how do you name your ships

Atilla · Post by **Atilla** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 12:39 pm

I tend to pick dramatic-sounding words, mythological names, or mash two random words together to make something vaguely poetic. Sometimes I pick words from a theme (eg. Sigil, Rune, Glyph).

Mr_Wizard · Post by **Mr_Wizard** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 2:10 pm

http://www.behindthename.com/

For all my naming needs. I obsess over names a lot, generally because I want them to be meaningful to their purpose.

For instance, the name of one of my tournament battleships, the Manyara, has a Shona name. It means "You have been humbled."

Auriak · Post by **Auriak** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 12:04 am

For my Auriak ships, the bigger ships are named for powerful beings (except for Megarian which I just thought up.). The name Helian I just thought up, and the name Firemoth has stuck with that kind of ship through all its evolutions. Saurian was used because it sounds cool.

For my Mystar ships, the naming theme is light/dark day/night. For example Noctis, and Luminos.

The Nor do not have specific names, instead I used Nor Battlecruiser, Nor Hammerhead, etc. Descriptive names. This is because the Nor do not share these names with other races, most of their contact being war.

My next fleet has names based on some scientific concepts like Vector, Scalar, Evaporator, Sublimator. I am using some other names as well though, such as Sculptor for the repair ship.

In general, I either use existing words, variations on any words, or completely new made up stuff.

Barrage · Post by **Barrage** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 5:04 am

I always see something right before I name my ship.

AidanAdv · Post by **AidanAdv** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 9:57 am

I usauly just have names come to me or use words that sound imposing like Overlord or Tyranus. Also I may use something historic or a placename like Moscow class destroyer or Washington cruiser.

Droid · Post by **Droid** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 10:25 am

I pick a letter, then think of words that start with that letter - preferably big words.
For tournament ships...Magic: the Gathering card names.

Laguz · Post by **Laguz** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 12:58 pm

I use norse runes.

LordGarcia · Post by **LordGarcia** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 8:52 pm

Naming ships really is a pain in the ass. for now I just think of spanish words and give them some random word that discribes a bit of their duty. Now if I'm about to start another fleet with lets say another species I would need the words in another lanuage. so if I make 4 different species (naming the ships in spanish, german french, english. english last because that is the most lame variant IMO) I wouldn't know how to name the fifth without large googling trough the internet.

Exethalion · Post by **Exethalion** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 12:24 am

Anything whatsoever. Cities, heroes, monarchs, events, etc. Usually British orientated where possible.

I never follow a coherent naming scheme like greek gods or something because I've considered that a proper fleet would have a large number of ships made in different eras, by different manufacturers, who would name ships differently.

Atrum · Post by **Atrum** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 11:57 am

Latin names.
Destoyers- Elements, depending on duty, and for dual-duty, logical outcomes of an elemental fusion. Ventus(Wind), Ignis(Fire), etc.
Cruisers- Weapons- Swords, axes, bastard swords, etcs.
Battleships- Jobs, titles(The stronger the ship, the more "evil" the name.). Duke, King, Torturer, etc.

Unique Flagships have english names. E.G Eternal Soul, Unholy Judgement, etc. etc.

Spoot Knight · Post by **Spoot Knight** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 4:42 pm

For the new fleet I'm working on there's three ship classes, Strike Craft which are named after old-age weapons. Capital ship classes are named after words that represent the U.S.. Super Capital ship classes are named after types of people back in stuff like the Inquisition.
Examples being Broadsword, Trebuchet, Longbow, and Independence, Constitution, and Liberty, and then Inquisitor and Templar.

At least this way I can keep a class-style theme so I don't run out of names.

Himura.Kenshin · Post by **Himura.Kenshin** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 9:34 pm

Mr_Wizard wrote:http://www.behindthename.com/

For all my naming needs. I obsess over names a lot, generally because I want them to be meaningful to their purpose.

For instance, the name of one of my tournament battleships, the Manyara, has a Shona name. It means "You have been humbled."

By the way, it's a pretty nice ship too. *Shifty eyes*

AlphaCommando · Post by **AlphaCommando** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 10:04 pm

My ships (not that have released much, but i still have all the names laid out) are named based on class.
Gunboats: NATO codes, e.g. Lambda-2, Elipson-4...
Light Clasess (tonnage wise): Named with adjetives that a small, quick, and light, e.g. Cougar class corvette, Sniper class Frigate...
Medium Classes: Latin names that have feirce meanings
Artillery Ships: Tough, smashing names, e.g. The Anvil class Artillery Ship
Heavy Classes: Named for sources of power and strength, e.g. Dynamo class Battleship, Lightning class Dreadnaught...
Superheavies: Names that induce fear and dread, e.g. Obliterator class Supercarrier, Opressor class Superdreadnaught...
Specality ships are given names that fit for their role.

Kartoffelkopf · Post by **Kartoffelkopf** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 4:39 pm

Mr_Wizard wrote:http://www.behindthename.com/

For all my naming needs. I obsess over names a lot, generally because I want them to be meaningful to their purpose.

For instance, the name of one of my tournament battleships, the Manyara, has a Shona name. It means "You have been humbled."

I used to use that site a lot, but I forgot about it, thanks for reminding me.

Shaleblade · Post by **Shaleblade** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 9:40 am

I take part of what I based the ship off of "I wanted this ship to focus on beams, so let's have it have an -ea- in there". Then add some letters that sound good around it.