The six projected ships were Lexington, Constellation, Saratoga, Ranger, Constitution, and United States. Battleships already drew their names from states, and the Navy could have extended the Revolutionary War pattern of Lexington and Saratoga with names such as Concord. Constitution, United States, and Constellation carried greater national prestige. A ship named United States entering a foreign port would advertise American interest with unusual directness. The names suited ships intended to advertise American power abroad as well as fight.
Chapter · 0:35-3:20
Why the planned names signalled national purpose
The planned Lexington-class names show that the US Navy expected the battlecruisers to carry unusual political and national weight.