diff --git a/Templates/DefaultGem/Template/Code/Include/${Name}/${Name}Bus.h b/Templates/DefaultGem/Template/Code/Include/${Name}/${Name}Bus.h
index 0e8ab29cc4..1b3b67c241 100644
--- a/Templates/DefaultGem/Template/Code/Include/${Name}/${Name}Bus.h
+++ b/Templates/DefaultGem/Template/Code/Include/${Name}/${Name}Bus.h
@@ -16,9 +16,9 @@
 
 #include <AzCore/EBus/EBus.h>
 
-namespace ${Name}
+namespace ${SanitizedCppName}
 {
-    class ${Name}Requests
+    class ${SanitizedCppName}Requests
         : public AZ::EBusTraits
     {
     public:
@@ -31,6 +31,6 @@ namespace ${Name}
         // Put your public methods here
     };
 
-    using ${Name}RequestBus = AZ::EBus<${Name}Requests>;
+    using ${SanitizedCppName}RequestBus = AZ::EBus<${SanitizedCppName}Requests>;
 
-} // namespace ${Name}
+} // namespace ${SanitizedCppName}
diff --git a/Templates/DefaultGem/Template/Code/Source/${Name}EditorSystemComponent.cpp b/Templates/DefaultGem/Template/Code/Source/${Name}EditorSystemComponent.cpp
index 5884489904..4fca5e8d3c 100644
--- a/Templates/DefaultGem/Template/Code/Source/${Name}EditorSystemComponent.cpp
+++ b/Templates/DefaultGem/Template/Code/Source/${Name}EditorSystemComponent.cpp
@@ -15,24 +15,24 @@
 #include <AzCore/Serialization/SerializeContext.h>
 #include <${Name}EditorSystemComponent.h>
 
-namespace ${Name}
+namespace ${SanitizedCppName}
 {
-    void ${Name}EditorSystemComponent::Reflect(AZ::ReflectContext* context)
+    void ${SanitizedCppName}EditorSystemComponent::Reflect(AZ::ReflectContext* context)
     {
         if (auto serializeContext = azrtti_cast<AZ::SerializeContext*>(context))
         {
-            serializeContext->Class<${Name}EditorSystemComponent, AZ::Component>()->Version(1);
+            serializeContext->Class<${SanitizedCppName}EditorSystemComponent, AZ::Component>()->Version(1);
         }
     }
 
-    void ${Name}EditorSystemComponent::Activate()
+    void ${SanitizedCppName}EditorSystemComponent::Activate()
     {
         AzToolsFramework::EditorEvents::Bus::Handler::BusConnect();
     }
 
-    void ${Name}EditorSystemComponent::Deactivate()
+    void ${SanitizedCppName}EditorSystemComponent::Deactivate()
     {
         AzToolsFramework::EditorEvents::Bus::Handler::BusDisconnect();
     }
 
-} // namespace ${Name}
+} // namespace ${SanitizedCppName}
diff --git a/Templates/DefaultGem/Template/Code/Source/${Name}EditorSystemComponent.h b/Templates/DefaultGem/Template/Code/Source/${Name}EditorSystemComponent.h
index 1f973651ee..296d2c3bcd 100644
--- a/Templates/DefaultGem/Template/Code/Source/${Name}EditorSystemComponent.h
+++ b/Templates/DefaultGem/Template/Code/Source/${Name}EditorSystemComponent.h
@@ -18,32 +18,32 @@
 
 #include <AzToolsFramework/Entity/EditorEntityContextBus.h>
 
-namespace ${Name}
+namespace ${SanitizedCppName}
 {
-    /// System component for ${Name} editor
-    class ${Name}EditorSystemComponent
+    /// System component for ${SanitizedCppName} editor
+    class ${SanitizedCppName}EditorSystemComponent
         : public AZ::Component
         , private AzToolsFramework::EditorEvents::Bus::Handler
     {
     public:
-        AZ_COMPONENT(${Name}EditorSystemComponent, "${EditorSysCompClassId}");
+        AZ_COMPONENT(${SanitizedCppName}EditorSystemComponent, "${EditorSysCompClassId}");
         static void Reflect(AZ::ReflectContext* context);
 
