Flower names suited rapidly produced groups of small ships. A large botanical vocabulary gave the Royal Navy enough distinctive names for successive batches without inventing an artificial numbering scheme. Plant imagery also translated readily into badges and other visual traditions. Even names that outsiders might mock could strengthen a crew's shared identity by giving sailors something particular to defend and celebrate together.
Chapter · 14:30-17:33
Why the Royal Navy reused flower names
Flower names supplied a large naming pool, ready-made ship badges, and an identity around which a newly assembled crew could unite.