American warship names create naval heritage

The U.S. Navy used state names for battleships and had more freedom with cruiser names, allowing the Lexington-class names to evoke the original six frigates and the service's beginnings. The battlecruisers could therefore suggest a renewed naval birth after the false starts that followed the frigates. The Royal Navy did not need to manufacture a usable heritage because it already had victories to draw upon. Names such as Nelson could remind foreign audiences of past defeats and make a capital ship carry that history wherever it appeared. Modern British practice generally avoids admiral names, with Admiral Duncan offered as a possible exception, but the interwar navy valued their ability to intimidate an opponent before battle.