How do you come up with ideas for names of missions?

[KOCOUR]

All my spacecraft are named either rocket1, car1 or plane1 (numbers my vary), or Untitled spacecraft.

[NewtSoup]

I just intentionally and shamelessly plagiarise names from contemporary and classic science fiction and slightly kerbalise them. 

Or just make them up at random

[A Soviet Tank]

I name all my manned spacecraft after a space pun or just a word that fits its role. For example I have a space shuttle called the 'broadhead', partly because Kerbals have big heads and partly because it looks like a broadhead arrow tip. I also shove a Mk I or Mk II etc. on the end because I'm British and that's what we do for some reason. 

For probes they are just named after what they do. A probe that flies by Minmus will be the 'MiFP 1' (Minmus Flyby Probe 1), mainly so I can remember what all my probes were supposed to be doing. 

Also, I name my flags after the geographical formation they are in/on and the Kerbal who planted it, so if Jeb placed a flag in a crater on Mun then it'd be called 'Jeb's Crater' . 

[Astra Infinitum]

I actually have a bunch of infographics i found of "family trees" of gods from different cultures and use that alot. I also look up viking/norse mythology, greek mythology, egyptian mythology, and related subjects and use names i find from there. Other than those subject areas i almost mostly use different star names and use a greek number for a suffix.

 

For Agency names and mission names i like to use latin astronomy terms and names. 

 

Heres some notes i grabbed and few examples. i copied and pasted from my insanely wayy too long .txt file of at least 10,000 naming ideas that ive compiled the last 5 years:

 

**dont laugh at my ridiculous methods of "note taking" that i do for myself lol**

 

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Universix / UniversIX

Astra Infinitum Aerospace
Astra Universum Aerospace
Astra Universum
Universum Infinitum
Universum Infinitum Aerospace

Astra Infinitum Aerospace
-infinite stars

Novos Mundos Aerospace
-new worlds (latin)

Nova Prospectus Aerospace
-new horizons

AD ASTRA AERO / AA AEROSPACE / AAA ?
-to the stars.... aero...space?

Ad Lunam
Ad Lunam Aerospace
Ad Lunam Infinitum

****WORD*BRAIN*STORM****

*Latin Words*
    SOL/SOLIS (sun)
    CAELUM (sky/ceiling)
    STELLA (star)
    DIES (day)
    NOX (night)
    LUNA (moon)
    CAELESTIS (heavenly)
    LUX (light)
    NOVA (new)
    IN NOCTE (into the night)vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

More:

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    //Prefixes that can be used for spacecraft naming
    //[Prefixes Optional]
    
    
        -NOVA

        BC - Battlecruiser
        BS - Battleship
        CS - Cargo ship / Cruiseship
        HMS - Her Majesty's (Space)Ship
        HWSS - Heavy Weight Spaceship
        ISS - Imperial Spaceship
        LWSS - Light Weight Spaceship
        SC - Spacecruiser
        SS - Spaceship
        SSE - Spaceship Earth (So you could insert your own planet names)
        STS - Space Transportation System
        USS - United (States) Spaceship (So you could insert your own country/nation name)
        
        
    //Prefixes-Suffixes that can be added to ship names
        -Greek Alphabet

            Α    α    Alpha
            Β    β    Beta
            Γ    γ    Gamma
            Δ    δ    Delta
            Ε    ε    Epsilon
            Ζ    ζ    Zeta
            Η    η    Eta
            Θ    θ    Theta
            Ι    ι    Iota
            Κ    κ    Kappa
            Λ    λ    Lambda
            Μ    μ    Mu
            Ν    ν    Nu
            Ξ    ξ    Xi
            Ο    ο    Omicron
            Π    π    Pi
            Ρ    ρ    Rho
            Σ    σ,ς *    Sigma
            Τ    τ    Tau
            Υ    υ    Upsilon
            Φ    φ    Phi
            Χ    χ    Chi
            Ψ    ψ    Psi
            Ω    ω    Omega

    //Names that can be used

        ✯Aurora
        Stellar ****
        Horizon
        ✯Siberia
        Dragonstar
        Titan
        Millenium
        ✯Neptune
        ✯Calypso

