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I always wondered the meaning of IJN CV names. And here is some literal translation of their names. I know literal translation of their name is misleading. It's like translating the names 'Carpenter' or 'Bush' literally. So, take this tranlation just for fun. These tranlation could be incorrect.
IJN named their first Japanese CVs after mountains and provinces. And then named later CVs after mythological characters.

Ryujo - Galloping Dragon
Kaga - the name of an old Japanese province
Akagi - Red Castle, actually the name of a Japanese mountain
Shokaku - Flying Crane
Soryu - Blue Dragon
Hiryu - Flying Dragon
Zuikaku - Lucky Crane
Zuiho - Happy Phoenix
Shoho - Lucky Phoenix
Junyo - Falcon
Hiyo - Flying Hawk
Unyo - Cloud Hawk
Taiyo - Big Hawk

I love the "Ryujo" translation. It has something

This well-known site provide the full list of IJN warship names, IJN destroyer names are really beautiful.

Can anyone tell me how Enterprise got her name? It’s fancy but sounds pretty strange for a warship name.
IJN warship names

Best I understand, the Americans captured their first Enterprise from the British doing the Revolution and used her for a few years. Since it did some famous things, the name stuck. As to where the Brits got it -- I assume it was just a literal meaning from the dictionary, especily since 'big and noble business' was popular in the 18th centure.

The 12 guns sloop was captured from us in 1775 and was originally called HMS George, and WE WANT IT BACK otherwise we'll have the one Captn Kirk drives.

PS The first HMS Enterprise was captured from the French in 1705 and was called l'Entreprise.

Originally posted by Subchaser
This well-known site provide the full list of IJN warship names, IJN destroyer names are really beautiful.

Can anyone tell me how Enterprise got her name? It’s fancy but sounds pretty strange for a warship name.
IJN warship names

Great webpage. Thanks for the info.
While their tranlations seem quite correct, for translations of some CV names I don't understand how they came up with the translation.

Ryujo
Their translation: "Such as a dragon builds", "Sacred Dragon"
The letter 'ryu' means 'dragon'
'jo' means 'gallop about with head uplifted' and it does not contain any meaning of 'sacred' or 'build'
So I translated it as 'Galloping dragon'

Junyo
Their tranalation: "Wandering Falcon"
The letter 'jun' means 'falcon'
'yo' means 'hawk' or 'falcon'
So, I translated it as 'Falcon'

Shinyo
Their translation: "Condor"
The letter 'shin' means 'god' or 'godly'
'yo' means 'hawk' or 'falcon'
So, my translation would be 'godly hawk'
Japnese word for 'condor' is 'hagetaka'

Would'nt you rather have CVN 65?

I know the name was used in the British navy still at least through WWII -- Pacific War has a light cruiser HMS Enterprise in the Indian Ocean.

Nope. I wanna go to the stars

Well, there's the test shuttle Enterprise in Washington DC.

Originally posted by Full Moon
...
Shokaku - Flying Crane
Zuikaku - Lucky Crane

Zuiho - Happy Phoenix
Shoho - Lucky Phoenix

I think you transposed "Happy" and "Lucky".

If:
Sho = Happy
Zui = Lucky

Then:

Shokaku = Happy Crane
Zuikaku = Lucky Crane

Shoho= Happy Phoenix
Zuiho = Lucky Phoenix

Or am I just crazy...

Using your post as a basis, there would also be:
Ryuho = Galloping Phoenix
Taiho = Great Phoenix

Originally posted by Admiral DadMan
I think you transposed "Happy" and "Lucky".

If:
Sho = Happy
Zui = Lucky

Then:

Shokaku = Happy Crane
Zuikaku = Lucky Crane

Shoho= Happy Phoenix
Zuiho = Lucky Phoenix

Or am I just crazy...

Using your post as a basis, there would also be:
Ryuho = Galloping Phoenix
Taiho = Great Phoenix

'Sho' in Shokaku and 'Sho' in 'Shoho' have different meaning. They use different Chinese characters even though they are pronouced same.
'Sho' in Shokaku means 'soar', 'fly', 'glide' or ' hover'
'Sho' in 'Shoho' means 'good luck' or 'happiness'

'Zui' in 'Zuikaku' and 'Zui' in 'Zuiho' use same character.
'Zui' mean 'lucky', 'auspicious' or 'happiness'

'Ryuho' is not 'Galloping phoenix'. It means 'dragon and phoenix'
'Galloping phoenix' would be 'Hojo'
And yeah 'Taiho' means 'Great phoenix':)

Keep in mind that all those names were taken from ancient Japanese mythology, and in the most cases they are own names, names of tales personages. All name translations provided by Combined fleet site are comparable to the most common translations of myth creature names. I think it’s impossible to find out the only one correct translation, if you’re familiar with Japanese you know that it’s impossible to give one translation to the words like “Kokoro”.

I think the British had a tradition of naming warships after virtues they thought their navy posessed....Courageous, Valiant, Resolve, Furious, Enterprise(ing)

Originally posted by Full Moon

'Galloping phoenix' would be 'Hojo'

As opposed to "HoJo" short for Howard Johnson's food and hotel chain.

Or "HoHo", a major player in the junk food pyramid...

Originally posted by Full Moon

And yeah 'Taiho' means 'Great phoenix':)

Hey, I got one right!

My favorite is "Mojo Jojo"--oh, wait, that's a cartoon character.

I seriously think the IJN had the best naming system ever. They're quite beautiful, and some of them, particularly the destroyers, are strikingly poetic. You've gotta hand it to 'em.