Australia	Frankston Pines
Rose		Australia	Adamstown Rosebuds
		Scotland	Linlithgow Rose F.C., Montrose Roselea F.C.
Thistle	National symbol of Scotland	Scotland	Ardeer Thistle, Buckie Thistle, Dalry Thistle, East Kilbride Thistle, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Lothian Thistle, Lugar Boswell Thistle, Partick Thistle
Violet		Jamaica	Violet Kickers F.C.
		Scotland	Stonehouse Violet F.C.

[edit] Club names referring to real or mythical creatures

Topic	Meaning	Country	Clubs
Bear		Australia	Weston Workers Bears FC
Bee		Nigeria	Ranchers Bees
Buffalo		South Korea	Chonbuk Buffalo
		Template:Country data Zambia	Green Buffaloes FC
Cattle	Spanish: toro.	Mexico	Toros Neza
		Panama	Tauro F.C.
Cheetah		South Korea	Anyang Cheetahs FC
Cougar		United States	BYU Cougars[1]
Deer		Japan	Kashima Antlers
Dolphin		Ireland	Dolphin F.C. (Dublin)[2]
		Nigeria	Dolphins F.C. (Port Harcourt)
Dragon		Benin	AS Dragons FC de l'Ouémé
		Democratic Republic of the Congo	AS Dragons
		File:Flag of Sierra Leone.png Sierra Leone	Golden Dragon F.C.
		South Korea	Chunnam Dragons
Eagle	Portuguese: águia, Spanish: águila.	Australia	Parramatta Eagles
		Brazil	Esporte Clube Águia Negra
		Canada	Serbian White Eagles
		File:Flag of El Salvador.png El Salvador	C.D. Águila
		Template:Country data Fiji	Nokia Eagles
		Mexico	Socio Águila
		Netherlands	Go Ahead Eagles
		File:Flag of Sierra Leone.png Sierra Leone	Kamboi Eagles
		Spain	Águilas CF
		Template:Country data Suriname	Super Red Eagles
		Template:Country data Uganda	Express Red Eagles
		United States	Charlotte Eagles
Frog		USA	San Jose Frogs
Goat	Chivas: Spanish for goats.	Mexico	Chivas de Guadalajara
		United States	Club Deportivo Chivas USA
Gorilla		United States	Atlanta Silverbacks
Grasshopper		Switzerland	Grasshopper-Club Zürich
Harrier hawk	Name usually used for athletics teams.	England	Kidderminster Harriers F.C.
Hornet		Template:Country data Bermuda	Dandy Town Hornets
Horse		Australia	Marconi Stallions
		Template:Country data Bermuda	St George's Colts
		Canada	Brampton Stallions
Hummingbird	Spanish: colibri.	Mexico	Colibríes de Morelos
Jaguar		Mexico	Jaguares de Chiapas
		United States	California Jaguars
Leopard		Template:Country data Kenya	AFC Leopards
		File:Flag of Sierra Leone.png Sierra Leone	Golf Leopards
		South Africa	Black Leopards
		Template:Country data Swaziland	Royal Leopards
Linnet		England	Runcorn Linnets
Lion	Swahili: simba.	Australia	Bankstown City Lions, Kingborough Lions, Preston Lions FC, Queensland Roar FC, Stirling Lions,
		Mexico	Leon
		Canada	Canadian Lions
		Ghana	Heart of Lions
		Malta	Sannat Lions F.C.
		Senegal	East End Lions
		File:Flag of Sierra Leone.png Sierra Leone	East End Lions
		Template:Country data Singapore	Young Lions
		South Africa	Nathi Lions
		Template:Country data Tanzania	Simba SC
		Template:Country data Uganda	Simba FC
Lynx		Canada	Toronto Lynx, Toronto Lady Lynx
Panther		Australia	South Adelaide Panthers
Phoenix	Spanish: fénix.	Argentina	Fénix
		New Zealand	Wellington Phoenix FC
		Uruguay	Centro Atlético Fénix
Pig		Template:Country data Bermuda	Bermuda Hogges
Rhinoceros		United States	Rochester Raging Rhinos
		Zimbabwe	Black Rhinos F.C.
Rooster	Portuguese: galo.	Brazil	Adap Galo Maringá Football Club
Seahorse		USA	Southern California Seahorses
Shark	Template:Lang-fr	Mexico	Tiburones Rojos de Veracruz
		Australia	Sutherland Sharks
		Benin	Requins de l'Atlantique
		Nigeria	Sharks F.C.
		United States	Wilmington Hammerheads
Snake		Australia	Adelaide Cobras
Sphinx		England	Coventry Sphinx
Swallow	Portuguese: andorinha, Template:Lang-nl	Netherlands	Zwaluwen'30
		Template:Country data São Tomé and Príncipe	Andorinha Sport Club
		South Africa	Moroka Swallows FC
		Template:Country data Swaziland	Mbabane Swallows
Swift		England	Heybridge Swifts F.C., Stourport Swifts F.C.
		Northern Ireland	Dungannon Swifts
		Scotland	Jeanfield Swifts
Terrier		England	Bedlington Terriers
Tiger	Portuguese and Spanish: tigre.	Argentina	Club Atlético Tigre
		Australia	A.P.I.A. Leichhardt Tigers
		Template:Country data Bahamas	Playtime Tigers
		Brazil	Esporte Clube Tigres do Brasil
		England	Kingsbury London Tigers
		Mexico	UANL Tigres
Wasp		England	Chalfont Wasps F.C.
Wolf		Australia	Wollongong Wolves
		Canada	St. Catharines Wolves
Zebra		Australia	Whittlesea Zebras
		Template:Country data Bermuda	PHC Zebras

