Association football club names

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Geraint Evans. Vivian Song. Please go to 9 Torbey Street Brisbane Queensland Australia

Association Football club names are a part of the sport's culture, reflecting century-old traditions. Club names may reflect the BLURP 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 modern game and the prevalence of the English language, many clubs, even outside Europe, have their names written in English.

Official names often also contain common component (prepositions, conjunctions, etc.)

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

Common versus official usage

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.

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 or Inter Milan, Sporting Clube de Portugal is often called Sporting or Sporting Lisbon. Manchester United is often shortened to Man Utd, and Lyon used instead of Olympique Lyonnais.

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

Profession/education

Profession

Topic Meaning Country Clubs
Armed forces For sport clubs affiliated with the armed forces of a country. See also sports societies section.  Botswana Botswana Defence Force XI
 Guyana Guyana Defence Force FC
 Hungary Budapest Honvéd FC
   Nepal Nepal Army Club, APF Club
 Pakistan Pakistan Army
 Philippines Air Force
 Romania FC Steaua București
 Thailand Air Force Central, Army United
Arsenal Factories creating weapons
Broń in Polish means weapons
 Argentina Arsenal de Sarandí
 Egypt El Tersana
 England Arsenal
 Libya Tersanah S.C.
 Poland Broń Radom
 Russia FC Arsenal Tula
 Ukraine FC Arsenal Kyiv
 United States Detroit Arsenal
Beer  Eritrea Asmara Brewery
 Germany Borussia Dortmund
 Peru Sporting Cristal
 Serbia FK ČSK Pivara
 Sweden Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC
 Ukraine FC Obolon Kyiv
Copper Cobre is Spanish for copper, after association with copper mining  Chile Club de Deportes Cobreloa
 Peru Cobresol F.B.C.
 Poland Miedź Legnica
Coffee  Sweden FC Café Opera (defunct)
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), bought by a company (e.g. the three Red Bull teams), or incorporate a corporate sponsor's name (e.g. Technogroup)  Egypt Arab Contractors
 England Vauxhall Motors, Thames Ironworks (defunct)
 France Evian Thonon Gaillard
 Germany Bayer 04 Leverkusen
 Greece Skoda Xanthi
 India Air India
 Japan Honda Motor
 South Korea Ulsan Hyundai, Suwon Samsung Bluewings
 Mexico Cruz Azul
 Moldova
( Transnistria)
Sheriff Tiraspol
 Netherlands Philips Sport Vereniging
 Philippines Union Internacional Manila F.C.
 Poland Elana Toruń, Igloopol Dębica, KSZO Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, Stilon Gorzów, Stomil Olsztyn
 Russia Lada Togliatti
 Thailand Bangkok Glass
 Turkey Türk Telekomspor
 United States New York Red Bulls, Bethlehem Steel F.C. (defunct)
 Wales Airbus UK
Electrical Bargh: Persian for Electricity  Ecuador Emelec
 France Gazélec Ajaccio
 Germany 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam
 Iran Bargh Shiraz F.C.
 Philippines Loyola Meralco Sparks F.C.
 Ukraine FC Enerhetyk Burshtyn
 United States Houston Dynamo
Douanes French term for Customs and Taxation enforcement, clubs sponsored by these entities  Niger AS Douanes (Niamey)
 Senegal AS Douanes (Dakar)
Harbour Arka refers to Noah's Ark  Poland Arka Gdynia
Industrial  Egypt Ghazl Al Mahalla
 Spain UD Gijón Industrial
Metallurgy Foolad, Zob Ahan, and Mes: Persian for Steel, Steelworks, and Copper. Vasas: "Vas- és Fémmunkások" Hungarian for "Iron and Steel Workers", Stålkameratene Norwegian for "Steel Comrades"  Egypt Al Alaminium
 England Blackpool Metal Mechanics
 Germany Stahl Brandenburg, Stahl Eisenhüttenstadt
 Hungary Vasas SC
 Iran Foolad F.C.
 Latvia FK Liepājas Metalurgs
 Romania Oţelul Galaţi
 Moldova FC Iskra-Stal
 Norway IL Stålkameratene, Staal Jørpeland IL
 Poland Stal Mielec, Stal Rzeszów, Stal Stalowa Wola
 Russia Metallurg Lipetsk, Metallurg-Oskol, Metallurg Vyksa
 South Korea Pohang Steelers
 Ukraine Metalurh Donetsk, Stal Alchevsk, Stal Dniprodzerzhynsk
Mining GKS: Polish for miner sport clubs
Górnik: Polish for miner
Zagłębie: Polish for coalfield
Minero: Spanish for miner
Colliery: Coal mine
Shakhtar: Ukrainian for miner
 Belarus Shakhtyor Salihorsk
 Bosnia and Herzegovina Rudar Ugljevik
 England Atherton Collieries
 Kazakhstan Shakhter Karagandy
 Montenegro Rudar Pljevlja
 Peru Unión Minas
 Poland Górnik Konin, Górnik Łęczna, Górnik Polkowice, Górnik Radlin, Górnik Wałbrzych, Górnik Wieliczka, Górnik Zabrze
GKS Bełchatów, GKS Jastrzębie, GKS Piast Gliwice, GKS Katowice, GKS Victoria Jaworzno, GKS Tychy
Zagłębie Sosnowiec, Zagłębie Lubin, Zagłębie Wałbrzych
 Slovenia Rudar Velenje
 Ukraine Shakhtar Donetsk
 Venezuela Atlético Club Mineros de Guayana
Navy Malavan: Persian for Sailor
Flota: Polish for Fleet
 Iran Malavan F.C.
 Philippines Philippine Navy
 Poland Flota Świnoujście
 Thailand Navy FC
Petroleum Naft: Persian for Petrol  Angola Atlético Petróleos Luanda
 Mexico Salamanca F.C.
 Bolivia Oriente Petrolero
 Colombia Alianza Petrolera
 Ecuador Esmeraldas Petrolero
 Egypt Enppi
 Iran Sanat Naft F.C.
 Russia FC Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk, FC Oktan Perm
 Ukraine Naftovyk-Ukrnafta Okhtyrka
Police For football clubs affiliated with a police force.

El Shorta: Arabic for police.

 Botswana Police XI
 Cambodia Military Police
 China Vanguard Hubei Police Academy
 Ecuador Escuela Superior de Policía (ESPOLI)
 Egypt Ittihad El Shorta
 England Metropolitan Police
 India Punjab Police
 Iraq Al-Shorta
   Nepal Nepal Police Club
 Poland Gwardia Koszalin, Gwardia Warszawa
 Thailand Police United
 Singapore Home United
Railroad workers Rah Ahan (|Persian), Al Sekka Al Hadid: Arabic for railway, Ferro Carril (Spanish), for Railroad. Ferroviário (Portuguese) for Railroad. The "CFR" in CFR Cluj is Căile Ferate Române, the Romanian state railway system. Vasutas means "railroad worker" in Hungarian, Kigwancha means "locomotive" in Korean, Demir means "iron" in Turkish. KKS (Polish) for railway sport clubs.  Argentina Ferro Carril Oeste
 Brazil Ferroviário Atlético Clube
 Bosnia and Herzegovina FK Željezničar Sarajevo
 Bulgaria Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa, Lokomotiv Plovdiv, Lokomotiv Sofia
 Croatia NK Lokomotiva
 Egypt Al Sekka Al Hadid
 England Harrogate Railway Athletic
 Germany 1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig
 Hungary Debreceni Vasutas Sport Klub
 Scotland Inverurie Loco Works F.C.
 Iran Rah Ahan F.C.
 Moldova Locomotiva Bălți
 Mozambique Clube Ferroviário da Beira
 Poland KKS Lech Poznań
 Romania CFR Cluj
 Russia FC Lokomotiv Moscow, FC Lokomotiv Liski
 Turkey Adana Demirspor
Shipbuilding  England Cammell Laird F.C.
 Scotland Burntisland Shipyard F.C.
 South Korea Ulsan Mipo Dockyard
Textile Nassaji: Persian for Textile Industry  Argentina Textil Mandiyú
 Croatia NK Varteks Varaždin
 Egypt Ghazl El-Mehalla
 India JCT FC (Jagatjit Cotton and Textile Football Club)
 Mozambique Grupo Desportivo da Companhia Têxtil do Punguè
 Russia FC Tekstilshchik Ivanovo
Tractor manufacturing  Belarus FC Traktar Minsk
 Iran Teraktor Sazi F.C.
 Russia Rotor Volgograd
 Uzbekistan FK Traktor Tashkent

