The U.S. Navy has over 490 ships in their fleets and are planning to build even more. With this many ships, you might be wondering: How do they come up with this many Navy ship names? While there are some hilarious ship name generators that the Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) could use, there are certain rules that the SECNAV has to follow to name or rename a ship. Keep reading to find out more about the complicated rules for choosing USS and USNS ship names. Read next:How the USS New York Is a Living 9/11 Memorial

Determining Navy Ship Names

There are some Navy ship names that have obvious origins, like the USS Roosevelt or the USS Gettysburg, but how are the names of ships determined? The Navy has a whole 24-page document detailing the protocols for naming a ship. This process is a lot more detailed than might be expected.

Ship Naming Process

Let’s start with who actually has the authority to name a ship. The SECNAV is the only person within the Navy Chain of Command that has the authority to approve a naming or renaming of a ship. The SECNAV can receive recommendations for a new ship name, but these recommendations have to consider the U.S. Navy ship classes. For example, Navy cruisers are commonly named after cities, so any cruiser ship name recommendations need to be based around a city. The final name is determined in a naming convention, with the SECNAV sealing the deal on the ship name.

Sponsors

Part of the ship naming process is determining the sponsors of the ship. Navy tradition dictates that the sponsor is a female who has some sort of relationship with the ship’s mission or the ship’s name. It’s believed that the sponsor’s presence will guide and protect the ship through its life. The SECNAV is also the only one with the authority to select a ship’s sponsor.

Building the Ship and Christening Ceremonies

Once the building of the ship finally begins, a small ceremony is conducted to celebrate the “birth” of the ship. Once the ship is finished being built, a Christening Ceremony is held to commemorate the beginnings of the tests and trial phases that the ship will undergo. This ceremony largely focuses on the namesake and sponsor of the ship. Commissioning and Decommissioning Ceremonies The Commissioning and Decommissioning ceremonies are the most important ceremonies held in a ship’s life. The Commissioning Ceremony is held once the ship is ready for her mission; it shows an acceptance of the ship into the U.S. Navy. Decommissioning ceremonies are held once a ship has finished its active service life. While decommissioning ceremonies are more modest than commissioning ceremonies, they’re still a major milestone in the ship’s life.

Renaming a U.S. Navy Ship

Why are some ships renamed? There can be several reasons, including a change in class and sometimes for political reasons. In 2020, the Naming Commission was established, and with that, the Navy is not allowed to name or rename any ship that could honor the Confederacy. Recently, the USNI News reported two ships recommended for a name change for this reason. The USS Chancellorsville is being considered for a name change because of its ties to the Confederacy. Even though this ship is not named after a Confederate leader, it is named after a Civil War battle that had a significant Confederate victory. Not only that, but the ship’s crest is in commemoration of this battle. Additionally, the USS Maury is up for renaming because of Matthew Fontaine Maury’s support of Confederate ideals.

Ship Name Generators

If you want to come up with your own ship name but are lacking in the creativity department, there are several ship name generators that you could turn to. Some of the best (and funniest) are pirate ship name generators. This ship name gen has several options for serious and silly ship names, such as “The Curse” or “The Rancid Shark” or “The Impolite Plunder.” Though the U.S. Navy doesn’t use ship generators like these, it would be hilarious to have a ship named from one of them. Though naming a ship may seem easy at first, it’s actually a lot more complicated than it seems. Navy ship names go through a long and complicated process before the name is even set in stone. Though it might be easier for the U.S. Navy to use a ship name generator, the naming process can still create a meaningful ship name for the military and the citizens of the United States, despite its complexity. See also:100 Hilarious AI-Generated Images With a Military Theme

Image: news.usni.org/