2011-04-03

Ship naming conventions can vary wildly. Some classes keep fairly consistent names while others have no identifiable pattern. The names of Constitution class starships fall somewhere in between these two extremes. There are regularities, but no overriding single guiding principle.

What follows is a quick survey of the names of early Constitution class ships (including but not limited to the first twelve, indicated in bold) and some brief guidance on the christening of future vessels. (For more information on the names and registry numbers of the first Constitutions, see this article.)

One common name given to this type of ship is related to the American Revolution. This includes the Constitution itself, the Exeter (the Revolutionary War capital of New Hampshire), the Lexington and Yorktown (sites of two famous battles), the Lafayette (the French general who fought for the American colonies), and the Republic.

A second source of names is noteworthy ocean-going vessels, particularly from the 1940s. These include the Endeavour (the ship of Captain Cook), the Hood (a British warship) the Potemkin (a Russian battleship), the Kongo (a Japanese warship) and the Essex, Hornet, and Constellation (all three US aircraft carriers).

Another set of names comes from positive or praiseworthy attributes, including Enterprise, Intrepid, Defiant, and Valiant.

There are other names that do not appear to have clear precedents. There were several ocean-going ships named Eagle, but none particularly famous. Similarly for the Excalibur. The USS Farragut was a US destroyer, but also the name of a Civil War-era American admiral.

Several names span more than one of these categories. The Enterprise was the name of several British and American vessels, including a World War II-era carrier. Constitution was also a famous Revolution-era warship. Lexington, Yorktown, and Intrepid were notable US aircraft carriers that served during World War II. The Potemkin might have been chosen because it was the name of a well-known ship or because of its role in the Russian Revolution (which did not result in a democratic state, but did overthrow an authoritarian regime). And Endeavour could be a praiseworthy trait.

In order to follow the trends established by the original Constitutions, the names of additional may be derived from three areas:

(1) Revolutionary battles, figures, or ideals (particularly if democratic). There is no need to limit these to the American Revolution. Potentials include: Liberty, Mandela, Magna Carta, Tahrir, Gorbachev, Declaration, Gandhi.

(2) Famous ships. Again, while the early preference was for World War II-era vessels, particularly aircraft carriers, this can be expanded on. Some possibilities are: Nautilus, Victoria, Yamato, Hosho, Bismarck, Invincible, Amistad

(3) Admirable traits, such as: Endurance (also a famous ship), Courage, Perseverance, Valor, Integrity, Virtue, Resolute, Audacious.