10 Crazy In-Universe Rules Star Wars Characters Must Follow

To ensure the Stormtroopers are of the highest calibre, each soldier goes through painstaking reconditioning during their induction into The Empire. Not only are they trained physically, but mentally. They are broken down on a psychological level to ensure they are unequivocally obedient to their superiors, no matter how unreasonable their requests sound (which is always).

Because the original Stormtroopers were clones who aged at double-speed, there was little time for a personality to develop. Since each member didn't have any personal traits to separate them from one another, it makes sense why they were designated by operating numbers rather than names.

When The First Order abandoned the cloning program and hired (or forced) regular soldiers to serve as Stormtroopers, the higher-ups continued to refer to the cadets by operating numbers. By dehumanising them like this, The First Order believed their cadets would function more mechanically, making them follow orders unconditionally. Some Stormtroopers were taken in to The First Order at such an early age, many of them have forgotten their name, if they ever had one to begin with.