How does one name a spaceship? by RahlMaclaren

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

How does one name a spaceship?

POSTED BY: RAHLMACLAREN
UPDATED: Friday, February 22, 2008 05:23
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Thursday, February 21, 2008 6:31 PM

"Damn yokels, can't even tell a transport ship ain't got no guns on it." - Jayne Cobb

There's this ship design that I've been playing around with for years now, but I haven't come up with a name yet.

Any thoughts, suggestions, formulas, cookie recipes?

What say you!

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Find here the Serenity you seek.

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Thursday, February 21, 2008 6:41 PM

GORAMMAN

What does it look like?
What is it's function?
What kind of person owns it?
Is it part of a naval force?

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Thursday, February 21, 2008 9:42 PM

STRANGEBIRD

To me a good name should represent either an ideal one might have for a ship, or an aspect of said ship that will never change as long as the ship is in the air. Mal named Serenity after the most defining moment in his entire life. The name could have also carried the implications that he saw it as something that could bring his life further meaning, and perhaps with that a bit of serenity.

I don't name anything, be it pet, car, child-so far not yet-, art or short story without thinking it over nearly as much or more than the act of getting or making the thing required. Rarely does a name come before the thing. Then again a name is just a name and doesn't make something or someone what it is.

Give us specs, diagrams, descriptions, whatever you have. We'll help you name it if we can.

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"When you can't do something smart, do something right." -Jayne quoting Book

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Thursday, February 21, 2008 11:26 PM

JEWELSTAITEFAN

You looking to name the Class of the ship, or the individual name of the specific ship?

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Friday, February 22, 2008 4:43 AM

REGINAROADIE

Well, I always thought if I were to ever get a boat or a ship or something you'd name, I always thought QUIXOTE would make a great name for a ship, named after the legendary Don Quixote and everything he stood for.

That would have been so cool if on FIREFLY or SERENITY that there was a ship called The Quixote.

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"And it starts with a sentence that might last a lifetime, or it all might just go down in flames. If I let you know me, then why would you want me? Each day I don't is a shame. Each day I don't is a great shame."

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Friday, February 22, 2008 5:00 AM

THESOMNAMBULIST

reginaroadie wrote:
Friday, February 22, 2008 04:43

Quote:
Well, I always thought if I were to ever get a boat or a ship or something you'd name, I always thought QUIXOTE would make a great name for a ship, named after the legendary Don Quixote and everything he stood for.

That would have been so cool if on FIREFLY or SERENITY that there was a ship called The Quixote.

That is a great name for a ship! Being a fan of the character too, that sits very well with me. I'd fly in a boat called the Quixote... Probably shouldn't but I would.

In terms of naming a ship, well does it resemble anything in look? A bird, an insect etc... Or you could go sentimental and name it after your first love, or your dog or your favourite biscuit (cookie): Although Chocolate digestive is a bit much to paint on a space ship!

Being a fan of mythology I awlays tend to look that way for names as I think they sound cool. The Odysseus, The Minotaur, Tears of Andromeda, The Argo... Stuff like that. There is also Norse Mythology. They have some cool names too... Anything and everything will do I guess, It depends on you as an individual really... What are you like?

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Friday, February 22, 2008 5:23 AM

CYBERSNARK

Basically what everyone else has said. Names have meanings. You just have to find one that fits.

Some ship names from my own original 'verse:

The Mafdet: named after an Egyptian cat-goddess. The original Mafdet's job was to hunt down anyone who committed a crime against the Pharaoh (or the other gods) and bring him before her master for judgement --like a cat bringing home a mouse. The ship is owned by a bounty hunter.

The Starry Knight: a gift given by Princess Khalil to her lover (a smuggler who is as loyal to her personally as he is rebellious of the Empire's laws). The ship is a battered, rust-encrusted rattletrap, but with state of the art engines, guidance systems and "questionably-legal" modifications --much like the Millennium Falcon.

The Extremophile: owned by an adventurer and mercenary, who believes that one is only really alive when facing death.

The Fort: named for Charles Fort, the starship is a science vessel from the Hishidahte League. The League is my analogue of Star Trek's Federation, and the Fort's mission is, essentially, to seek out concentrations of "High Weirdness" and poke them with a proverbial stick to see what happens. The ship is equipped with very powerful engines, for running away from what inevitably ensues.

The Najma: a powerful warship eventually used by "Rebel Empress" Khalil as her flagship. "Najma" was the name of a young Pakistani girl, who was raped, her family brutalized and threatened, and left unable to file charges against her politically-powerful attackers (a wealthy police constable). She remained unbowed, her resistance virtually guaranteeing her own death, and that of her family. She would not compromise, would not meekly surrender, and would not allow their crime to go unknown. She was one of the Princess' childhood heroes. In the future, that name shall be a rallying cry for the weak, the abused, and those who still believe in justice, and it will strike fear into the hearts of those who would willingly do harm to another; it is the sound of Vengeance coming for them.
( http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0709/pakistan/pakistan-p7.html)

(FWIW, I have a list of names culled from news reports and historical records, of great people and places that should be commemorated. Princess Khalil is named for Dua Khalil, a name that should be burned into everyone's memory: http://whedonesque.com/index2.php?comments=13271.)

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