Shipbucket

Current RCN practice:
A group of names is identified by whatever characteristic, and names are assigned consistent with that characteristic.

DDG - properly identified as Tribal II class (since in WWII there was a Tribal class); specific ship is Iroquois, Algonquin, etc.
FFH - properly identified as City class; specific ship is Halifax, Vancouver, etc.
AOR - 'support', hence Protecteur, Preserver, etc.
MCDV - properly town class, e.g., Whitehorse, Brandon, etc.
SSK - also City class; e.g., Chicoutimi, Windsor, etc.
PCT - an exception; they are Orca class; first ship (PCT 55) is Orca

Historical:
DDE/DDH - River class, thus St. Laurent, Miramachi, Restigouche, Fraser, etc.
DDE - Tribal class - Haida, etc.
ASL (dive/submersible tender) - single unit class, HMCS Cormorant
Corvettes - bit of an oddball. The class was "Flower" class, and some Canadian units bore flower names - Spikenard, Trillium, etc. Many were named for cities and towns, though - HMC Ships Trenton, Sackville, Napanee, etc.

As with many other navies, ships bought in from a previous merchant existence, or donated from the RN, tended to keep their previous names; thus HMS Rainbow became HMCS Rainbow, ditto for Niobe, etc.

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Done: PCT-55 Orca

In progress: ASL-20 HMCS Cormorant

May try next: HMCS Oriole, STV Goldcrest, Bluenose II

Philippine Navy ship naming and designation:
http://www.dlsu.edu.ph/offices/osa/rotc ... Nships.pdf