Education

NB: Soccer teams associated with colleges and universities in the United States and Canada are not listed here. These clubs are not independent of the school, and are divisions within a much larger school sports program. The one main exception to this rule is the men's team owned by Brigham Young University, which participates in the semi-professional USL Premier Development League instead of the NCAA.

Topic Meaning Country Clubs
Academic Affiliation with academics. See also Estudiantes, University, Polytechnic.  Bulgaria Akademik Sofia
 Denmark Akademisk Boldklub
 Moldova FC Academia Chișinău
 Portugal Académica de Coimbra
 Russia Sportakademklub Moscow
Old Boys Named by and as a reference to ex-pupils of a school  Argentina Newell's Old Boys
  Switzerland BSC Old Boys
Young Boys Named in contrast to nearby club Old Boys Basel (see Old Boys above)   Switzerland BSC Young Boys
Polytechnic Affiliation with a polytechnical institution. See also Academical, Estudiantes, University, Technical College.  Moldova FC Politehnica Chișinău
 Romania FC Politehnica Iași

Politehnica Știința Timișoara

Students Affiliation with students. See also Academical, Polytechnic, University.  Argentina Estudiantes de La Plata
 Brazil Estudantes Sport Club
 Peru Estudiantes de Medicina
 Mexico Estudiantes Tecos
 Romania Sportul Studențesc
 Turkey Galatasaray
Technical College  Ecuador Técnico Universitario
 New Zealand Christchurch Technical
University Affiliation with universities. See also Academical, Estudiantes, Polytechnic.
 Argentina Juventud Unida Universitario
 Bolivia Universitario de Sucre
 Chile Universidad Católica, Universidad de Chile, Universidad de Concepción
 Costa Rica Universidad de Costa Rica
 Ecuador LDU Quito
 England Loughborough University
 Honduras Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras
 Ireland University College Dublin A.F.C.
 Mexico Estudiantes Tecos, Universidad Nacional
 New Zealand University-Mount Wellington
 Peru Universitario de Deportes
 Romania FC Universitatea Craiova, Universitatea Cluj
 South Africa Pretoria University FC, Wits University F.C., NMMU F.C.
 Spain AD Universidad de Oviedo, Universidad de Las Palmas CF
 Wales Cardiff Metropolitan University F.C.

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 or city  Argentina Nueve de Julio, Nueve de Julio de Morteros, Nueve de Julio de Río Tercero (9 July)
International Workers' Day  Angola Estrela Clube Primeiro de Maio
 Portugal Associação Naval 1º de Maio
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).

The Enfield, Łęczna and Northwich clubs are breakaway clubs formed by supporters, and take their names from the foundation years of Enfield, Górnik Łęczna, and Northwich Victoria respectively. Similarly, the Darlington 1883 and F.C. Argeș 1953 identities stem from the year that now-defunct predecessor clubs Darlington F.C. and FC Argeș Pitești were constituted.

FC Dordrecht has previously been named Drechtsteden'79 (DS'79) and Dordrecht'90 in their history.

 Australia Sydney United 58 FC
 Belgium Eendracht Aalst 2002
 Bosnia and Herzegovina SFK 2000
 Canada Vancouver 86ers
 Denmark B.93, B.1903, B.1908, B.1909, B.1913
 England 1874 Northwich, Darlington 1883, Enfield 1893, Cammell Laird 1907, The 61
 Finland PK-35
 Germany 1860 München, SV Darmstadt 98, Hannover 96, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Schalke 04, BVB 09
 Gibraltar Manchester 62
 Greece Olympiacos Volou 1937
 Italy A.C. Fanfulla 1874, Ascoli Picchio F.C. 1898, Bologna F.C. 1909, A.C. Reggiana 1919, F.C. Bolzano 1996
 Mauritius AS Port-Louis 2000
 Netherlands Be Quick 1887, Fortuna '54, AZ '67, FC Dordrecht
 Poland TS Koszarawa 1910 Żywiec, KKS Włókniarz 1925 Kalisz, KS ROW 1964 Rybnik, GKS Górnik 1979 Łęczna (defunct)
 Republic of Ireland Limerick 37
 Romania F.C. Argeș 1953, ASA 1962 Târgu Mureș (defunct), FC Vaslui 2002, SC Corvinul 2005 Hunedoara (defunct), ASA 2013 Târgu Mureș
 Russia FC Krasnodar-2000 (dissolved), Zvezda 2005 Perm
 Scotland Gretna F.C. 2008
 South Korea Bucheon FC 1995
  Switzerland FC St. Gallen 1879, FC Basel 1893, FC Thun 1898, FC Wil 1900
 United States Madison 56ers, Legacy 76

Specific origins of club

Topic Meaning Country Clubs
Great Chicago Fire Officially founded on 8 October 1997, the 126th anniversary of this pivotal event in the history of Chicago.  USA Chicago Fire
Heart of Midlothian Named for a dance hall, itself named for a novel by Walter Scott and a reference to the city of Edinburgh, located in the centre of Midlothian county  Scotland Heart of Midlothian
Homeless Nomads, Rovers, Wanderers. Excursionistas translates roughly as "The Voyagers". Originally a team without a home ground  Argentina Excursionistas
 Australia Western Sydney Wanderers FC
 Chile Santiago Wanderers
 England Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Bristol Rovers, Doncaster Rovers, Northern Nomads, Wanderers, Wolverhampton Wanderers
 Malta Sliema Wanderers
 Philippines Manila Nomads
 Republic of Ireland Bray Wanderers, Shamrock Rovers, Sligo Rovers
 Scotland Albion Rovers, Dundee Wanderers, Raith Rovers
 Uruguay Montevideo Wanderers
Ittihad Arabic for "the union", meaning the merger of clubs or clubs founders  Egypt Al Ittihad Al Sakandary, Ittihad El Shorta
 Libya Al-Ittihad (Tripoli)
 Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad (Jeddah)
Mohun Bagan The club was named after the palace, Mohun Bagan Villa, that was the site of the club's first ground  India Mohun Bagan
Park Avenue The club originally played at the Park Avenue ground  England Bradford Park Avenue
Rangers (Glasgow) The club founder saw the name Rangers in a Rugby annual  Scotland Rangers
Sounders From Puget Sound, on whose eastern shore the city of Seattle lies.  United States Seattle Sounders (NASL), Seattle Sounders (USL), Seattle Sounders FC, Seattle Sounders Women
United Often (but not always) refers to the result of a merger.  Argentina Unión de Santa Fe
 Australia Gold Coast United, Adelaide United, Newcastle United Jets
 Belgium KVSK United
 England Leeds United, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Sheffield United, West Ham United, and many more
 Finland Tampere United
 Jamaica Montego Bay United F.C., Portmore United F.C., Rivoli United F.C.
 Japan JEF United Ichihara Chiba
 Republic of Ireland Galway United, Drogheda United, Waterford United
 New Zealand Hawke's Bay United
 Scotland Ayr United, Dundee United
 South Korea Incheon United, Seoul United
 Sweden AFC United
 Thailand Buriram United, Muangthong United, Bangkok United, Chiangrai United, and many more
 United States D.C. United

