Will Uhura finally get a first name?
- Thread starter Jayson
- Start date
Nyota
No, it's just in novels. The other options in the poll have also been kickin' around.
Wasn't it Nyota Penda Uhura?
Hmm, Cosmo Uhura...{It sounds more like a callsign...}
Maybe Uhura was a Tom Paris-like pilot before she went into communications..?
Hmm, Cosmo Uhura...{It sounds more like a callsign...}
Maybe Uhura was a Tom Paris-like pilot before she went into communications..?
Since the writers have read Trek novels they'll probably go for Nyota if they give her first name that is. Hopefully they do.
Definitely Nyota.
Cosmo??
Cosmo??
Uhura's not African-American in the movie. The casting sheet says they're looking for an African-American actress to play her, just like in TOS.
Uhura's first name is Nyota. The name Nyota Uhura was devised by Nichelle Nichols back at the beginning of TOS when she was cast for the role. She derived it from two Swahili words, I believe meaning "star" and "peace", or something along those lines. It's been a while since I've heard or read anything of her explaination of the name, but I'm sure she tells the story in the Star Trek Memories video, probably in her autobiography "Beyond Uhura" as well. So, I'd say it's pretty clear that her name is Nyota Uhura. I highly doubt they'll change it. 
I think most of us agree that (1) it's pretty well established, but that it's not CANONICALLY established, and (2) it sounds good.SeamusShameless said:
Uhura's first name is Nyota. The name Nyota Uhura was devised by Nichelle Nichols back at the beginning of TOS when she was cast for the role. She derived it from two Swahili words, I believe meaning "star" and "peace", or something along those lines. It's been a while since I've heard or read anything of her explaination of the name, but I'm sure she tells the story in the Star Trek Memories video, probably in her autobiography "Beyond Uhura" as well. So, I'd say it's pretty clear that her name is Nyota Uhura. I highly doubt they'll change it.
So, presuming that we see Uhura in this film, and presuming that she's given a first name... it would only make sense to use that. But it's important to note that they could name her Shaniqua Uhura if they wanted to and it would violate no "canon." It would... just like any other unnecessary deviation from established continuity... alienate a certain subset of the audience. And probably not even a sufficiently large subset of the audience to make any difference at the box-office.
They COULD do that. On the other hand, I don't think we've got anything to worry about with THIS movie.
I can't remember where it was mentioned - possibly in the TOS writer's bible - that Uhura was from the United States of Africa. I don't know if that implies that the entire continent unified or of certain countries within it formed a European Union-style architecture.
Later on in TNG, Geordi is from The African Confederation, so maybe at some point The United States of Africa had a civil war at some point before the world was united and the confederacy won. That would be a trip, wouldn't it? A bunch of Africans chanting "The South prevails!". Man, I am fucked up in the head, aren't I? 
Okay, now that I'm done with that little tangent. While it's totally possible that they could change Uhura's first name, I don't think they will. It's quite possible/probable that they won't mention her first name at all. If they do though, I think it most likely it will be Nyota. If they named her anything else, it would be a dis-respect to Nichelle Nichols.
Okay, now that I'm done with that little tangent. While it's totally possible that they could change Uhura's first name, I don't think they will. It's quite possible/probable that they won't mention her first name at all. If they do though, I think it most likely it will be Nyota. If they named her anything else, it would be a dis-respect to Nichelle Nichols.
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