Well hello, I seem to be in a predicament. My current project, set in a dystopian future, lacks police. Well a name for them. As I'm terrible with names, I thought I'd ask here. These forces are ruthless and unmerciful when it comes to but I'd prefer them to have a name that shows them as the complete opposite. Thanks in advance.
The Guardians? Perhaps you could make an acronym of some sort, such as S.A.F.E., and then reveal the actual words later on in the book.
How about something like...Civil Protection Service? Edit: Actually, I think they're the thing from Half-Life 2. Okay, how about...Municipal <something> Service. Has a sort of...Orwellian feel to it.
Cheiftains, Auxiliaries, Defenders, Liberators or Libs Peacemakers(named after a gun but a little similar to HG's peace) you could also go into what some aincient civilisations used like immortals,
How about blueskins, as a slang term. The Watchmen (or the Hangmen, a derogatory term, used in the criminal underground), or is that copyrighted to DC?
Avenging angels, Enforcers, furies (might only work for an all-female squad), The people's protectors, Eagle eyes, Coppers, Peelers.
Don't forget, folks, Arannir is looking for names that SEEM innocuous and benevolent, belying their true nature as vicious, murderous brutes.
In that case, I re-submit "the People's protectors" and add a few new ones! Nice men in blue, the Valiant ones, honor gaurd, bastions of morality, The society of protection, the Freedom fighters.
Why not go for something simple like soldiers? Or mercenaries if they're hired? Soldiers sound benevolent but may not necessarily be so. And mercenaries generally are seen as evil...or more so they don't follow standard societal rules.
Then if you want a unique name you can always add something. 'Soldiers of the North Peak' or 'Watchmen's Soldiers', or maybe you have a name of the person who the guards report to. 'Rismael's Soldiers'. Known to strike a man down for stepping in their path.
The word "Knight" seems to be very ambiguous, but if you call them like "The White Knights" or the "Shining Knights" it might work.
In my hometown we call them "disco", "pigs", "five-o", "gang unit", "scouts", "poe-poe" ... all pretty old school names. haaha
What about naming them after the color of their uniform? For example, I've heard cops being called "the blues."
Sentinels ("Cents" for short) Deacons Uncles Presser (short for "Prevention Specialist") Rector (short for "Rectification Specialist")
Protectorate Officer Security Administrators Peacekeeper Agent Public Security Monitor Safety Services Officer Municipal Prefect All of these sound pretty tame and "public friendly", but could easily be trigger happy enforcers, with automatic weapons, body armor, armored vehicles and robotic mecha.
What about Rangers because the definition of a ranger is one of a body of armed guards who patrol a region.