Ethnic, social, national or religious background

Topic Meaning Country Clubs
Albion Archaic name for Great Britain  England Brighton & Hove Albion, Burton Albion, West Bromwich Albion.
 Scotland Albion Rovers F.C. Stirling Albion
 Wales Albion Rovers F.C. (Newport)
Americans Usually, but not always, clubs made up of native citizens of the United States of America.  United States Baltimore Americans, Philadelphia Americans, New York Americans, New York Yankees
Arabi Al-Arabi is the Arabic for "Arab".  Kuwait Al-Arabi SC (Kuwait)
 Qatar Al-Arabi SC (Qatar)
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 BK, Assyriska Föreningen
Bayern German name for Bavaria  Germany FC Bayern Munich
Beitar Refers to Betar, for "Brit Yosef Trumpeldor", a Zionist youth movement founded in 1923.  Israel Beitar Jerusalem
Bohemians After Bohemia  Czech Republic FC Bohemians Praha
Borussia, Preußen Latin (Borussia) and German (Preußen) names for Prussia.  Germany Borussia Dortmund, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Tennis Borussia Berlin, Preußen Münster
Caledonian  Scotland Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Elgin Caledonian (defunct)
Canadians  Canada Vancouver Royal Canadians (defunct)
Celtic Mostly clubs founded by and for members of the Irish diaspora. The name of Celta de Vigo did not come from an Irish diaspora, but was instead inspired by the ancient Celtic presence in the club's home region of Galicia.  England Farsley Celtic, Stalybridge Celtic, West Allotment Celtic
 Ireland Cork Celtic, Wayside Celtic
 Northern Ireland Donegal Celtic, Lurgan Celtic, Belfast Celtic (defunct)
 Scotland Celtic
 South Africa Bloemfontein Celtic
 Spain Celta de Vigo
 United States Brooklyn Celtic (defunct)
 Wales Cwmbran Celtic
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, Dinamo Zagreb (formerly known as Croatia Zagreb)
 Canada Toronto Croatia
Dutch The Dutch Lions clubs are owned by the Dutch Lions Group and are affiliated with Dutch club FC Twente.  United States Dayton Dutch Lions, Cincinnati Dutch Lions, Houston Dutch Lions
Español, España Refers to the Spanish people.  Argentina Deportivo Español
 Chile Unión Española
 Mexico Real Club España, Atlético Español (both defunct)
 Spain RCD Espanyol
 United States Club España (defunct)
Germania, Alemannia Alternative names of Germany.  Germany BFC Germania, Alemannia Aachen, TSV Germania Windeck
Greece Greek: Ελλάς Hellas  Australia Pan-Hellenic, South Melbourne Hellas
 Italy Hellas Verona
 United States Greek American AA, Tampa Bay Hellenic
Guaraní Name of a group of culturally related indigenous peoples of South America.  Argentina Guaraní Antonio Franco
 Brazil Guarani Futebol Clube, Guarany Futebol Clube
 Paraguay Club Guaraní
Hibernia Clubs founded by and for members of the Irish diaspora.  Malta Hibernians
 Ireland Cork Hibernians (defunct)
 Scotland Dundee Hibernian, Duntocher Hibernian, Hibernian, Maryhill Hibernians
Homenetmen pan-Armenian sports and Scouting organization  Lebanon Homenetmen Beirut F.C.
Homenmen pan-Armenian sports and Scouting organization  Lebanon Homenmen Beirut
Hungaria  United States New York Hungaria (defunct)
Indians  Mexico Indios de Ciudad Juárez
International, global, worldwide  Australia Perth Kangaroos International FC, Inter Monaro (both defunct)
 Ghana International Allies, D'International
 Italy Inter Milan
 Philippines Global F.C., General Trias International FC (defunct)
 United States Cleveland Internationals (defunct)
Italy Clubs founded by and for members of the Italian diaspora.  Argentina Sportivo Italiano
 Australia Marconi Stallions
 Brazil Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras, Cruzeiro Esporte Clube (these two clubs were originally named Società Sportiva Palestra Italia and were obligated to rename in 1942 due to Brazilian WW2-era law).
 Canada Italia Shooters, Toronto Italia
 Chile Audax Club Sportivo Italiano
 Peru Circolo Sportivo Italiano
 United States Inter-Brooklyn Italians
 Venezuela Deportivo Italia
Korea  Japan F.C. Korea, Osaka Korean FC, Korea FC United Shikoku
Lechia Historical and alternative name for Poland, stemming from the word Lech  Poland Lechia Gdańsk, Lechia Zielona Góra
 Ukraine Lechia Lwów (defunct)
Macedonia  Australia Wollongong Macedonia
Mohammedan Mohammedan is a term used as both a noun and an adjective meaning belonging or relating to either the religion of Islam or to that of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad  Bangladesh Mohammedan SC
 India Mohammedan SC
Monarchy Real is Spanish for Royal. Reial is the Catalan equivalent, and Koninklijke is a Dutch equivalent.

Spanish clubs with the "Real" or "Reial" name, as well as the Honduras club Real España, enjoy the patronage of the Spanish monarchy.

In Belgium, once a club has been in operation for 50 years, it is eligible to add "Royal" to its name, in any of the country's three official languages (Dutch, French, German) or in English.