-        ${Name}EditorSystemComponent() = default;
+        ${SanitizedCppName}EditorSystemComponent() = default;
 
     private:
         static void GetProvidedServices(AZ::ComponentDescriptor::DependencyArrayType& provided)
         {
-            provided.push_back(AZ_CRC("${Name}EditorService"));
+            provided.push_back(AZ_CRC("${SanitizedCppName}EditorService"));
         }
 
         static void GetRequiredServices(AZ::ComponentDescriptor::DependencyArrayType& required)
         {
-            required.push_back(AZ_CRC("${Name}Service"));
+            required.push_back(AZ_CRC("${SanitizedCppName}Service"));
         }
 
         // AZ::Component
         void Activate() override;
         void Deactivate() override;
     };
-} // namespace ${Name}
+} // namespace ${SanitizedCppName}
diff --git a/Templates/DefaultGem/Template/Code/Source/${Name}Module.cpp b/Templates/DefaultGem/Template/Code/Source/${Name}Module.cpp
index 3c6be88158..ca4a724f49 100644
--- a/Templates/DefaultGem/Template/Code/Source/${Name}Module.cpp
+++ b/Templates/DefaultGem/Template/Code/Source/${Name}Module.cpp
@@ -17,21 +17,21 @@
 
 #include <${Name}SystemComponent.h>
 
-namespace ${Name}
+namespace ${SanitizedCppName}
 {
-    class ${Name}Module
+    class ${SanitizedCppName}Module
         : public AZ::Module
     {
     public:
-        AZ_RTTI(${Name}Module, "${ModuleClassId}", AZ::Module);
-        AZ_CLASS_ALLOCATOR(${Name}Module, AZ::SystemAllocator, 0);
+        AZ_RTTI(${SanitizedCppName}Module, "${ModuleClassId}", AZ::Module);
+        AZ_CLASS_ALLOCATOR(${SanitizedCppName}Module, AZ::SystemAllocator, 0);
 
-        ${Name}Module()
+        ${SanitizedCppName}Module()
             : AZ::Module()
         {
             // Push results of [MyComponent]::CreateDescriptor() into m_descriptors here.
             m_descriptors.insert(m_descriptors.end(), {
-                ${Name}SystemComponent::CreateDescriptor(),
+                ${SanitizedCppName}SystemComponent::CreateDescriptor(),
             });
         }
 
@@ -41,10 +41,10 @@ namespace ${Name}
         AZ::ComponentTypeList GetRequiredSystemComponents() const override
         {
             return AZ::ComponentTypeList {
-                azrtti_typeid<${Name}SystemComponent>(),
+                azrtti_typeid<${SanitizedCppName}SystemComponent>(),
             };
         }
     };
-}// namespace ${Name}
+}// namespace ${SanitizedCppName}
 
-AZ_DECLARE_MODULE_CLASS(Gem_${Name}, ${Name}::${Name}Module)
+AZ_DECLARE_MODULE_CLASS(Gem_${SanitizedCppName}, ${SanitizedCppName}::${SanitizedCppName}Module)
diff --git a/Templates/DefaultGem/Template/Code/Source/${Name}SystemComponent.cpp b/Templates/DefaultGem/Template/Code/Source/${Name}SystemComponent.cpp
index 7f91197e4a..214d2cfe39 100644
--- a/Templates/DefaultGem/Template/Code/Source/${Name}SystemComponent.cpp
+++ b/Templates/DefaultGem/Template/Code/Source/${Name}SystemComponent.cpp
@@ -18,19 +18,19 @@
 #include <AzCore/Serialization/EditContext.h>
 #include <AzCore/Serialization/EditContextConstants.inl>
 
-namespace ${Name}
+namespace ${SanitizedCppName}
 {
-    void ${Name}SystemComponent::Reflect(AZ::ReflectContext* context)
+    void ${SanitizedCppName}SystemComponent::Reflect(AZ::ReflectContext* context)
     {
         if (AZ::SerializeContext* serialize = azrtti_cast<AZ::SerializeContext*>(context))
         {
-            serialize->Class<${Name}SystemComponent, AZ::Component>()
+            serialize->Class<${SanitizedCppName}SystemComponent, AZ::Component>()
                 ->Version(0)
                 ;
 
             if (AZ::EditContext* ec = serialize->GetEditContext())
             {
-                ec->Class<${Name}SystemComponent>("${Name}", "[Description of functionality provided by this System Component]")
+                ec->Class<${SanitizedCppName}SystemComponent>("${SanitizedCppName}", "[Description of functionality provided by this System Component]")
                     ->ClassElement(AZ::Edit::ClassElements::EditorData, "")
                         ->Attribute(AZ::Edit::Attributes::AppearsInAddComponentMenu, AZ_CRC("System"))
                         ->Attribute(AZ::Edit::Attributes::AutoExpand, true)
@@ -39,45 +39,45 @@ namespace ${Name}
         }
     }
 
