[IceFire]

Lots of ships have their parts laid down and construction well under way under a number and then are named later.  Or the name is changed as Admiral Nelson pointed out.

[Androgeos Exeunt]

The Gigantic, for instance, was renamed to Britannic after the sinking of the Titanic.

[Mobius]

Does the same principle apply to the FreeSpace Universe?

[Androgeos Exeunt]

Does the same principle apply to the FreeSpace Universe?

It could, if you perceive it as such.

[Mobius]

I don't exclude that many ships have been renamed(I guess the NTC Camisard and the NTCv Jacquerie once had better names) but I find hard to believe that a ship is given a name only after its completion.

De Gustibus...

[CaptJosh]

A ship is never truly named until christened. The hull may be laid down with a name attached to the construction contract, but until christened, that name is NOT official.

[Droid803]

And even after that, it can still be renamed.

[CaptJosh]

Sailors consider that to be bad luck, though.

[eliex]

Pirates seem to have no problem with that. 

[Mobius]

Pirates aren't good guys.

[BlackDove]

Pirates are always the good guys.

[CaptJosh]

[Androgeos Exeunt]

It goes without saying that pirates are the good guys. JAD and the 17th century Caribbean are a testament to this. Also:

[Mobius]

Don't confuse pirates with corsairs.

[Getter Robo G]

Sorta like the USS San Paulo got renamed to Definat when the namesake got toasted? (DS9)

Seemed a bit selfish, but I guess for morale purposes it served a greater good...