Check my posts on governments if you want better explanations.

I’m no authorative source on naming conventions, but here’s some things I’ve observed throughout my life.

Also, not complete and will probably be always updated.

Naming Countries

When you use the random name generator in Stellaris (a video game), it tends to generate names that I feel are a bit strange for a country. For example, “United Human Hegemony” or “Republican Human Suns”. It’s just really strange to hear these names because no one in real life would name a country like that.

Though strange names do have a place in the world. For example, the “Most Serene Republic of Venice”.

Remember that just because a country is named something does not mean it has to be exactly what it is named. The Imperium of Man from Warhammer 40K is not ruled by an emperor, but by the High Lords of Terra because the emperor is literally half dead. Another exampe is North Korea; the country claims to be a republic and democratic yet political power is passed down the Kim Dynasty.

Normal name,

Canada, Japan. These two countries are offically the Dominion of Canada and State of Japan according to old documents. Nowadays, they are just known as Canada and Japan even on offical documents.

Republic: Political power is derived from the people. One can think of a republic as a country without a monarch. Not necessarily a democracy but most republics are democracies.

Examples: Republic of South Africa, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, French Republic.

Territory

Land I guess?

State

A State is a political and administrative unit. A sovereign state is a country.

Examples: State of Japan.

Federation, Federal Republic

A federation is made up of of constituent administrative entities that have lots of power but are ultimately subordinate to the central government in high-level matters.

Confederation, Confederacy

Like a federation, except the constituent entities are countries that can seceede and the central government in a confederation is exceedingly weak.

Technate, Technocracy

A technate or technocracy is a technocratic country

Commonwealth

In a commonwealth, everyone bands together for the common… wealth (or good). Australia is offically named the Commonwealth of Australia yet is in actuality a federation and constitutional monarchy.

Province

Common name for an administrative division. Can be headed by a premier, governer, etc.

Protectorate

A type of client state, retains autonomy and is protected by a more powerful state.

Dominion

Used by the british for their self-governing former colonies turned eventual independent countries.

Viceroyalty

Typically a colonial territory headed by a viceroy.

Principality

A country or feudal state ruled by a prince or princess. A principality (or princedom) is a monarchy.

Duchy

A country or feudal state ruled by a duke or duchess.

Grand duchy

A country or feudal state ruled by a grand duke or grand duchess

Archy Duchy

A country or feudal state ruled by a archy duke or arch duchess

Kingdom

A country or feudal state ruled by a king or queen

High Kingdom

A country or feudal state ruled by a high king or high queen

Grand Kingdom

A country or feudal state ruled by a grand king or grand queen

Empire

A country or feudal state ruled by an emperor or empress. Empires are often multinational and multicultural.

Shogunate

A feudal military government ruled by a shogun. The shoguns ruled Japan as the de-facto ruler while the emperor sat in a cerimonial and religious role as the de-jure ruler. Nevertheless, the emperor offically had the power to appoint the shogun yet in actuality did not have the power to contest the shogun and appointments.