Battleships (BB) --named for states by act of Congress. (Tennessee, Washington)
Cruisers (CA, CL) --named for cities and towns in the United States and capitals of United States possessions and territories. (Atlanta, Brooklyn, San Francisco)
Cruisers (CB) --named for territories and insular possessions of the United States. (Alaska, Guam)
Aircraft Carriers (CV, CVL) --usually named for famous ships formerly on the Navy list; and important battles. (Ranger, Bonhomme Richard, Lexington, Saratoga)
Aircraft Carriers (CVE) --named for bays, islands, and sounds of United States and for battles of World War II. (Tulugi, St. Joseph Bay, Guadalcanal, Block Island)
Destroyers (DD) --named for deceased persons in the American Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard who rendered distinguished service to their country, Secretaries and Assistant Secretaries of the Navy, members of Congress who were closely identified with naval affairs, and inventors. (Sims, Porter, Edison, Madison, Heywood, Edwards)
Submarines (SS) --named for fish and other denizens of the deep. (Perch, Sturgeon, Barracuda, Whale)
Destroyer Escorts (DE) --named in honor of personnel of Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard killed in enemy action in World War II. (Lloyd E. Acree, Douglas A. Munro, Parle, Traw)
Frigates (PF) --named for cities and towns in the United States, and towns of United States possessions and territories. (Newport, Alexandria, Annapolis)
Gunboats (PG) --named for small cities; logical and euphonious words. (Tulsa, Charleston, Fury, Action)
Yachts; Yachts, coastal (PY, PYc) -- named for old ships formerly in the Navy; gems; also logical and euphonious words. (Siren, Emerald, Valiant, Sturdy)
Destroyer Tenders (AD )--named for localities and areas of the United States. (Prairie, Dixie, Everglades)
Ammunition Ships (AE) --words which are suggestive of fire and explosives; and names of volcanoes. (Pyro, Nitro, Lessen)
Hospital Ships (AH) --logical and euphonious words. (Mercy, Relief, Samaritan)
Cargo Ships (AK) --named for astronomical bodies (Sirius, Capella) and counties of the United States. (Arlington)
Minesweepers (AM) --named for birds; logical and euphonious words. (Raven, Cardinal, Pursuit, Adroit)
Oilers (AO) --named for Indian names of rivers. (Platte, Rapidan, Brazos)
Naval Transports (AP, APA, APR) --named in honor of deceased Commandants of the Marine Corps and Marine Corps officers, counties in the United States; places of historical interest; signers of the Declaration of Independence; famous women of history; and famous men of foreign birth who rendered aid to our country in her early struggle for independence. (Le Jeune, Arthur Middleton, Florence Nightingale)
Repair Ships (AR) --named for characters in mythology. (Vulcan, Prometheus)
Submarine Tenders (AS) --named in honor of pioneers in submarine development and also for sea deities in mythology. (Fulton, Holland, Sperry)
Submarine Rescue Vessels (ASR) --named for birds. (Falcon)
Seaplane Tenders (AV) --named for sounds. (Puget Sound)
Seaplane Tenders (AVP) --named for bays, straits, inlets. (Barnegat, Greenwich Bay, Biscayne, Bering Strait, Cook Inlet)
Net Tenders (YN) --named for trees, and (Tug Class) India chiefs and other noted Indians. (Hackberry, Holly, Ebony, Yaupon, Tesota)
Ocean-going Tugs (ATF) --named for Indian tribes. (Cherokee, Navajo, Apache, Choctaw)
Harbor Tugs (large) (YTB) --named for Indian chiefs, and words of Indian dialect. (Tecumseh, Pawtucket)