[edit] Club names referring to real or mythical people

Topic	Meaning	Country	Clubs
Ajax	Club names containing a reference to Ajax the Great or Ajax the Lesser. The South African and American clubs are so named due to their affiliation with AFC Ajax of the Netherlands.	File:Flag of Estonia.png Estonia	FC Ajax Lasnamäe
		Malta	Rabat Ajax F.C.
		Morocco	Ajax Kenitra
		Netherlands	AFC Ajax, Ajax Sportman Combinatie
		South Africa	Ajax Cape Town
		United States	Ajax Orlando Prospects
Alexandra	Club names containing a reference to Princess Alexandra.	England	Crewe Alexandra
Aris	After the Greek God of War.	Greece	Aris Thessaloniki
		File:Flag of Cyprus.png Cyprus	Aris Limassol
		Template:Country data Luxembourg	Aris Bonnevoie
Armando Picchi		Italy	Armando Picchi Calcio
Arminia	From Arminius a chieftain who defeated a Roman Army in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest.	Germany	Arminia Bielefeld, Arminia Hannover
Arturo Fernández Vial		Chile	Club Deportivo Ferroviario Almirante Arturo Fernández Vial|
Atlas	Club names containing a reference to Atlas.	Mexico	CF Atlas
Guillermo Brown		Argentina	Club Almirante Brown, Club Atlético Almirante Brown, Club Atlético Brown, Club Social y Atlético Guillermo Brown
Colocolo		Brazil	Colo-Colo de Futebol e Regatas
		Chile	Colo-Colo
Dalmacio Vélez Sársfield		Argentina	Club Atlético Vélez Sársfield
Hercules/Heracles	After the Greek demi-god.	Greece	Iraklis F.C.
		Netherlands	Heracles Almelo
		Spain	Hércules CF
Hermann Aichinger		Brazil	Clube Atlético Hermann Aichinger
Hotspur	Named after Henry Percy, aka Henry Hotspur	England	Tottenham Hotspur
Jahn	Named after Friedrich Ludwig Jahn.	Germany	SSV Jahn Regensburg
Joan of Arc		Réunion	SS Jeanne d'Arc
		Senegal	ASC Jeanne d'Arc
Jorge Wilstermann		Template:Country data Bolivia	Club Jorge Wilstermann
José Joaquín Olmedo		Ecuador	Centro Deportivo Olmedo
José Gálvez		Peru	Club José Gálvez
Luis Ángel Firpo		File:Flag of El Salvador.png El Salvador	C.D. Luis Angel Firpo
Martín Ledesma		Paraguay	Club Martín Ledesma
Newell	Named by ex-pupils of the English High School of Rosario in homage to its director and football coach, English immigrant Isaac Newell	Argentina	Newell's Old Boys
Renato Curi		Italy	Renato Curi Angolana
Rio Branco	Named after the Baron of Rio Branco.	Brazil	Rio Branco Atlético Clube, Rio Branco Esporte Clube, Centro Esportivo Rio Branco
Rob Roy		Scotland	Kirkintilloch Rob Roy F.C.
Robin Hood		Template:Country data Suriname	SV Robinhood
Rutherford B. Hayes		Paraguay	Club Presidente Hayes
Shimshon Douri	The club was formed in memory of Shimshon Douri, a former Maccabi Tel Aviv player who died in the War of Independence.	Israel	Shimshon Tel Aviv F.C.
Silvio Pettirossi		Paraguay	Club Silvio Pettirossi
Simón Bolívar		Template:Country data Bolivia	Club Bolívar
Vasco da Gama	Named after Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama.[3]	Brazil	Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama, Associação Desportiva Vasco da Gama
		Template:Country data India	Vasco SC
Victoria	Named after Queen Victoria.	England	Northwich Victoria, Biddulph Victoria
Zico		Brazil	Centro de Futebol Zico Sociedade Esportiva