-    void ${Name}SystemComponent::GetProvidedServices(AZ::ComponentDescriptor::DependencyArrayType& provided)
+    void ${SanitizedCppName}SystemComponent::GetProvidedServices(AZ::ComponentDescriptor::DependencyArrayType& provided)
     {
-        provided.push_back(AZ_CRC("${Name}Service"));
+        provided.push_back(AZ_CRC("${SanitizedCppName}Service"));
     }
 
-    void ${Name}SystemComponent::GetIncompatibleServices(AZ::ComponentDescriptor::DependencyArrayType& incompatible)
+    void ${SanitizedCppName}SystemComponent::GetIncompatibleServices(AZ::ComponentDescriptor::DependencyArrayType& incompatible)
     {
-        incompatible.push_back(AZ_CRC("${Name}Service"));
+        incompatible.push_back(AZ_CRC("${SanitizedCppName}Service"));
     }
 
-    void ${Name}SystemComponent::GetRequiredServices(AZ::ComponentDescriptor::DependencyArrayType& required)
+    void ${SanitizedCppName}SystemComponent::GetRequiredServices(AZ::ComponentDescriptor::DependencyArrayType& required)
     {
         AZ_UNUSED(required);
     }
 
-    void ${Name}SystemComponent::GetDependentServices(AZ::ComponentDescriptor::DependencyArrayType& dependent)
+    void ${SanitizedCppName}SystemComponent::GetDependentServices(AZ::ComponentDescriptor::DependencyArrayType& dependent)
     {
         AZ_UNUSED(dependent);
     }
 
-    void ${Name}SystemComponent::Init()
+    void ${SanitizedCppName}SystemComponent::Init()
     {
     }
 
-    void ${Name}SystemComponent::Activate()
+    void ${SanitizedCppName}SystemComponent::Activate()
     {
-        ${Name}RequestBus::Handler::BusConnect();
+        ${SanitizedCppName}RequestBus::Handler::BusConnect();
         AZ::TickBus::Handler::BusConnect();
     }
 
-    void ${Name}SystemComponent::Deactivate()
+    void ${SanitizedCppName}SystemComponent::Deactivate()
     {
         AZ::TickBus::Handler::BusDisconnect();
-        ${Name}RequestBus::Handler::BusDisconnect();
+        ${SanitizedCppName}RequestBus::Handler::BusDisconnect();
     }
 
-    void ${Name}SystemComponent::OnTick(float /*deltaTime*/, AZ::ScriptTimePoint /*time*/)
+    void ${SanitizedCppName}SystemComponent::OnTick(float /*deltaTime*/, AZ::ScriptTimePoint /*time*/)
     {
 
     }
 
-} // namespace ${Name}
+} // namespace ${SanitizedCppName}
diff --git a/Templates/DefaultGem/Template/Code/Source/${Name}SystemComponent.h b/Templates/DefaultGem/Template/Code/Source/${Name}SystemComponent.h
index 5071e7b9c7..5eff2e6430 100644
--- a/Templates/DefaultGem/Template/Code/Source/${Name}SystemComponent.h
+++ b/Templates/DefaultGem/Template/Code/Source/${Name}SystemComponent.h
@@ -18,15 +18,15 @@
 #include <AzCore/Component/TickBus.h>
 #include <${Name}/${Name}Bus.h>
 
-namespace ${Name}
+namespace ${SanitizedCppName}
 {
-    class ${Name}SystemComponent
+    class ${SanitizedCppName}SystemComponent
         : public AZ::Component
-        , protected ${Name}RequestBus::Handler
+        , protected ${SanitizedCppName}RequestBus::Handler
         , public AZ::TickBus::Handler
     {
     public:
-        AZ_COMPONENT(${Name}SystemComponent, "${SysCompClassId}");
+        AZ_COMPONENT(${SanitizedCppName}SystemComponent, "${SysCompClassId}");
 
         static void Reflect(AZ::ReflectContext* context);
 
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ namespace ${Name}
 
     protected:
         ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-        // ${Name}RequestBus interface implementation
+        // ${SanitizedCppName}RequestBus interface implementation
 
         ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
@@ -54,4 +54,4 @@ namespace ${Name}
         ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
     };
 
