United States ship naming conventions

United States ship naming conventions for the navy were established by United States Assistant Secretary of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt. However, elements had existed since before his time. If a ship is reclassified, for example a destroyer is converted to a mine layer, it retains its original name.

Traditional conventions

 * Battleships (BB), by law, were named for states, except for USS Kearsarge (BB-5).
 * Battlecruisers (CC) under the 1916 program were to receive names of battles or famous ships. When cancelled under the Washington Naval Treaty, two were converted to aircraft carriers (CV), and this became the standard for them, with the exception of USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVB-42), USS Wright (CVL-49), USS Forrestal (CVA-59), and USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63).
 * "Battlecruisers" or Large Cruisers (CB) under the 1940 program were named for United States Territories.
 * Cruisers, both light and heavy (CL and CA), were named for cities in the United States and Territories, with the exception of USS Canberra (CA-70).
 * After the first nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser, USS Long Beach (CGN-9), CGN's of the  and es were named for states. (USS Bainbridge (CGN-25) and USS Truxtun (CGN-35) were commissioned as frigates).
 * Destroyers (DD) and destroyer escorts (DE) were named for Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard heroes.
 * Frigates (DL), formerly destroyer leaders, were likewise named after naval heroes; these were reclassified as cruisers or destroyers in 1975.
 * Frigates (FF), formerly ocean escorts, were also named for naval heroes.
 * Submarines (SS and SSN) were either given a class letter and number, as in s, or the names of fish and marine mammals.
 * Oilers (AO and AOR) were named for rivers with Native American names, and colliers named for mythical figures.
 * Fast combat support ships (AOE) were named after US cities.
 * Ammunition ships (AE) were named either after volcanoes (e.g. USS Mauna Loa (AE-8)) or words relating to fire and explosions (e.g. USS Nitro and USS Pyro).
 * Combat stores ships (AK, AF, and AFS) were named after stars and other heavenly bodies.
 * Minesweepers (MS) were named for birds, or after "positive traits," e.g. USS Admirable (AM-136) and USS Dextrous (AM-341).
 * Hospital ships (AH) were given names related to their function, such as USS Comfort and USS Mercy.
 * Fleet tugs (AT) and harbor tugs (YT) were named after American Indian tribes.
 * The first forty-one nuclear ballistic missile submarines (SSBN) (called "boomers") were named after historical statesmen considered "Great Americans."

Contemporary ship naming conventions

 * Aircraft carriers (CV and CVN) are named after American admirals and politicians, usually presidents. There is a continuing exception for USS Enterprise, (CV-6), (CVN-65), (CVN-80).
 * Amphibious assault ships (LPH, LHA, and LHD) are named after early American sailing ships, U.S. Marine Corps battles, or legacy names of earlier carriers from World War II.
 * Ballistic missile submarines (SSBN and SSGN) are named after states, except for USS Henry M. Jackson (SSBN-730).
 * Cruisers (CG) are named after battles.
 * Destroyers (DDG) retain their traditional naming conventions after U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Coast Guard heroes, except for USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG-81).
 * Dock landing ships (LSD) are named after cities or important places in U.S. and U.S. Naval history.
 * Dry cargo ships (AKE) are named for American explorers and pioneers.
 * Fast attack submarines (SSN) names are dependent on class;
 * Los Angeles class - named after cities, with the exception of the USS Hyman G. Rickover (SSN-709), named for an Admiral who was a pioneer of the nuclear Navy.
 * Seawolf class - (only 3 boats in class);
 * Lead boat USS Seawolf (SSN-21), named for a fish and the fourth submarine to carry the name,
 * 2nd boat USS Connecticut (SSN-22) named for a US state,
 * 3rd boat USS Jimmy Carter (SSN-23), named for a US president, who had served aboard a submarine.
 * Virginia class - named after US states, with the exception of the USS John Warner (SSN-785), named for a United States Senator.


 * Fast combat support ships (AOE) are named for distinguished supply ships of the past.
 * Frigates (FFG) retain their traditional naming conventions after U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Coast Guard heroes.
 * Replenishment oilers (AOR) were named for shipbuilders and marine and aeronautical engineers, but have returned to the older convention of river names.