Basically, I'm running a campaign called Chessboard over Discord in a full-custom setting. The name is derived from the fact that the party are basically not only pieces moved around by the players, but also the gods of the setting--most of whom are very active and have no limitation on entering the material plane in a host body.
The PCs are currently on a task from the Church of Tal'Ona, goddess of shadows and such. (Yes, I am belatedly aware an established setting has their own Talona) Their task being to stop a collection of Exitian cultists (Followers of the god of destruction and the sun) from digging up whatever artifact they seem to have found. It's very hush hush and is only known to the religious bases of three other gods. No government involvement.
Now the issue; I can't think of a party name that denotes the characters rather than the players. Something that the characters themselves would come up with or earn.
Any suggestions?

why not take something from chess itself? Pawns, rooks.. Knights.. etc?

Keeping with the chess theme - something using checkmate or check.
An artifact hunter theme - masterpieces
Avatar is always a good connection when dealing with gods in physical form.
Cult hunters.
"God's name" avengers or hunters or knights (Chess again)
Trading Pieces
Chess Corps
Rook Regiment
Pawns of Tal. . .whatever her name was
Pawn hunters

I like the Chess stuff, but it kinda bugs me as an in-character thing. The party wouldn't readily make a chess joke out of their group name, as the name CHessboard is out of character... Well, either way, thank y'all for your assistance

Shadow Walkers
Sun Spots (the dark spots on the sun)
The Eclipse Elite

Tal'Ona's Irregulars
Armed archeologists
The black and whites (Chess again)

If we don't go with the chess theme, there isn't much there to really draw on. How would the group see themselves? As serving a goddess and hunting a cult/artifact?

Tal'ona's Anti-cult team (TACT)

I've got a bit of a difficult group to make cohesive here. They're not all exactly willingly carrying out this task. There are two faithful of Tal'Ona driving them toward the goal quite forcibly... ah well, I'm sure something will come up later once they stop --killing each other-- so much. Once again, thanks all for your assistance.

just tossing it out there, but why do they need a name at all?

Unless their group is part of some military why worry about it, and if they are military, then give them an appropriate military name.

Does it add anything to the game, or take away from it that they don't have one? Or perhaps let their in-game actions dictate the name of the party.

Just my thoughts on the matter.

mostly just players fumbling for something to call themselves and the potential of later in-character recognition. Nothing to rush, just thought I'd send out a line and see.

Well they are a group for hire then they would take a name that would get them work. Most groups would over rate themselves to get attention or to seem famous. Maybe something like "Quest Masters" or "Master Seekers" or "Quest Lords."

If there is a leader then you could use their name, "Williams's Warriors", "Stephen's Steadfast", David's Dragon Lords".

To me it just needs to be boastful.


Maybe that can help generate ideas.