    //Space Shuttle/Space Orbiter Names
        
        Liberty
        Independence
        Destiny
        Freedom
        

Vagabond
Starfall
Hannibal
Paladin
Escorial
Prennia
Alliance
Immortal
Independence
Polaris
Legacy
Pinnacle
Nightingale
Gladius
Rhodes
Memphis
Chronos
York
Zeus
Antioch
Arcadian
Arizona
Armstrong
Scorpio
Arthas
Dream
Ashaton
BS Goliath
LWSS Spartacus
LWSS Buzzard
BS Judgment
SC The Albatross
Avalanche
Conquistador
Anna
Cydonia
ISS Pilgrim
BS Neutron
Falling Star
Janissary
Cydonia
HMS Eternity
STS Neptune
CS Ark Royal
Raven
Thunder
Destiny
Discovery
STS Revenant

Achilles
ISS Antioch
SC Fortune
Constellation
Neutron
Andromeda
LWSS Poseidon
LWSS Ravana
CS Retribution
Wisdom
SC Sagittarius
BS The Leviathan
Majestic
Vespira
USS Prennia
LWSS Utopia
Ramses
Ingenuity
SC Horizon
Spectrum
Millenium
Horizon
CS Eternal
The Kraken
Hurricane
SS Nightfall
Dragonstar
Apocalypse
Calypso
Intrepid
Gremlin
Venom
Antagonist
SS Imperial
Warrior
Helios
Horizon
Argonaut
The Liberator
Wolverine
Royal
Trident
SS Triumph
Lucidity

Malevolent
Valhala
Atlas
Nero

 

 

More:

 

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    //Constellation Names

        Andromeda
        Antlia
        Apus
        Aquarius
        Aquila
        Ara
        Aries
        Auriga
        Boötes
        Caelum
        Camelopardalis
        Cancer
        Canes Venatici
        Canis Major
        Canis Minor
        Capricornus
        Carina
        Cassiopeia
        Centaurus
        Cepheus
        Cetus
        Chamaeleon
        Circinus
        Columba
        Coma Berenices
        Corona Australis
        Corona Borealis
        Corvus
        Crater
        Crux
        Cygnus
        Delphinus
        Dorado
        Draco
        Equuleus
        Eridanus
        Fornax
        Gemini
        Grus
        Hercules
        Horologium
        Hydra
        Hydrus
        Indus
        Lacerta
        Leo
        Leo Minor
        Lepus
        Libra
        Lupus
        Lynx
        Lyra
        Mensa
        Microscopium
        Monoceros
        Musca
        Norma
        Octans
        Ophiuchus
        Orion
        Pavo
        Pegasus
        Perseus
        Phoenix
        Pictor
        Pisces
        Piscis Austrinus
        Puppis
        Pyxis
        Reticulum
        Sagitta
        Sagittarius
        Scorpius
        Sculptor
        Scutum
        Serpens
        Sextans
        Taurus
        Telescopium
        Triangulum
        Triangulum Australe
        Tucana
        Ursa Major
        Ursa Minor
        Vela
        Virgo
        Volans
        Vulpecula

    //Zodiacal

        Jupiter ♃
        Saturn ♄
        Uranus ♅
        Neptune ♆
        Pluto ♇
        Aries ♈
        Taurus ♉
        Gemini ♊
        Cancer ♋
        Leo ♌
        Virgo ♍
        Lipbra ♎
        Scorpius ♏
        Sagittarius ♐
        Capricorn ♑
        Aquarius ♒
        Pisces ♓

        Ceres ⚳
        Pallas ⚴
        Juno ⚵
        Vesta ⚶
        Chiron ⚷
        Black Moon Lilith ⚸