 Belgium Cercle Brugge Koninklijke Sportvereniging, Club Brugge Koninklijke Voetbalvereniging, Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht, Royal Antwerp FC, Royal Charleroi Sporting Club
 Canada Vancouver Royals (defunct)
 Colombia Real Cartagena, Real Santander
 Honduras Real España
 Mexico Monarcas Morelia
 Netherlands Koninklijke HFC, Koninklijke HC&VV, Koninklijke UD
 Peru Real Garcilaso
 Spain Real Madrid, Real Mallorca, Real Zaragoza, Real Sporting de Gijón, Reial CD Espanyol de Barcelona
Mordovia  Russia FC Mordovia Saransk
National "Ahly" is Arabic for "national"  Brazil Nacional FC
 Colombia Atlético Nacional
 Ecuador El Nacional
 Egypt Al-Ahly
 Libya Al-Ahly, Al-Ahly (Benghazi)
 Paraguay Club Nacional
 Portugal C.D. Nacional
 Qatar Al-Ahli (Doha)
 Romania Naţional Bucureşti
 Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli (Jeddah)
 UAE Al-Ahli Football Club - Dubai
 Uruguay Nacional de Montevideo
Palestine Clubs founded by and for members of the Palestinian diaspora.  Chile Club Deportivo Palestino
 Honduras Palestino FC
Polonia Refers to the Polish diaspora, from the Latin name for Poland  Czech Republic Polonia Karwina (defunct)
 Lithuania Polonia Wilno
 Poland Polonia Bydgoszcz, Polonia Bytom, Polonia Nowy Tomyśl, Polonia Poznań, Polonia Przemyśl, Polonia Słubice, Polonia Świdnica, Polonia Warszawa
Portugal Clubs founded by and for members of the Portuguese diaspora.  Andorra Lusitanos
 Brazil Associação Portuguesa de Desportos, Associação Atlética Portuguesa, Associação Portuguesa Londrinense, Associação Atlética Portuguesa Santista
 Canada Toronto Supra Portuguese
 France US Lusitanos Saint-Maur, US Créteil-Lusitanos
 United States Ludlow Lusitano, Newark Portuguese
 Venezuela Portuguesa Fútbol Club
Revolution Named for the American Revolution, which began in the New England colonies.  United States New England Revolution
Romania  England F.C. Romania
Russian  Russia Rusichi Oryol
Saint Santos is Portuguese and Spanish for saints.  Angola Santos de Angola
 Brazil Santos FC, São Paulo FC
 Costa Rica Santos de Guápiles
 Ghana Sporting Saint Mirren
 Guyana Santos F.C.
 Mexico Santos Laguna
 Moldova FC Sfîntul Gheorghe
 Scotland St Johnstone, St Mirren
 Wales The New Saints of Oswestry Town & Llansantffraid
 Peru San Agustín, Franciscano San Román, San José, San Martín, San Lorenzo de Almagro de Chiclayo, San Lorenzo
Serbia Clubs founded by and for members of the Serbian diaspora.  Australia Fitzroy City Serbia
 Canada Serbian White Eagles
Slav Slavia, Slavija and Slovan, all refer to the Slavic peoples  Belarus Slavia Mozyr
 Bosnia and Herzegovina Slavija Sarajevo
 Bulgaria Slavia Sofia
 Czech Republic Slavia Praha, Slavia Orlová-Lutyně, Slovan Liberec
 Serbia Slavija Kragujevac
 Slovakia Slovan Bratislava, Slovan Duslo Šaľa,
 Slovenia ND Slovan
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
 Sweden Konyaspor KIF
Ingushetia  Russia FC Angusht Nazran
Ukraine Clubs founded by and for members of the Ukrainian diaspora.  Australia Inglewood Kiev, Essendon Lions
 Canada Montreal Ukrainians, Toronto Tridents, Toronto Ukrainians
 United States New York Ukrainians, Newark Ukrainian Sitch, Philadelphia Ukrainians, Rochester Ukrainians, Ukrainian Lions
Union Named for the Union of the Thirteen Colonies, of which the city of Philadelphia was the capital.  United States Philadelphia Union

Geographical features

Topic Meaning Country Clubs
Country Country in name  France Racing Club de France
 Portugal Sporting Clube de Portugal
Borough/Suburb Neighborhood or district  Egypt Zamalek
 England Chelsea, Everton, Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, Stevenage Borough, Shepherd's Bush (defunct)
 Germany FC Schalke 04, FC St. Pauli
 Italy Chievo, Sampdoria
 Japan Omiya Ardija, Shimizu S-Pulse, Urawa Red Diamonds (all former independent towns which merged into larger cities)
 Netherlands Feyenoord
 Norway Rosenborg, Strømsgodset, Vålerenga
 Poland Raków Częstochowa, Szczakowianka Jaworzno, Szombierki Bytom, Widzew Łódź
 Portugal S.L. Benfica, Boavista FC
 South Africa Orlando Pirates
 Spain Rayo Vallecano
 Sweden Djurgårdens IF, Hammarby IF, Örgryte IS
Cardinal directions Södra means "southern" in Swedish; öster means "east". Ouest is French for west.
 Australia Northern Fury FC, South Melbourne FC, Western Sydney Wanderers FC
 England Manchester Central, Newcastle East End, Preston North End, South Liverpool, West Hartlepool
 France Angers Sporting Club de l'Ouest
 Hong Kong Eastern Sports Club
 Laos Eastern Star FC
 New Zealand Southern United FC
 Papua New Guinea Eastern Stars F.C.
 Scotland Dunee East End, Eastern, Forfar West End, Northern, Southern, Western
 Solomon Islands Western United
 Sweden Jönköpings Södra IF, Östers IF
 United States Southwest Florida Adrenaline, Western New York Flash
 Wales Treharris Athletic Western, West End
Cerro Meaning hill in Spanish  Paraguay Cerro Corá, Cerro Porteño
 Uruguay C.A. Cerro
Citadel  Scotland Inverness Citadel (defunct)
City The City clubs of Manchester, Melbourne and New York are part of the City Football Group.  Australia Adelaide City, Brisbane City, Melbourne City FC
 England Birmingham City, Bradford City, Bristol City, Exeter City, Norwich City, Leicester City, Manchester City, Stoke City
 Ireland Cork City, Derry City
 Italy Città di Palermo
 Netherlands Almere City FC
 Northern Ireland Armagh City, Derry City
 Scotland Brechin City, Elgin City
 Sweden Eskilstuna City FK
 USA New York City, Orlando City
 Wales Cardiff City, Swansea City
Coast  Australia Central Coast Mariners, Gold Coast United FC (defunct), South Coast Wolves FC
 United States Central Coast Roadrunners (defunct)
County  England Derby County, Notts County
 Republic of Ireland Kildare County (defunct)
 Scotland Ross County, Nairn County
 United States Orange County Blues, Sonoma County Sol
 Wales Haverfordwest County, Newport County
Forest Indicates a close proximity to a forest  England Nottingham Forest
 United States Portland Timbers
Kingdom Srivijaya was an important centre for the expansion of Buddhism from the 8th to the 12th century.  Indonesia Sriwijaya F.C.
Lake Ko: Japanese  Japan MIO Biwako Kusatsu
 United States Real Salt Lake
Port  England Port Vale
 Scotland Port Glasgow Athletic (defunct)
 Thailand Port FC
Prefecture Named after their home prefecture. If both a prefecture and its capital are homonyms, the club can be said to represent both.  Japan Ehime F.C., F.C. Gifu, Tochigi S.C., F.C. Tokyo
Region  Peru Sport Áncash, Deportivo Junín
River Rio: Portuguese  Brazil River Atlético Clube, Clube Náutico Capibaribe
 Argentina River Plate
 Poland Wisła Kraków, Wisła Płock, Odra Wodzisław, Odra Opole, Warta Poznań
 Russia Volga Nizhny Novgorod, Irtysh Omsk
 Portugal Rio Ave FC
 Ukraine FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk
 United States Colorado Rapids (named for the rapids of the Colorado River)
State  Brazil Bahia, Ceará, Goiás, Paraná
Town  Ecuador Macará
 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.