-} // namespace ${Name}
+} // namespace ${SanitizedCppName}
diff --git a/Templates/DefaultGem/Template/Code/Tests/${Name}EditorTest.cpp b/Templates/DefaultGem/Template/Code/Tests/${Name}EditorTest.cpp
index 7fd3fa7cfa..9b36a3aadb 100644
--- a/Templates/DefaultGem/Template/Code/Tests/${Name}EditorTest.cpp
+++ b/Templates/DefaultGem/Template/Code/Tests/${Name}EditorTest.cpp
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 
 #include <AzTest/AzTest.h>
 
-class ${Name}EditorTest
+class ${SanitizedCppName}EditorTest
     : public ::testing::Test
 {
 protected:
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ protected:
     }
 };
 
-TEST_F(${Name}EditorTest, SanityTest)
+TEST_F(${SanitizedCppName}EditorTest, SanityTest)
 {
     ASSERT_TRUE(true);
 }
diff --git a/Templates/DefaultGem/Template/Code/Tests/${Name}Test.cpp b/Templates/DefaultGem/Template/Code/Tests/${Name}Test.cpp
index 8021ca920e..bee38fa9d7 100644
--- a/Templates/DefaultGem/Template/Code/Tests/${Name}Test.cpp
+++ b/Templates/DefaultGem/Template/Code/Tests/${Name}Test.cpp
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 
 #include <AzTest/AzTest.h>
 
-class ${Name}Test
+class ${SanitizedCppName}Test
     : public ::testing::Test
 {
 protected:
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ protected:
     }
 };
 
-TEST_F(${Name}Test, SanityTest)
+TEST_F(${SanitizedCppName}Test, SanityTest)
 {
     ASSERT_TRUE(true);
 }
diff --git a/Templates/DefaultProject/Template/Code/Include/${Name}/${Name}Bus.h b/Templates/DefaultProject/Template/Code/Include/${Name}/${Name}Bus.h
index faa0e8acf6..e6f9dd57bd 100644
--- a/Templates/DefaultProject/Template/Code/Include/${Name}/${Name}Bus.h
+++ b/Templates/DefaultProject/Template/Code/Include/${Name}/${Name}Bus.h
@@ -16,9 +16,9 @@
 
 #include <AzCore/EBus/EBus.h>
 
-namespace ${Name}
+namespace ${SanitizedCppName}
 {
-    class ${Name}Requests
+    class ${SanitizedCppName}Requests
         : public AZ::EBusTraits
     {
     public:
@@ -30,5 +30,5 @@ namespace ${Name}
 
         // Put your public methods here
     };
-    using ${Name}RequestBus = AZ::EBus<${Name}Requests>;
-} // namespace ${Name}
+    using ${SanitizedCppName}RequestBus = AZ::EBus<${SanitizedCppName}Requests>;
+} // namespace ${SanitizedCppName}
diff --git a/Templates/DefaultProject/Template/Code/Source/${Name}Module.cpp b/Templates/DefaultProject/Template/Code/Source/${Name}Module.cpp
index 4f11828366..57b473b317 100644
--- a/Templates/DefaultProject/Template/Code/Source/${Name}Module.cpp
+++ b/Templates/DefaultProject/Template/Code/Source/${Name}Module.cpp
@@ -17,21 +17,21 @@
 
 #include "${Name}SystemComponent.h"
 
-namespace ${Name}
+namespace ${SanitizedCppName}
 {
-    class ${Name}Module
+    class ${SanitizedCppName}Module
         : public AZ::Module
     {
     public:
-        AZ_RTTI(${Name}Module, "${ModuleClassId}", AZ::Module);
-        AZ_CLASS_ALLOCATOR(${Name}Module, AZ::SystemAllocator, 0);
+        AZ_RTTI(${SanitizedCppName}Module, "${ModuleClassId}", AZ::Module);
+        AZ_CLASS_ALLOCATOR(${SanitizedCppName}Module, AZ::SystemAllocator, 0);
 
-        ${Name}Module()
+        ${SanitizedCppName}Module()
             : AZ::Module()
         {
             // Push results of [MyComponent]::CreateDescriptor() into m_descriptors here.
             m_descriptors.insert(m_descriptors.end(), {
-                ${Name}SystemComponent::CreateDescriptor(),
+                ${SanitizedCppName}SystemComponent::CreateDescriptor(),
             });
         }
 
@@ -41,10 +41,10 @@ namespace ${Name}
         AZ::ComponentTypeList GetRequiredSystemComponents() const override
         {
             return AZ::ComponentTypeList{
-                azrtti_typeid<${Name}SystemComponent>(),
+                azrtti_typeid<${SanitizedCppName}SystemComponent>(),
             };
         }
     };
-}// namespace ${Name}
+}// namespace ${SanitizedCppName}
 