        Sextile ⚹
        Semisextile ⚺
        Quincunx ⚻
        Sesquiquadrate ⚼

    //Star Names

        ACAMAR
        ACHERNAR
        Achird
        ACRUX
        Acubens
        ADARA
        Adhafera
        Adhil
        AGENA
        Ain al Rami
        Ain
        Al Anz
        Al Kalb al Rai
        Al Minliar al Asad
        Al Minliar al Shuja
        Aladfar
        Alathfar
        Albaldah
        Albali
        ALBIREO
        Alchiba
        ALCOR
        ALCYONE
        ALDEBARAN
        ALDERAMIN
        Aldhibah
        Alfecca Meridiana
        Alfirk
        ALGENIB
        ALGIEBA
        ALGOL
        Algorab
        ALHENA
        ALIOTH
        ALKAID
        Alkalurops
        Alkes
        Alkurhah
        ALMAAK
        ALNAIR
        ALNATH
        ALNILAM
        ALNITAK
        Alniyat
        Alniyat
        ALPHARD
        ALPHEKKA
        ALPHERATZ
        Alrai
        Alrisha
        Alsafi
        Alsciaukat
        ALSHAIN
        Alshat
        Alsuhail
        ALTAIR
        Altarf
        Alterf
        Aludra
        Alula Australis
        Alula Borealis
        Alya
        Alzirr
        Ancha
        Angetenar
        ANKAA
        Anser
        ANTARES
        ARCTURUS
        Arkab Posterior
        Arkab Prior
        ARNEB
        Arrakis
        Ascella
        Asellus Australis
        Asellus Borealis
        Asellus Primus
        Asellus Secondus
        Asellus Tertius
        Asterope
        Atik
        Atlas
        Auva
        Avior
        Azelfafage
        Azha
        Azmidiske
        Baham
        Baten Kaitos
        Becrux
        Beid
        BELLATRIX
        BETELGEUSE
        Botein
        Brachium
        CANOPUS
        CAPELLA
        Caph
        CASTOR
        Cebalrai
        Celaeno
        Chara
        Chort
        COR CAROLI
        Cursa
        Dabih
        Deneb Algedi
        Deneb Dulfim
        Deneb el Okab
        Deneb el Okab
        Deneb Kaitos Shemali
        DENEB
        DENEBOLA
        Dheneb
        Diadem
        DIPHDA
        Double Double (7051)
        Double Double (7052)
        Double Double (7053)
        Double Double (7054)
        Dschubba
        Dsiban
        DUBHE
        Ed Asich
        Electra
        ELNATH
        ENIF
        ETAMIN
        FOMALHAUT
        Fornacis
        Fum al Samakah
        Furud
        Gacrux
        Gianfar
        Gienah Cygni
        Gienah Ghurab
        Gomeisa
        Gorgonea Quarta
        Gorgonea Secunda
        Gorgonea Tertia
        Graffias

and so on and on and on and on and on and on

 

last examples, my go-to source of constellation names- which work well used as mission/project names, spacecraft names, and agency names:

 

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**********************************************************************************************************************

88 Officially Recognized Constellation Names

Latin Name        English Name or Description
Andromeda        Princess of Ethiopia
Antlia            Air pump
Apus            Bird of Paradise
Aquarius        Water bearer
Aquila            Eagle
Ara                Altar
Aries            Ram
Auriga            Charioteer
Bootes            Herdsman
Caelum            Graving tool
Camelopardalis    Giraffe
Cancer            Crab
Canes Venatici    Hunting dogs
Canis Major        Big dog
Canis Minor        Little dog
Capricornus        Sea goat
Carina            Keel of Argonauts' ship
Cassiopeia        Queen of Ethiopia
Centaurus        Centaur
Cepheus            King of Ethiopia
Cetus            Sea monster (whale)
Chamaeleon        Chameleon
Circinus        Compasses
Columba            Dove
Coma Berenices    Berenice's hair
Corona Australis    Southern crown
Corona Borealis        Northern crown
Corvus            Crow
Crater            Cup
Crux            Cross (southern)
Cygnus            Swan
Delphinus        Porpoise
Dorado            Swordfish
Draco            Dragon
Equuleus        Little horse
Eridanus        River
Fornax            Furnace
Gemini            Twins
Grus            Crane
Hercules        Hercules, son of Zeus
Horologium        Clock
Hydra            Sea serpent
Hydrus            Water snake
Indus            Indian
Lacerta            Lizard
Leo                Lion
Leo Minor        Little lion
Lepus            Hare
Libra            Balance
Lupus            Wolf
Lynx            Lynx
Lyra            Lyre or harp
Mensa            Table mountain
Microscopium    Microscope
Monoceros        Unicorn
Musca            Fly
Norma            Carpenter's Level
Octans            Octant
Ophiuchus        Holder of serpent
Orion            Orion, the hunter
Pavo            Peacock
Pegasus            Pegasus, the winged horse
Perseus            Perseus, hero who saved Andromeda
Phoenix            Phoenix
Pictor            Easel
Pisces            Fishes
Piscis Austrinus    Southern fish
Puppis            Stern of the Argonauts' ship
Pyxis            Compass on the Argonauts' ship
Reticulum        Net
Sagitta            Arrow
Sagittarius        Archer
Scorpius        Scorpion
Sculptor        Sculptor's tools
Scutum            Shield
Serpens            Serpent
Sextans            Sextant
Taurus            Bull
Telescopium        Telescope
Triangulum        Triangle
Triangulum Australe    Southern triangle
Tucana            Toucan
Ursa Major        Big bear
Ursa Minor        Little bear
Vela            Sail of the Argonauts' ship
Virgo            Virgin
Volans            Flying fish
Vulpecula        Fox