Wadi: Arabic for vale

 Egypt Wadi Degla
 England Port Vale, Aylesbury Vale, Pewsey Vale, Raynes Park Vale
 Wales Cambrian & Clydach Vale

Celestial bodies

Topic Meaning Country Clubs
Cosmos  Australia Canberra Cosmos FC (defunct)
Galaxy  USA LA Galaxy
Planet  Russia FC Saturn Ramenskoye
Star Astra is the Latin name for star, Asteras is the Greek name for star  France Red Star F.C.
 Greece Ethnikos Asteras F.C., Asteras Tripoli F.C., Agrotikos Asteras F.C., Kyanos Asteras Vari F.C., Asteras Amaliada F.C., Nafpaktiakos Asteras F.C., Asteras Magoula F.C., Neos Asteras Rethymno F.C., Asteras Exarchia
 Poland Astra Krotoszyn
 Romania Astra Ploieşti
 Serbia Red Star Belgrade
 Sweden IK Sirius
  Switzerland FC Blue Stars Zürich

Specific geographical features

Topic Meaning Country Clubs
Africa Named after the African continent.  Ivory Coast Africa Sports
Americas Named after the American continent.  Brazil América Football Club, América de Natal, América Mineiro
 Colombia América de Cali
 Mexico América
 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 F.C.
 Wales Cardiff Corinthians
Sparta  Australia Blacktown Spartans FC
 Czech Republic Sparta Prague
 England Blyth Spartans
 Malta Ħamrun Spartans
 Netherlands Sparta Rotterdam
 Norway Sparta Sarpsborg
 Poland Sparta Brodnica, Sparta Szamotuły
 Scotland Spartans
 United States Chicago Sparta, Philadelphia Spartans (both defunct)
Baltic Sea  Poland Bałtyk Gdynia, Bałtyk Koszalin
 Russia FC Baltika Kaliningrad
Black Sea Cherno More in several Slavic languages  Bulgaria Chernomorets Burgas, Cherno More Varna
 Russia Chernomorets Novorossiysk
 Ukraine Chornomorets Odessa
Carpathian Mountains  Poland Karpaty Krosno
 Ukraine FC Karpaty Lviv
Guadalquivir River Betis is the Latin name of Guadalquivir  Spain Real Betis
Mount Ararat  Armenia FC Ararat Yerevan
 Iran F.C. Ararat Tehran
New Brighton Tower The Towerites, as they were known, played at the Tower Athletic Ground, within the Tower complex.  England New Brighton Tower F.C.
Oder  Poland Odra Wodzisław, Odra Opole
Pasargad Named after the capital of Persia during the reign of Cyrus the Great  Iran Pasargad Tehran F.C.
Puget Sound  United States Seattle Sounders FC
River Plate  Argentina Club Atlético River Plate
 Uruguay Club Atlético River Plate (Uruguay)
River Thames  England Thames Association
Siberia  Russia FC Sibir Novosibirsk
Silesia  Czech Republic Slezský FC Opava
 Poland Śląsk Wrocław
Sunken Garden SGUFC play on the "Sunken Garden", a natural depression found on the grounds of the University of the Philippines Diliman.  Philippines Sunken Garden United F.C.
Vistula  Poland Wisła Kraków, Wisła Płock
Volyn  Ukraine Volyn Lutsk
Ural Mountains  Russia Ural Sverdlovsk

Plants

Topic Meaning Country Clubs
Hedge Sw. Häcken = "the Hedge"  Sweden BK Häcken
Oak  Ghana Hearts of Oak
Pine  Australia Frankston Pines
 Finland FC Honka
Rose The Portland Thorns name and logo intentionally reference its city's official nickname, "City of Roses".[1][2]  Australia Adamstown Rosebuds
 Scotland Linlithgow Rose F.C., Montrose Roselea F.C.
 United States Portland Thorns
Shamrock Symbol of Ireland.  Ireland Shamrock Rovers
 United States Boston Shamrock Rovers, South Carolina Shamrocks, St. Louis Shamrocks (all defunct)
Thistle National symbol of Scotland  Scotland Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Partick Thistle
Timber Generic term for wood  United States Portland Timbers (as well as past teams of the same name)
Violet  Jamaica Violet Kickers F.C.
 Scotland Stonehouse Violet F.C.

Elements, chemicals, gems and stones

Topic Meaning Country Clubs
Diamond  USA Denver Diamonds
 Japan Urawa Red Diamonds
Gold  USA FC Gold Pride
Platinum  Zimbabwe FC Platinum
 South Africa Platinum Stars
Ruby  Russia FC Rubin Kazan
Synthonia Contraction of "synthetic ammonia", a type of fertiliser.  England Billingham Synthonia F.C.

