Chris, you can choose the civilizations as their default name when you start out. Then toggle the cheat menu. Click "Cheat" go down, and click "Edit King." From there you will see a list of all of the civilizations on the map. Choose one, click ok, then go down to "Change name" and you can modify other things too.
Good luck, and let me know if you have any other problems.
[This message has been edited by PolarisGL (edited March 18, 2000).]