[edit] Club names referring to sport

Topic	Meaning	Country	Clubs
Amateur	Referring to the amateur origins of the club.	England	Fulwood Amateurs F.C.
Athletics	Club names containing a reference to athletes or athletics.	Angola	Petro Atlético
		Brazil	Atlético Mineiro, Atlético Paranaense, Atlético Goianiense, Atlético Acreano
		England	Charlton Athletic, Grays Athletic, Oldham Athletic, Wigan Athletic
		Scotland	Dunfermline Athletic, Forfar Athletic
		Spain	Athletic Bilbao, Atlético Madrid
Casuals	Clubs originating in amateur status teams.	England	Corinthian-Casuals F.C., Walton Casuals F.C.
Cricket	Club names containing a term for cricket. Usually, the club also had a cricket team in the past.	Brazil	Rio Cricket
		Italy	Genoa C.F.C.
Football	Club names containing a term for football. Examples: balompié (Spanish), calcio (Italian).	Brazil	Guaratinguetá Futebol, RS Futebol
		Denmark	Greve Fodbold
		Italy	Ascoli Calcio 1898, Cagliari Calcio, Udinese Calcio
		Spain	Albacete Balompié, Real Betis Balompié, Écija Balompié
Gymnastics	These clubs usually have a historical affiliation with gymnastics.	France	Olympique Gymnaste Club de Nice-Côte d'Azur
		Germany	Turn und Spielvereinigung Koblenz
		Norway	Larvik Turn & I.F.
		Spain	Gimnàstic de Tarragona, RS Gimnástica de Torrelavega
		Turkey	Beşiktaş Jimnastik Kulübü
Olympic Games	Club names containing a reference to either the Olympic Games or the ancient city of Olympia, Greece.	Template:Country data Azerbaijan	FK Olimpik Baku
		Belgium	Olympia Bruxelles
		File:Flag of Cyprus.png Cyprus	Olympiakos Nicosia
		England	Blackburn Olympic
		France	Nîmes Olympique, Olympique Lyonnais, Olympique Marseille
		Greece	Olympiacos F.C.
		Greece	ASK Olympiakos Volos F.C.
		Greece	Ethnikos Olympiakos Volos F.C.
		Template:Country data Honduras	CD Olimpia
		Mali	Cercle Olympique de Bamako
		Template:Country data Niger	Olympic FC de Niamey
		Northern Ireland	Derry Olympic
		Paraguay	Olimpia Asunción
Romania	Olimpia Satu Mare
Slovenia	Olimpija Ljubljana
Rambling	Hillwalking	Republic of Ireland	Cobh Ramblers F.C.
		England	Burnham Ramblers F.C.
Racing		Spain	Racing Santander
		France	Racing Strasbourg
		Argentina	Racing Avellaneda
Rowing	These clubs usually have a historical affiliation with rowing.	Brazil	Clube de Regatas do Flamengo, Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama, Clube de Regatas Brasil, Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas, Colo-Colo de Futebol e Regatas, Palmas Futebol e Regatas, Clube do Remo, São Cristóvão de Futebol e Regatas
Sport	Club names containing the word "sport." Examples: deportivo (Spanish), desportivo and esportivo (Portuguese), sport (Dutch), spor (Turkish language).	Brazil	Desportiva Capixaba, Clube Esportivo de Bento Gonçalves, Sport Club do Recife
		Template:Country data Cape Verde	Desportivo Ribeira Brava, Desportivo de Santa Cruz
		Chile	Club Deportivo Huachipato, Club Deportivo O'Higgins, Deportivo Temuco
		Colombia	Deportivo Cali
		England	Woodley Sports, Mickleover Sports, Hullbridge Sports, Cowes Sports
		Netherlands	Helmond Sport, Sportclub Heerenveen
		Peru	Deportivo Wanka, Sport Boys
		Portugal	Desportivo das Aves
		Spain	Deportivo de La Coruña
		Turkey	Bursaspor, Trabzonspor
Stadium	Club names containing the word "stadium." Examples: stade (French), stadion (Dutch and German).	Belgium	Stade Leuven
		Côte d'Ivoire	Stade d'Abidjan
		France	Stade Rennes, Stade Reims, Stade Brest 29, Stade Saint-Brieuc, Stade Bordelais, Stade Français Paris, Stade Laval, Stade Plabennecois
		Template:Country data Gabon	Stade d'Akébé, AS Stade Mandji
		Mali	Stade Malien
		Senegal	Stade Mbour