Real or mythical creatures

Topic Meaning Country Clubs
Bee  England London Bees
 Nigeria Ranchers Bees
Buffalo  South Korea Jeonbuk Buffalo
 Zambia Green Buffaloes FC
Cat  United States Miami Gatos (defunct)
Cattle Spanish: toro.  Mexico Toros Neza
 Panama Tauro F.C.
 USA Miami Toros, San Diego Toros (both defunct)
Cheetah  South Korea LG Cheetahs, Anyang LG Cheetahs
 United States BYU Cougars,[3] Kitsap Pumas, Detroit Cougars (defunct)
Cubs  Australia Darwin Cubs (defunct)
Deer  Japan Kashima Antlers
Dolphin  Nigeria Dolphins F.C. (Port Harcourt)
 Philippines Dolphins United F.C.
Dragon  Benin AS Dragons FC de l'Ouémé
 Democratic Republic of the Congo AS Dragons
 Sierra Leone Golden Dragon F.C.
 South Korea Chunnam Dragons
 Wales Mostyn Dragons
Eagle Norwegian: ørn, Polish: orzeł, Portuguese: águia, Spanish: águila.  Australia Parramatta Eagles
 Canada Serbian White Eagles
 El Salvador C.D. Águila
 Mexico Socio Águila
 Netherlands Go Ahead Eagles
 Norway Trondheims-Ørn, Ørn-Horten
 Uganda Express Red Eagles
 United States Clarkstown SC Eagles
European bison In Romanian "Zimbru" = European bison  Moldova Zimbru Chișinău
Falcon  Australia Gippsland Falcons
 Poland Sokół Sokółka
 Russia FC Sokol Saratov
 Ukraine FC Sokil Berezhany, FC Sokil Zolochiv
Goat Chivas: Spanish for goats.  Mexico Chivas de Guadalajara
 United States C.D. Chivas USA, Chivas El Paso Patriots
Gorilla  United States Atlanta Silverbacks
Grasshopper   Switzerland Grasshopper Club Zürich
Griffin  Poland Gryf Słupsk, Gryf Wejherowo
Harrier hawk Name usually used for athletics teams.  England Kidderminster Harriers F.C.
Hornet  Bermuda Dandy Town Hornets
Horse  Australia Marconi Stallions
 Bermuda St George's Colts
 Canada Brampton Stallions
 Honduras Broncos
Hummingbird Spanish: colibri.  Mexico Colibríes de Morelos
Jaguar  Mexico Chiapas
 United States California Jaguars
Kangaroo  Australia Perth Kangaroos IFC (defunct)
Leopard  Kenya AFC Leopards
 Sierra Leone Golf Leopards
 South Africa Black Leopards
 Swaziland Royal Leopards
Linnet  England Runcorn Linnets
Lion Swahili: simba.
The logo of the now-defunct USA women's club FC Gold Pride includes a lioness.
 Australia Bankstown City Lions, Kingborough Lions, Preston Lions FC, Queensland Roar FC, Stirling Lions
 Canada Canadian Lions
 England London Lions
 Ghana Heart of Lions
 Gibraltar Lions Gibraltar
 Malta Sannat Lions F.C.
 Peru León de Huánuco
 Senegal East End Lions
 Sierra Leone East End Lions
 Singapore Young Lions
 South Africa Nathi Lions
 Tanzania Simba SC, African Lyon
 Uganda Simba FC
 United States FC Gold Pride, St. Louis Lions, Orlando Lions (defunct)
Lynx Finnish: ilves  Canada Cordova Bay Red Barn Bobcats, Toronto Lynx, Toronto Lady Lynx
 Finland Ilves, Jämsänkosken Ilves (JIlves), Riihimäen Ilves (RIlves)
 Gibraltar Lynx
Mermaid "Meraloma" is a portmanteau: "Mer" from the original Mermaids club name, "al" from alpha, "om" from omega, and "a" from "always". It stems from the club motto: "Mermaids, first, last and always".  Canada Meraloma Athletic Club
Orca "Grampus" is a historic name for the whale now known as the killer whale or orca.  Japan Nagoya Grampus
Panther  Australia South Adelaide Panthers
Pegasus Korean: Chunma.  South Korea Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma
 Hong Kong TSW Pegasus, Tin Shui Wai
Pelican  Poland Pelikan Łowicz
Pheasant  Japan Fagiano Okayama
Phoenix Spanish: fénix.  Argentina Fénix
 New Zealand Wellington Phoenix FC
 Uruguay Centro Atlético Fénix
Pig  Bermuda Bermuda Hogges
Rattlesnake  United States Lancaster Rattlers
Rhinoceros  United States Rochester Rhinos
 Zimbabwe Black Rhinos F.C.
Rooster Portuguese: galo.  Brazil Adap Galo Maringá Football Club
Scorpion  USA San Antonio Scorpions
Seahorse  USA Southern California Seahorses
Shark French: requin  Mexico Tiburones Rojos de Veracruz
 Australia Sutherland Sharks
 Benin Requins de l'Atlantique
 Nigeria Sharks F.C.
 United States Wilmington Hammerheads
Sleipnir Eightlegged horse of Odin in the old Norse mythology  Sweden IK Sleipner
Snake  Australia Adelaide Cobras
 Ghana Venomous Vipers
 United States Carolina Elite Cobras, Chicago Cobras (defunct)
Sphinx  England Coventry Sphinx
Squirrel Spanish: ardilla.  Japan Omiya Ardija
Stallion  Australia Marconi Stallions FC
 Philippines Stallion F.C.
Swallow Portuguese: andorinha, Dutch: zwaluw  Netherlands Zwaluwen '30, SV Zwaluwen Wierden
 São Tomé and Príncipe Andorinha Sport Club
 South Africa Moroka Swallows FC
 Swaziland Mbabane Swallows
Swift  England Heybridge Swifts F.C., Stourport Swifts F.C.
 Luxembourg Swift Hesperange
 Northern Ireland Dungannon Swifts
 Scotland Jeanfield Swifts
Terrier  England Bedlington Terriers
Tiger Portuguese and Spanish  Argentina Club Atlético Tigre
 Australia A.P.I.A. Leichhardt Tigers
 Bahamas Playtime Tigers
 Brazil Esporte Clube Tigres do Brasil
 England Kingsbury London Tigers
 Mexico UANL Tigres
 Thailand Ubon Tiger
Wasp  England Chalfont Wasps F.C.
Wolf Finnish: susi. The LA Wolves were originally the Wolverhampton Wanderers imported into the United Soccer Association.  Australia Wollongong Wolves
 Canada St. Catharines Wolves
 Finland Sudet
 United States Los Angeles Wolves (defunct)
Zebra  Australia Whittlesea Zebras
 Bermuda PHC Zebras
 Timor-Leste FC Zebra

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.  Malta Rabat Ajax F.C.
 Netherlands AFC Ajax, Ajax Sportman Combinatie
 South Africa Ajax Cape Town
Alexandra Club names containing a reference to Princess Alexandra.  England Crewe Alexandra
Apollo  Cyprus Apollon Limassol
 Greece Apollon Kalamarias, Apollon Athens
 United States Atlanta Apollos
Aris After the Greek God of War.  Greece Aris Thessaloniki
 Cyprus Aris Limassol
 Luxembourg Aris Bonnevoie
 United States Eau Claire Aris FC
Atlas Club names containing a reference to Atlas.  Mexico Club Atlas
 Argentina Club Atlético Atlas
Hristo Botev Named after Hristo Botev, Bulgarian poet and national revolutionary.  Bulgaria Botev Plovdiv, Botev Vratsa
Simón Bolívar  Bolivia Club Bolívar
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
Renato Curi  Italy Renato Curi Angolana
Andrea Doria  Italy Sampdoria (from merger of Sampierdarenese, team of San Pier d'Arena, borough of Genoa, and Società Ginnastica Andrea Doria, team so named from the Genoese admiral Andrea Doria)
Luis Ángel Firpo  El Salvador C.D. Luis Ángel Firpo
Frey  Sweden IK Frej
Rutherford B. Hayes  Paraguay Club Presidente Hayes
Hercules/Heracles After the Greek demi-god.  Greece Iraklis F.C.
 Netherlands Heracles Almelo
 Spain Hércules CF
Hertha Supposedly a Germanic deity.  Germany Hertha BSC (Berlin), Hertha Zehlendorf
Hotspur Named after Henry Percy, aka Harry Hotspur  England Tottenham Hotspur
Isma'il Named after Isma'il Pasha ( Khedive of Egypt and Sudan )  Egypt Isma'ily
Jahn Named after Friedrich Ludwig Jahn.  Germany SSV Jahn Regensburg
Joan of Arc  Réunion SS Jeanne d'Arc
 Senegal ASC Jeanne d'Arc
Lech Named after Lech, legendary founder of Polish nation.  Poland Lech Poznań, Lech Rypin
Vasil Levski Named after Vasil Levski, Bulgarian revolutionary and a national hero of Bulgaria.  Bulgaria Levski Sofia
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
Odysseus Named after legendary Greek king and Homer's epic poem  Armenia Ulisses F.C.
Prometheus Named after Greek titan  Ukraine FC Prometei Dniprodzerzhynsk
José Joaquín Olmedo  Ecuador Centro Deportivo Olmedo
Silvio Pettirossi  Paraguay Club Silvio Pettirossi
Armando Picchi  Italy Armando Picchi Calcio
Rio Branco Named after the Baron of Rio Branco.  Brazil Rio Branco Atlético Clube, Rio Branco Esporte Clube, Clube Esportivo Rio Branco, Rio Branco Sport Club
Rob Roy  Scotland Kirkintilloch Rob Roy F.C.
Robin Hood  Suriname SV Robinhood
Ricardo Saprissa Named after the Salvadoran-born coach of the Costa Rica national team who provided the newly formed club with its first uniforms in 1935.  Costa Rica Deportivo Saprissa
Santa Claus  Finland FC Santa Claus
Skënderbeu Named after the Albanian national hero, Skanderbeg.  Albania Skënderbeu Korçë
Spartacus The famous leader of the slaves in the Third Servile War, a major slave uprising against the Roman Republic (c. 73–71 BCE).  Bulgaria PFC Spartak Pleven, FC Spartak Plovdiv, PFC Spartak Varna
 Georgia FC Spartaki Tskhinvali
 Kazakhstan FC Spartak Semey
 Russia FC Spartak Moscow, FC Spartak Nalchik, FC Spartak Kostroma, FC Spartak Tambov, FC Spartak Yoshkar-Ola, FC Spartak Gorno-Altaysk
 Serbia FK Spartak Ljig, FK Spartak Zlatibor Voda
 Slovakia FC Spartak Trnava
 Ukraine FC Spartak Ivano-Frankivsk
Teuta Named after the Illyrian queen Teuta.  Albania Teuta Durrës
Vasco da Gama Named after Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama.[4]  Brazil Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama, Associação Desportiva Vasco da Gama
 India Vasco SC
 South Africa Vasco da Gama (South Africa)
Victoria Named after Queen Victoria.  England Northwich Victoria, Biddulph Victoria
Vikings  Finland FC Viikingit
 Iceland Knattspyrnufélagið Víkingur
 Norway Viking Stavanger
Willem II  Netherlands Willem II
Jorge Wilstermann  Bolivia Club Jorge Wilstermann
Zawisza Named after Zawisza Czarny, Polish knight and nobleman.  Poland Zawisza Bydgoszcz
Zico  Brazil Centro de Futebol Zico Sociedade Esportiva

