What’s your favorite ship name? - Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

What’s your favorite ship name?

From Achomawi to Zumwalt, the Navy has applied the names of thousands of people, places, concepts and fish to the vessels it has operated over the past 232 years, ranging from behemoth supercarriers to harbor tugs.

Some of the names are classics — Constellation, Essex, Enterprise — making consistent appearances in the fleet down the years. Some of the names have taken on a mystique after the exploits of the ships that bore them — Missouri, Parche, Samuel B. Roberts. A few are synonymous with sacrifice — Arizona, Johnston, Cole.

The Navy’s conventions for naming ships have changed several times: State names first went to battleships, then to ballistic-missile submarines, and now to fast-attack submarines. City names first went to cruisers, then to dock landing ships, then to fast-attack submarines, and now back to amphibious transport docks. Carriers have ranged from insects — Hornet — to concepts — Independence — to one-term Republican presidents — Gerald R. Ford.

Most names appear in the fleet just once, but a few reoccur consistently. There have been three Kidds in the Navy; four Texases; and six Truxtuns. There have been eight Enterprises, according to Jack Green, a spokesman for the Naval Historical Center, and the most-used warship name is Wasp, which has appeared in the fleet 10 times.

Despite a few close calls, there has never been a Montana — an oversight that state lawmakers have been pushing the Navy to rectify.

With plans to build 53 more littoral combat ships; at least eight more Arleigh Burke-class destroyers; one or two Zumwalt-class destroyers; a pair of Ford-class carriers; and at least one more San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock, the Navy needs more names. If the service keeps its current fleet of cruisers and destroyers in service for as long as 40 years, as planned, it’ll be a long while before it can start to recycle those ships’ names.

What classic names should return to the fleet? What battles, locales or naval heroes deserve their name on a Navy ship? What constitutes a great name for a warship? What are some name misfires the Navy shouldn’t repeat?

DISCUSS: Ship names