How often did warships and civilian vessels share names such as Queen Mary?
Short answerIt was not unusual. Sailors and owners repeatedly chose names associated with speed, prominent people, or famous places, even when the vessels served in different eras and roles.
NotesShip names are drawn from a limited set of popular qualities, people, and places, so duplication across naval and civilian service occurs naturally. Names built around speed, including variants of Swift and Swiftsure, are especially easy to reuse. The Paris offers a local example: material from its wreck in a Cornish cove was used in alterations to a nearby pub that kept the ship's name. A vessel's identity can survive locally after the hull itself is lost.