-AZ_DECLARE_MODULE_CLASS(Gem_${Name}, ${Name}::${Name}Module)
+AZ_DECLARE_MODULE_CLASS(Gem_${SanitizedCppName}, ${SanitizedCppName}::${SanitizedCppName}Module)
diff --git a/Templates/DefaultProject/Template/Code/Source/${Name}SystemComponent.cpp b/Templates/DefaultProject/Template/Code/Source/${Name}SystemComponent.cpp
index 1e505f743c..82f7d7d17b 100644
--- a/Templates/DefaultProject/Template/Code/Source/${Name}SystemComponent.cpp
+++ b/Templates/DefaultProject/Template/Code/Source/${Name}SystemComponent.cpp
@@ -18,19 +18,19 @@
 
 #include "${Name}SystemComponent.h"
 
-namespace ${Name}
+namespace ${SanitizedCppName}
 {
-    void ${Name}SystemComponent::Reflect(AZ::ReflectContext* context)
+    void ${SanitizedCppName}SystemComponent::Reflect(AZ::ReflectContext* context)
     {
         if (AZ::SerializeContext* serialize = azrtti_cast<AZ::SerializeContext*>(context))
         {
-            serialize->Class<${Name}SystemComponent, AZ::Component>()
+            serialize->Class<${SanitizedCppName}SystemComponent, AZ::Component>()
                 ->Version(0)
                 ;
 
             if (AZ::EditContext* ec = serialize->GetEditContext())
             {
-                ec->Class<${Name}SystemComponent>("${Name}", "[Description of functionality provided by this System Component]")
+                ec->Class<${SanitizedCppName}SystemComponent>("${SanitizedCppName}", "[Description of functionality provided by this System Component]")
                     ->ClassElement(AZ::Edit::ClassElements::EditorData, "")
                         ->Attribute(AZ::Edit::Attributes::AppearsInAddComponentMenu, AZ_CRC("System"))
                         ->Attribute(AZ::Edit::Attributes::AutoExpand, true)
@@ -39,37 +39,37 @@ namespace ${Name}
         }
     }
 
-    void ${Name}SystemComponent::GetProvidedServices(AZ::ComponentDescriptor::DependencyArrayType& provided)
+    void ${SanitizedCppName}SystemComponent::GetProvidedServices(AZ::ComponentDescriptor::DependencyArrayType& provided)
     {
-        provided.push_back(AZ_CRC("${Name}Service"));
+        provided.push_back(AZ_CRC("${SanitizedCppName}Service"));
     }
 
-    void ${Name}SystemComponent::GetIncompatibleServices(AZ::ComponentDescriptor::DependencyArrayType& incompatible)
+    void ${SanitizedCppName}SystemComponent::GetIncompatibleServices(AZ::ComponentDescriptor::DependencyArrayType& incompatible)
     {
-        incompatible.push_back(AZ_CRC("${Name}Service"));
+        incompatible.push_back(AZ_CRC("${SanitizedCppName}Service"));
     }
 
-    void ${Name}SystemComponent::GetRequiredServices(AZ::ComponentDescriptor::DependencyArrayType& required)
+    void ${SanitizedCppName}SystemComponent::GetRequiredServices(AZ::ComponentDescriptor::DependencyArrayType& required)
     {
         AZ_UNUSED(required);
     }
 
-    void ${Name}SystemComponent::GetDependentServices(AZ::ComponentDescriptor::DependencyArrayType& dependent)
+    void ${SanitizedCppName}SystemComponent::GetDependentServices(AZ::ComponentDescriptor::DependencyArrayType& dependent)
     {
         AZ_UNUSED(dependent);
     }
 
-    void ${Name}SystemComponent::Init()
+    void ${SanitizedCppName}SystemComponent::Init()
     {
     }
 
-    void ${Name}SystemComponent::Activate()
+    void ${SanitizedCppName}SystemComponent::Activate()
     {
-        ${Name}RequestBus::Handler::BusConnect();
+        ${SanitizedCppName}RequestBus::Handler::BusConnect();
     }
 