[edit] Sports societies

Topic	Meaning	Country	Clubs
CSKA	CSKA means Central Army Sports Club in Slavic languages, indicates that the team was originally part of the army.	Armenia	CSKA Yerevan
		Bulgaria	CSKA Sofia
		Template:Country data Moldova	CSKA-Agro Stauceni
		Russia	PFC CSKA Moscow
		Template:Country data Tajikistan	CSKA Dushanbe
		Ukraine	CSKA Kyiv
Dynamo	Eastern European teams, indicates that the team was originally part of the Soviet Dynamo sport society or an equivalent such as Sportvereinigung Dynamo.	Albania	KS Dinamo Tirana
		Template:Country data Belarus	FC Dinamo Minsk, FC Dinamo Brest
		Croatia	Dinamo Zagreb
		File:Flag of Estonia.png Estonia	Dünamo Tallinn
		File:Flag of Georgia.png Georgia	FC Dinamo Batumi, FC Dinamo Sokhumi, FC Dinamo Tbilisi
		Germany	Berliner FC Dynamo, SG Dynamo Dresden
		File:Flag of Latvia.png Latvia	FK Dinamo-Rīnuži/LASD
		Template:Country data Moldova	FC Dinamo Bender
		Romania	FC Dinamo Bucureşti
		Russia	Dynamo Moscow, Dynamo Bryansk, Dynamo Makhachkala, Dynamo Stavropol
		Ukraine	Dynamo Kyiv, FC Dinamo Luhansk
Hapoel	Hebrew for The Worker, an Israeli sport association, with links to trade unionism	Israel	Hapoel Kfar Saba F.C., Hapoel Petah Tikva F.C., Hapoel Tel Aviv F.C.
Lokomotiv	For Eastern European teams, indicates that the team was originally part of the Soviet Lokomotiv sport society or an equivalent.	Bulgaria	Lokomotiv Plovdiv
		Germany	Lokomotive Leipzig
		Russia	Lokomotiv Moscow
Maccabi	For Jewish teams, indicates that the team was originally part of the Maccabi sport society.	Belgium	Maccabi Antwerp, Maccabi Bruxelles
		France	Maccabi Paris
		Germany	Makkabi Berlin, Maccabi Düsseldorf
		Israel	Maccabi Haifa, Maccabi Tel Aviv
		Romania	Maccabi Bucureşti
		USA	Maccabi Los Angeles
Spartak	For Eastern European teams, indicates that the team was originally part of the Soviet Spartak sport society or an equivalent.	Russia	Spartak Moscow, Spartak Vladikavkaz
Torpedo	For Eastern European teams, indicates that the team was once part of the Soviet republican VSS Trud.	File:Flag of Georgia.png Georgia	FC Torpedo Kutaisi
		Russia	FC Torpedo Moscow, FC Torpedo-RG, FC Torpedo-ZIL
		Ukraine	FC Torpedo Zaporizhzhya
Zenit	For Eastern European teams, indicates that the team was originally part of the Soviet Zenit sport society or an equivalent.	Czech Republic	Zenit Čáslav
		Russia	Zenit Saint Petersburg

