Why did they never give the E.M.H. a name?

[Lynx]

They did. They revealed it here. His name's Dockzymmermann.

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In two of the early Voyager books, "The Escape" and "Violations" he's called Dr. Zimmerman.

It might have been an original idea that his name should be Dr. Zimmerman but for some reason it was dropped.

However, in the episode "Heroes And Demons" he took the name Schweitzer but abandoned that after Freya was killed in the holosimulation.

Which was stupid! He could have restarted the program when the whole adventure was over, married Freya and spent his free time in that simulation during the whole seven year journey.

In "Lifesigns", Denara Pel called him Shmullus.

So the logical conclusion should be to name him Doctor Lewis Shmullus Schweitzer Zimmerman!

This is the name I have given him!

However, in his second profession which he has taken up since Voyager returned to the Alpha Quadrant his name is simply The Doctor!

As you can see, he's a frequent guest at Quark's on DS9 where his performances are highly appreciated by the people on the station and a good income for Quark.

 

[Michael]

Actually, Gilligan's Island.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Professor_(Gilligan's_Island)

Ah, okay. I know that it exists, but have never seen an episode. Didn't really make its way across the pond.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Ah, okay. I know that it exists, but have never seen an episode. Didn't really make its way across the pond.

VOY plays like Gilligan's Island in a way, with stuck in the Delta Quadrant = stranded on the island. IIRC, the VOY cast has commented on that. I couldn't find a link to any such comment, but there is this access panel: https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Optical_data_net_service_access .

Interestingly, that marooned at sea element is also shared with Sliders.

(The Skipper is the other character on GI referred to by their job and not their name. Whether that had any hand behind the scenes in the conception of the ECH, I couldn't say and I doubt it, but it's always amused me.)

 

[PatB1974]

I was thinking Louis Pasteur Curie Puccini Phlox McCoy. Just a thought.

 

[NCC-73515]

I think I'd have a hard time choosing a name as well XD

 

[ED-209]

It took him 33 years to come up with Joe, though admittedly that became an alternate reality.

 

[Xhiandra]

Why limit the selection to medical names? He could've taken the names of people he knew and admired:
Dr Kathryn KesVok.
Anyone thinking to object to that first name: refer to Micheal Burnham.

 

[dupersuper]

Why limit the selection to medical names? He could've taken the names of people he knew and admired:
Dr Kathryn KesVok.
Anyone thinking to object to that first name: refer to Micheal Burnham.

I've known girld named Michael, but never met a guy named Kathryn...

 

[TimeIsAPredator]

I've known girld named Michael, but never met a guy named Kathryn...

You could also have a "boy named Sue" or a "girl called Johnny"

 

[Xhiandra]

I've known girld named Michael, but never met a guy named Kathryn...

I haven't known either, but I come from a culture where almost all names are gendered.

Anyway, all the more reason! As far as I know, traditionally masculine names becoming feminine over time happens in English (Ashley, Leslie, Marion, Taylor, ...) but not the other way around. IIRC (read something about it a long time ago), it's due to patriarchy: when people start giving a "strong male name" to girls, people are afraid their boys will be perceived as less manly, so they avoid giving it to their sons. So, slowly, the name becomes more and more feminine.
So, be subversive, give a traditional female name to a male character!

 

[Michael]

Just watched “Before and After” the other day, where we get a peak into a possible future where he actually settled on the name “Van Gogh” (and also seems to have been named “Mozart” for some time before that).

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

If it was airing now, I can imagine a big twitter competition to name him, though this would mean that Doccy McDocface would win

 

[NCC-73515]

If it was airing now, I can imagine a big twitter competition to name him, though this would mean that Doccy McDocface would win

A small town had a contest for new names for the indoor and outdoor swimming pools - the suggestions included "Wet Water Pool" - they decided to name the indoor swimming pool "Indoor Swimming Pool" and the outdoor swimming pool "Outdoor Swimming Pool" XD

 

[Silvercrest]

In two of the early Voyager books, "The Escape" and "Violations" he's called Dr. Zimmerman.

It might have been an original idea that his name should be Dr. Zimmerman but for some reason it was dropped.

I've got an article written by David Bischoff, Omni magazine, cover date February 1995. Apparently he toured the set and interviewed the cast and producers. He refers to the character as "Doc Zimmerman" and explains that the character would be killed in the pilot, but would leave behind a holographic imprint of himself in the computer.

That does sound like the character concept was changed at the last minute. But it's also possible that the concept was closer to what we saw, and the writer simply misinterpreted what he was told. Nonetheless, I was a little surprised when I watched the pilot and it didn't happen that way.

 

[NCC-73515]

I was surprised to see the super soldier now is a CMO

 

[amp]

In retrospect it is kind of weird that Starfleet never named the EMT. Even today companies name the virtual assistants they develop (Siri, Alexa, etc) so users can address them directly.

 

[darrenjl]

I imagine Starfleet purposely never gave the hologram a name precisely because they didn't see it as something that would be used very often and didn't want to personalise them.

 

[at Quark's]

^The "emergency" in his name could indicate that, yes.

Then again, he was the very first generation of this "tool" installed on board of starships, and they couldn't have known how his role would actually turn out - he was still kind of experimental after all. He could have remained consigned to the dustbins of computer memory, only ever to be activated in cases of real emergency, every 10 years or so, or they could have found that after a period of initial hesitation, he was actually an incredibly useful hands-on help /backup just to supplement the regular medical crew in everyday starship operation.

 

[Jayson1]

Eventually Doctor did become his name. It's just his job title as well. So if you ever meet him you would have to say something like "It's nice to meet you Doctor Doctor." or EMH is also part of his name so he is Doctor EMH Doctor. Though maybe Zimmerman at some point will allow him to take his last name if he starts to see him as a son. Then it would be Doctor EMH Doctor Zimmerman.


Jason

 

[Lynx]

I've got an article written by David Bischoff, Omni magazine, cover date February 1995. Apparently he toured the set and interviewed the cast and producers. He refers to the character as "Doc Zimmerman" and explains that the character would be killed in the pilot, but would leave behind a holographic imprint of himself in the computer.

That does sound like the character concept was changed at the last minute. But it's also possible that the concept was closer to what we saw, and the writer simply misinterpreted what he was told. Nonetheless, I was a little surprised when I watched the pilot and it didn't happen that way.

Interesting information.

I guess they changed that at the last moments for some reasons and decided to come up with Dr. Fitzgerald as original doctor instead. Then he was killed off and the holographic Dr. Lewis Shmullus Schweitzer Zimmerman showed up instead.