Sport

Topic Meaning Country Clubs
Actions Ruch in Polish means "movement", Naprzód means "forward"  Netherlands Go Ahead Eagles
 Poland Naprzód Jędziejów, Ruch Chorzów, Ruch Radzionków, Ruch Wysokie Mazowieckie, Ruch Zdzieszowice
Athletics Club names containing a reference to athletes or athletics. In the United States, the term "athletics" refers to sport in general.  Angola Petro Atlético
 Brazil Atlético Mineiro, Atlético Paranaense
 Colombia Atlético Nacional, Atlético Bucaramanga
 England Charlton Athletic, Oldham Athletic, Wigan Athletic
 France Cercle Athlétique de Paris-Charenton
 Republic of Ireland Rathmines Athletic (defunct)
 Scotland Dunfermline Athletic, Forfar Athletic, Alloa Athletic
 Spain Athletic Bilbao, Atlético Madrid
 United States New York Athletic Club, Athletic Club of St. Louis (defunct)
 Wales Wrexham Athletic
Casuals Clubs originating in amateur status teams.  England Corinthian-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.
Fencing  Argentina Gimnasia y Esgrima de Jujuy, Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata
Football Club names containing a term for football. Examples: futebol (Portuguese) balompié (Spanish), calcio (Italian), pêl-droed (Welsh).  Brazil Guaratinguetá Futebol, RS Futebol
 Denmark Greve Fodbold
 Italy Ascoli Calcio 1898, Cagliari Calcio, Udinese Calcio, Calcio Catania, Livorno Calcio
 Spain Albacete Balompié, Real Betis Balompié, Écija Balompié
 Wales Clwb Pêl-droed Gwalchmai, Clwb Pêl-droed Llanllyfni
Gymnastics These clubs usually have a historical affiliation with gymnastics.  Argentina Gimnasia y Esgrima de Jujuy, Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata, Gimnasia y Tiro de Salta
 France Olympique Gymnaste Club de Nice-Côte d'Azur
 Germany Turn- und Sportgemeinschaft 1899 Hoffenheim
 Norway Larvik Turn & I.F.
 Spain Gimnàstic de Tarragona, 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.  Australia Adelaide Olympic, Sydney Olympic
 Azerbaijan FK Olimpik Baku
 Belgium Olympia Bruxelles, Olympic Charleroi
 Cameroon Olympic Mvolyé
 Canada Montreal Olympique
 Cyprus Olympiakos Nicosia
 Egypt El Olympi
 England Blackburn Olympic, Rushall Olympic
 France Nîmes Olympique, Olympique Lyonnais, Olympique Marseille
 Ghana Accra Great Olympics
 Greece Olympiacos F.C., Olympiakos Volou 1937 F.C.
 Honduras CD Olimpia
 Mali Cercle Olympique de Bamako
 Moldova Olimpia Bălți
 Niger Olympic FC de Niamey
 Northern Ireland Derry Olympic
 Paraguay Olimpia Asunción
 Poland Olimpia Elbląg, Olimpia Grudziądz, Olimpia Poznań (defunct)
 Republic of Ireland Olympia (defunct)
 Romania Olimpia Satu Mare
 Slovenia Olimpija Ljubljana
 Wales Wrexham Olympic
Rambling Hillwalking  Republic of Ireland Cobh Ramblers F.C.
 England Burnham Ramblers F.C.
Racing The English Racing Club is so named due to the club playing in the locale of Warwick Racecourse.  Argentina Racing Avellaneda
 Belgium Koninklijke Racing Club Genk
 England Racing Club Warwick
 France Racing Club de France Colombes 92
Racing Club de Strasbourg
Racing Club de Lens
 Spain Racing Santander
 Uruguay Racing Montevideo
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).  Brazil Desportiva Capixaba, Clube Esportivo de Bento Gonçalves, Sport Club do Recife
 Cape Verde Desportivo Ribeira Brava, Desportivo de Santa Cruz
 Chile Club Deportivo Huachipato, Club Deportivo O'Higgins, Deportivo Temuco
 Colombia Deportivo Cali, Deportivo Pereira, Deportes Quindío, Deportes Tolima, Deportivo Pasto, Depor FC
 Egypt Alexandria Sporting Club
EnglandEngland Woodley Sports, Mickleover Sports, Hullbridge Sports, Cowes Sports
 France Angers Sporting Club de l'Ouest, Union Sportive du Littoral de Dunkerque
 Ghana Sporting Saint Mirren
 Republic of Ireland Sporting Fingal
 Jamaica Sporting Central Academy
 Netherlands Helmond Sport, Sportclub Heerenveen
 Paraguay Sportivo Luqueño
 Peru Deportivo Wanka, Sport Boys
 Portugal Desportivo das Aves, Sporting Clube de Portugal, Sporting Braga
 Romania Sportul Studențesc
 Spain Deportivo de La Coruña, other clubs with RCD (Real Club Deportivo)
 Turkey Bursaspor, Trabzonspor, Samsunspor...
 USA Sporting Kansas City
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
 Gabon Stade d'Akébé, AS Stade Mandji
 Mali Stade Malien
 Senegal Stade Mbour
Tennis Football department was added to tennis club.  Germany Tennis Borussia Berlin