-    void ${Name}SystemComponent::Deactivate()
+    void ${SanitizedCppName}SystemComponent::Deactivate()
     {
-        ${Name}RequestBus::Handler::BusDisconnect();
+        ${SanitizedCppName}RequestBus::Handler::BusDisconnect();
     }
 }
diff --git a/Templates/DefaultProject/Template/Code/Source/${Name}SystemComponent.h b/Templates/DefaultProject/Template/Code/Source/${Name}SystemComponent.h
index 39ccbda549..4df74027be 100644
--- a/Templates/DefaultProject/Template/Code/Source/${Name}SystemComponent.h
+++ b/Templates/DefaultProject/Template/Code/Source/${Name}SystemComponent.h
@@ -18,14 +18,14 @@
 
 #include <${Name}/${Name}Bus.h>
 
-namespace ${Name}
+namespace ${SanitizedCppName}
 {
-    class ${Name}SystemComponent
+    class ${SanitizedCppName}SystemComponent
         : public AZ::Component
-        , protected ${Name}RequestBus::Handler
+        , protected ${SanitizedCppName}RequestBus::Handler
     {
     public:
-        AZ_COMPONENT(${Name}SystemComponent, "${SysCompClassId}");
+        AZ_COMPONENT(${SanitizedCppName}SystemComponent, "${SysCompClassId}");
 
         static void Reflect(AZ::ReflectContext* context);
 
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ namespace ${Name}
 
     protected:
         ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-        // ${Name}RequestBus interface implementation
+        // ${SanitizedCppName}RequestBus interface implementation
 
         ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
diff --git a/scripts/o3de/o3de/engine_template.py b/scripts/o3de/o3de/engine_template.py
index 9bb62eff35..05d6c5f8b9 100755
--- a/scripts/o3de/o3de/engine_template.py
+++ b/scripts/o3de/o3de/engine_template.py
@@ -1232,10 +1232,12 @@ def create_from_template(destination_path: str,
         with_this = replace.pop(0)
         replacements.append((replace_this, with_this))
 
+    sanitized_cpp_name = utils.sanitize_identifier_for_cpp(destination_name)
     # dst name is Name
     replacements.append(("${Name}", destination_name))
     replacements.append(("${NameUpper}", destination_name.upper()))
     replacements.append(("${NameLower}", destination_name.lower()))
+    replacements.append(("${SanitizedCppName}", sanitized_cpp_name))
 
     if _instantiate_template(template_json_data,
                              destination_name,
@@ -1536,10 +1538,12 @@ def create_project(project_path: str,
         with_this = replace.pop(0)
         replacements.append((replace_this, with_this))
 
+    sanitized_cpp_name = utils.sanitize_identifier_for_cpp(project_name)
     # project name
     replacements.append(("${Name}", project_name))
     replacements.append(("${NameUpper}", project_name.upper()))
     replacements.append(("${NameLower}", project_name.lower()))
+    replacements.append(("${SanitizedCppName}", sanitized_cpp_name))
 
     # module id is a uuid with { and -
     if module_id:
@@ -1927,10 +1931,13 @@ def create_gem(gem_path: str,
         with_this = replace.pop(0)
         replacements.append((replace_this, with_this))
 
+    sanitized_cpp_name = utils.sanitize_identifier_for_cpp(gem_name)
     # gem name
     replacements.append(("${Name}", gem_name))
     replacements.append(("${NameUpper}", gem_name.upper()))
     replacements.append(("${NameLower}", gem_name.lower()))
+    replacements.append(("${SanitizedCppName}", sanitized_cpp_name))
+    
 
     # module id is a uuid with { and -
     if module_id:
diff --git a/scripts/o3de/o3de/utils.py b/scripts/o3de/o3de/utils.py
index 4330de25b8..6bb536f0fd 100755
--- a/scripts/o3de/o3de/utils.py
+++ b/scripts/o3de/o3de/utils.py
@@ -36,6 +36,26 @@ def validate_identifier(identifier: str) -> bool:
     return True
 
 
+def sanitize_identifier_for_cpp(identifier: str) -> str:
+    """
+    Convert the provided identifier to a valid C++ identifier
+    :param identifier: the name which needs to to sanitized
+    :return: str: sanitized identifier
+    """
+    if not identifier:
+        return ''
+    
+    sanitized_identifier = list(identifier)
+    if not (sanitized_identifier[0].isalpha() or sanitized_identifier[0] == '_'):
+        sanitized_identifier.insert(0, '_')
+    
+    for index, character in enumerate(sanitized_identifier):
+        if not (character.isalnum() or character == '_'):
+            sanitized_identifier[index] = '_'
+            
+    return "".join(sanitized_identifier)
+
+
 def validate_uuid4(uuid_string: str) -> bool:
     """
     Determine if the uuid supplied is valid.