 

 

 

 

[Ryaja]

Either I forget to name it. Or I hit random buttons. Or I just use the first letter of every word sor asteroid redirect mission would be arm.

[Nazalassa]

For my current career save I started to name the ships <what it does> Mk<number>. I got Wooosh Mk1 (a plane), Science! Mk8 that does Science! (and can rescue two Kerbals if needed), Roll Mk1 was the two pods stacked together to roll it around the KSC and get Science!, etc.

Now, instead of the "what it does" part, I sometimes put some kind of random name — they are really random.
I made a python program on my calculator that outputs sixteen lines of 4 to 10 characters. When I need names, I run it, then I try to change some of the lines into names (ex. watyfiizm -> Watifazem).
Right now I got like 300 names stored in a file, all generated with this method.

[TheKosanianMethod]

My recent (and TBH only) Science Mode save has had a naming scheme generally following military vehicles that goes as follows:

Most "programs" get the name of a British tank from WWII. Programs are usually things dedicated to exploring a certain body or having a certain goal, sort of like Mercury, Gemini, or Apollo. I have had Comet, Crusader, Matilda, Cromwell, and Valentine so far. I can't right now remember what everything was for, although I think Crusader was for Duna and I do know that Valentine was for the Mun and possibly adapted for Minmus. I also like saving the boosters of different programs, and the Valentine booster got a ton of use. There were many payloads that honestly were too much for the poor thing and required a stupid amount of boosters to work. Eventually I reworked the first stage with better engines before I finally bit the bulet and make a booster that, y'know, worked. These rockets and boosters will go through different versions and get roman numerals after them to denote versions, such as Valentine I, Valentine II, and Valentine I-L. I ended up modifying the Valentine CSM to use for an asteroid capture mission, calling it Valentine Redirect. Super original, I know.

Space stations take the name of USN aircraft carriers. Ranger was my first around Kerbin, and eventually replaced with Yorktown after a Kraken attack doomed it. Hornet is a copy of Yorktown put into orbit around Minmus - the idea being that Hornet was another of the Yorktown-class carriers.

I have some ferry craft that take the names of USN destroyers as needed.

Bases take the name of USN battleships, though I tend to specifically use the Standard-type names. For example, Nevada was the first base and was set down on the Mun. Pennsylvania the first base on Minmus.

Other random craft get random names, such Explorer Red as my first scouting lander to Duna. ExRed I was a failed landing-turned-flyby, ExRed II managed to make it to the surface. Helldiver was a series of craft sent to get as close to Kerbol as possible. Project CeeBee (yes, intentionally sounding like SeaBee) was Close Body Exploration to set up first temporary then permanent bases on the Mun and and Minmus, with a prototype ISRU base on the latter.

Even further down the latter of caring about names were a couple probes sent to Laythe and Eve that just got [body name] followed by [roman numeral].