I noticed a few odd things today.

[Hotfoot]

On the topic of the naming structure, I personally give each of my ships a model designation after the name, so that I can continue to use the model name as I continue to upgrade class. For example, say I were to make my standard Support Vessel class ship, outfitted with solar collectors and repair bays, the Caretaker class vessel. The first ship of the classification would be the Caretaker Mk1. When I get better components and I upgrade the design (maybe even to a better hull) I up the designation by one, so the next in the series is the Caretaker Mk2.

Most ships only Last long enough to get a Mk2 or Mk3 designation as technology advances, but more general-purpose designs, like the Caretaker, or the Jumpstart (my population transports) go up to Mk6 or Mk7 at times.

-Hotfoot
"Beware the Terrors of the Shaderni Empire."

[Aristoi]

For fun in multiplayer games, I will use letters for the shipname, such as ZX. That way it is not obvious what the design is for. When I make warships, I'll name them in random order, like ZX-IV, then Z-X, then ZX-I, so that it is not obvious which design is an upgraded Version of what.

Just keeping people on their toes.

[jc173]

Or if you want to be really confusing and don't have a problem keeping your ships straight, use the Borg name file. Sheesh just a bunch of letters and numbers strung together. I tried playing as the Borg once for the helluva it, but I couldn't remember for the life of me what designation was for what ship.