Sports societies

Topic Meaning Country Clubs
Beitar The Betar movement, associated with Revisionist Zionism  Israel Beitar Jerusalem F.C., Beitar Tel Aviv F.C.
CSKA CSKA means Central Army Sports Club in most Slavic languages. CWKS is the Polish equivalent, and CSCA is the Romanian/Moldovan equivalent. Indicates that the team was originally part of the army.  Bulgaria CSKA Sofia
 Poland CWKS Legia Warszawa
 Romania CSCA Bucureşti
 Russia PFC CSKA Moscow
 Ukraine CSKA Kyiv
Dynamo Majority are 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
 Belarus FC Dinamo Minsk
 Croatia Dinamo Zagreb
 England Shepshed Dynamo
 Estonia Dünamo Tallinn
 Georgia FC Dinamo Batumi, FC Dinamo Tbilisi
 Germany Berliner FC Dynamo, SG Dynamo Dresden
 Latvia FK Dinamo-Rīnuži/LASD
 Moldova FC Dinamo Bender
 Romania FC Dinamo Bucureşti
 Russia Dynamo Moscow, Dynamo Bryansk
 Ukraine Dynamo Kyiv, FC Dinamo Luhansk
 USA Houston Dynamo,
Hapoel Hebrew for The Worker, an Israeli sport association, with links to trade unionism  Israel Hapoel Acre, Hapoel Ashkelon, Hapoel Asi Gilboa, Hapoel Balfouria, Hapoel Be'er Sheva, Hapoel Haifa, Hapoel Ironi Rishon LeZion, Hapoel Jerusalem, Hapoel Petah Tikva, Hapoel Ra'anana, Hapoel Ramat Gan, Hapoel Tel Aviv
Homenetmen pan-Armenian sports and Scouting organization  Lebanon Homenetmen Beirut F.C.
Homenmen pan-Armenian sports and Scouting organization  Lebanon Homenmen Beirut
IFK IFK, Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna, Swedish for Sporting Society Comrades. All Swedish clubs named IFK are members of IFK's central organisation, while clubs named IFK in Finland are not.  Sweden IFK Eskilstuna, IFK Göteborg, IFK Malmö, IFK Motala, IFK Norrköping
Lokomotiv For Eastern European teams, indicates that the team was originally part of the Soviet Lokomotiv sport society or an equivalent.  Bulgaria Lokomotiv Plovdiv, Lokomotiv Sofia
 Germany Lokomotive Leipzig
 Moldova Locomotiva Bălți
 Russia Lokomotiv Moscow
 Kazakhstan FC Lokomotiv Astana
Maccabi For Jewish teams, indicates that the team was originally part of the Maccabi sport society.  Israel and others (see Maccabi)
Spartak For Eastern European teams, indicates that the team was originally part of the Soviet Spartak sport society or an equivalent.  Hungary Békéscsaba (from 1970 to 1991 named Békéscsabai Előre Spartacus SC), Nyíregyháza Spartacus
 Russia Spartak Moscow, FC Spartak Nalchik
Torpedo For Eastern European teams, indicates that the team was once part of the Soviet republican VSS Trud.  England Torpedo Gumtree FC
 Georgia FC Torpedo Kutaisi
 Russia FC Torpedo Moscow, FC Torpedo-ZIL
 Ukraine FC Torpedo Zaporizhzhya
 Spain AD Torpedo 66
Vorwärts Armeesportvereinigung Vorwärts were the sports society of the East German Army.  East Germany/ Germany Vorwärts Berlin, currently Frankfurter FC Viktoria
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, Zenit Penza

Values and ideals

Topic Meaning Country Clubs
Energy German: Energie  Germany Energie Cottbus
 Russia FC Energiya Volzhsky
Freedom "libertas" meaning "freedom" in Latin, Sloboda means freedom in Bosnian  Italy Lucchese Libertas
 San Marino A.C. Libertas
Generality, universality "allmän" meaning "(in) general" in Swedish  Sweden Allmänna Idrottsklubben
Health and wellbeing Basque: Osasuna  England Armthorpe Welfare, Askern Welfare, Blackwell Miners Welfare
 Netherlands Tot Heil Onzer Ribbenkast
 Scotland Whitehill Welfare
 Spain CA Osasuna
 Romania Sănătatea Cluj
Hope  Benin Espoir FC
 Cameroon Espérance FC
 France Espérance Sportive Troyes Aube Champagne
 Moldova FC Speranţa Cahul
 Niger Espoir FC
 Rwanda Espoir FC
 Tunisia Espérance Sportive de Tunis, Espérance Sportive de Zarzis, Espoir Sportif de Hammam-Sousse
Improvement or Progress Excelsior means "higher"
Fortior means "stronger"
En Avant means "forward"
 Belgium Excelsior Mouscron
 France En Avant Guingamp
 Madagascar AS Fortior
 Netherlands Excelsior '31, Excelsior Maassluis, Excelsior Rotterdam, Go Ahead Eagles
 Romania Progresul Bucureşti
Independence Persian: Esteghlal  Argentina Club Atlético Independiente
 Brazil Independência Futebol Clube, Independente Esportes Clube Macaé
 Colombia Independiente Medellín
 Iran Esteghlal Tehran F.C.
 United States Charlotte Independence
Invincibility  England Folkestone Invicta
 Liberia Invincible Eleven
Multiculturalism Cosmos is short for cosmopolitan  San Marino S.S. Cosmos
 South Africa Jomo Cosmos
 United States New York Cosmos
Peace Мир  Ukraine FC Myr Hornostayivka
Speed French: Vitesse
Latin: Velocitas, Celeritas
 Netherlands Vitesse, Vitesse Delft, Vitesse 1892, Vitesse '08, Vitesse '22, Vitesse '63
Strength Latin: Robur
Hebrew: Hakoah
 Australia Sydney Hakoah
 Austria Hakoah Vienna
 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
Unity An example of this is Alianza (Spanish).  El Salvador Alianza F.C.
 Germany 1. FC Union Berlin
 Peru Alianza Lima, Alianza Atlético
 Romania Unirea Urziceni, Unirea Alba-Iulia, Unirea Focşani
 United States D.C. United, Philadelphia Union
 Ukraine FC Yednist' Plysky
Victory Arabic: Al-Nasr  Australia Melbourne Victory FC
 Czech Republic FC Viktoria Plzeň
 Egypt Al Nasr
 Honduras Victoria
 Luxembourg FC Victoria Rosport
 Moldova Victoria Bardar
 Romania FC Victoria Brăneşti, Victoria București
 Saudi Arabia Al-Nasr
 United Arab Emirates Al-Nasr Sports Club
Wealth  Colombia Club Deportivo Los Millonarios
Wisdom Arabic: Al-Hikma  Lebanon Al-Hikma
Youth Examples of this are "jeunesse" (French), "junior" (several languages) and "iuventūs" (Latin)  Algeria Jeunesse Sportive de Kabylie
 Argentina Boca Juniors, Argentinos Juniors, Chacarita Juniors, Juventud Alianza de San Juan
 Belize Juventus (Belize)
 Brazil EC Juventude, CA Juventus
 Cameroon Jeunesse Bamiléké
 Cape Verde Juventude do Norte
 Colombia Junior de Barranquilla, Juventud Soacha
 Ecuador Juvenil Minera (Las Naves), Juvenil (Quinindé), Juvenil de Esmeraldas, Club Social y Deportivo Juventus, Juventud Italiana (Manta)
 Germany Deutsche Jugendkraft Don Bosco Bamberg
 Honduras Real Juventud
 Côte d'Ivoire Jeunesse Club d'Abidjan
 Indonesia Arema
 Ireland Wexford Youths
 Italy Juventus F.C., A.S. Fortis Juventus 1909, S.S. Juve Stabia, A.G. Nocerina 1910
 Luxembourg Jeunesse Esch, Jeunesse Hautcharage, Jeunesse Sportive Verlorenkost
 Morocco Jeunesse Massira
 Romania Juventus Bucureşti
 Russia FC Smena Komsomolsk-na-Amure
 Serbia Mladost Lučani, Mladost Apatin
  Switzerland BSC Young Boys
 Tunisia Jeunesse Sportive Kairouanaise
 Uruguay Rampla Juniors

References

  1. Siemers, Erik (13 December 2012). "Timbers name new women's club Portland Thorns". Portland Business Journal. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
  2. "Portland women's pro team unveils "Thorns FC" as identity". Clubs. Soccer Wire. 13 December 2012. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
  3. This men's team is owned and operated by Brigham Young University, whose athletic nickname is Cougars. However, it does not participate in NCAA competition, instead playing in the USL Premier Development League. The BYU women's soccer team, which also uses the Cougars nickname, does compete in the NCAA structure.
  4. "Histórico". NetVasco. Archived from the original on 23 June 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-23.
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