Panopticon
Utilitarian
OK, I am going to try this rather than just lecture other people about how I think they should try it.
This is based on the principle that the names should be as simple and constant as possible, even if they are not strictly historical. They will all be "Empires" - no fancy "Caliphates" or "Mandates" here, change the name yourself if you want
However, certain names should change if they would be totally inconsistent with their era. So I'm choosing names by era.
Egyptian, Indian, Chinese, Greek, Japanese, Ethiopian, Spanish, French, English, Russian, Dutch, Malinese, Portuguese, Mongolian, American Empires are OK in every era. I would change English Empire to British Empire though.
Babylonian Empire (Babylon) changes to Iraqi Empire (Iraq) in Renaissance Era.
Persian Empire (Persia) changes to Iranian Empire (Iran) in Modern Era.
Carthaginian Empire (Carthage) changes to Berber Empire (Berbers) in Renaissance Era.
Roman Empire (Rome) changes to Italian Empire (Italy) in Renaissance Era.
Mayan Empire (Maya) changes to Guatemalan Empire (Guatemala) in Industrial Era.
Viking Empire (Vikings) begins as Scandinavian Empire (Scandinavia). This changes to Norwegian Empire (Norway) in Renaissance Era.
Arabian Empire (Arabia) changes to Saudi Empire (Saudi Arabia) in Modern Era.
Khmer Empire (Khmer) changes to Cambodian Empire (Cambodia) in Industrial Era.
German Empire (Germany) begins as Holy Roman Empire (The Empire). This changes to German Empire (Germany) in Industrial Era.
Incan Empire (Inca) changes to Peruvian Empire (Peru) in Industrial Era.
Aztec Empire (Aztec) changes to Mexican Empire (Mexico) in Industrial Era.
Turkish Empire (Turkey) begins as the Ottoman Empire (Ottomans). This changes to Turkish Empire (Turkey) in Modern Era.
There are problems here - I assume there is a good reason why the Turks are not called Ottomans anyway, like in Civ 4. The Berbers are already represented by waves of Camel Archers in North Africa. And Germany is not strictly the Holy Roman Empire (though the noun is a big improvement on Holy Rome). Still, it's a start.
This is based on the principle that the names should be as simple and constant as possible, even if they are not strictly historical. They will all be "Empires" - no fancy "Caliphates" or "Mandates" here, change the name yourself if you want

Egyptian, Indian, Chinese, Greek, Japanese, Ethiopian, Spanish, French, English, Russian, Dutch, Malinese, Portuguese, Mongolian, American Empires are OK in every era. I would change English Empire to British Empire though.
Babylonian Empire (Babylon) changes to Iraqi Empire (Iraq) in Renaissance Era.
Persian Empire (Persia) changes to Iranian Empire (Iran) in Modern Era.
Carthaginian Empire (Carthage) changes to Berber Empire (Berbers) in Renaissance Era.
Roman Empire (Rome) changes to Italian Empire (Italy) in Renaissance Era.
Mayan Empire (Maya) changes to Guatemalan Empire (Guatemala) in Industrial Era.
Viking Empire (Vikings) begins as Scandinavian Empire (Scandinavia). This changes to Norwegian Empire (Norway) in Renaissance Era.
Arabian Empire (Arabia) changes to Saudi Empire (Saudi Arabia) in Modern Era.
Khmer Empire (Khmer) changes to Cambodian Empire (Cambodia) in Industrial Era.
German Empire (Germany) begins as Holy Roman Empire (The Empire). This changes to German Empire (Germany) in Industrial Era.
Incan Empire (Inca) changes to Peruvian Empire (Peru) in Industrial Era.
Aztec Empire (Aztec) changes to Mexican Empire (Mexico) in Industrial Era.
Turkish Empire (Turkey) begins as the Ottoman Empire (Ottomans). This changes to Turkish Empire (Turkey) in Modern Era.
There are problems here - I assume there is a good reason why the Turks are not called Ottomans anyway, like in Civ 4. The Berbers are already represented by waves of Camel Archers in North Africa. And Germany is not strictly the Holy Roman Empire (though the noun is a big improvement on Holy Rome). Still, it's a start.