What might a completed additional Lexington-class ship have been named?
Short answerIt might have kept its original name; renaming a symbolically important American warship could be politically awkward and invite superstitious interpretations.
NotesA completed additional Lexington-class unit might simply have retained its original name, United States. Renaming the ship could invite arguments about bad luck or weakness. Abandoning a nationally resonant name could also be read as a symbolic retreat. Political meaning and public superstition can therefore constrain a navy's naming choices.