[edit] Club names referring to values and ideals

Topic	Meaning	Country	Clubs
Courage	Template:Lang-de Template:Lang-pt Template:Lang-es	Angola	Onze Bravos do Maquis
		Austria	Admira Wacker Mödling, Wacker Innsbruck, Wacker Tirol
		Germany	Alemannia Wacker Berlin, Wacker Leipzig, Wacker München, Wacker 90 Nordhausen
		Mexico	Bravos de Nuevo Laredo
Fortune		Denmark	Fortuna Hjørring
		Germany	Fortuna Köln, Fortuna Düsseldorf, Fortuna Magdeburg
		Netherlands	Fortuna Sittard
Friendship		France	Union Amicale Cognac, Amicale Sportive de Poissy, Amicale Sportive Vitré
		Germany	Sportfreunde Lotte, Sportfreunde Seligenstadt, Sportfreunde Siegen
		Italy	F.S. Sestrese Calcio 1919
		Template:Country data Luxembourg	Les Amis de la Moselle Remerschen, FC Amis des Sports Luxembourg
		Template:Country data Namibia	Friends
		Northern Ireland	Ballyclare Comrades F.C.
		Norway	Hamarkameratene, Mandalskameratene
Harmony		Belgium	V.C. Eendracht Aalst 2002
		Germany	Eintracht Frankfurt, Eintracht Braunschweig, Eintracht Duisburg 1848, Eintracht Friedrichshagen, Eintracht Mahlsdorf, Eintracht Trier, Eintracht Nordhorn
		Switzerland	Concordia Basel
Health and wellbeing		England	Armthorpe Welfare, Askern Welfare, Blackwell Miners Welfare, Blidworth Welfare, Brodsworth Welfare, Calverton Miners Welfare, Clipstone Welfare, Gedling Miners Welfare, Glasshoughton Welfare, Holbrook Miners Welfare, Nostell Miners Welfare, Staveley Miners Welfare, Thoresby Colliery Welfare, Welbeck Colliery Welfare
		Netherlands	Tot Heil Onzer Ribbenkast
		Scotland	Danderhall Miners Welfare, Lochore Miners Welfare, Whitehill Welfare
Hope		Benin	Espoir FC
		Cameroon	Espérance FC
		France	Espérance Sportive Troyes Aube Champagne
		Template:Country data Niger	Espoir FC
		File:Flag of Rwanda.png Rwanda	Espoir FC
		Tunisia	Espérance Sportive de Tunis, Espérance Sportive de Zarzis, Espoir Sportif de Hammam-Sousse
Improvement	Excelsior means "higher" Fortior means "stronger"	Belgium	Excelsior Mouscron
		Template:Country data Madagascar	AS Fortior
		Netherlands	Excelsior '31, Excelsior Maassluis, Excelsior Rotterdam
Independence	Template:Lang-fa	Argentina	Club Atlético Independiente
		Brazil	Independência Futebol Clube, Independente Esportes Clube Macaé
		Colombia	Independiente Medellín
		Iran	Esteghlal Tehran F.C., Esteghlal Ahvaz F.C.
Invincibility		England	Folkestone Invicta
Speed	Template:Lang-fr Template:Lang-la	Netherlands	Celeritas, Robur et Velocitas, Velocitas 1897, Vitesse, Vitesse Delft, Vitesse 1892, Vitesse '08, Vitesse '22, Vitesse '63
Strength	Template:Lang-la Template:Lang-he	Australia	Sydney Hakoah
		Austria	Hakoah Vienna
		Template:Country data Bolivia	The Strongest
		Denmark	Jødisk Idrætsforening Hakoah
		Israel	Hakoah Ramat Gan
		Netherlands	Robur et Velocitas, Robur Goes, Robur Harlingen
		United States	New York Hakoah
Support	Pro is Latin for "in favour/support of"	Italy	Pro Vercelli, Pro Patria, Pro Sesto
Unity	An example of this is Alianza (Spanish).	Peru	Alianza Lima, Alianza Atlético
		File:Flag of El Salvador.png El Salvador	Alianza F.C.
Victory	Template:Lang-ar	File:Flag of Saudi Arabia.png Saudi Arabia	Al-Nasr
		Template:Country data United Arab Emirates