# Star Trek character name similarity question

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-character-name-similarity-question/123189>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [August 9, 2002, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-character-name-similarity-question/123189 "2002-08-09T19:43:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-character-name-similarity-question/123189/1 "2002-08-09T19:43:03Z")

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I stopped watching _Star Trek_ TV shows faithfully about 5 years ago, and I haven’t read any of the books in as long as I can remember, so I’m hoping someone who has kept up better than I can help me.

Has there ever been an explanation given for the similarity of “Noonien Soong” to “Khan Noonien Singh”?

I am quite aware than in real life, similarities like this happen. But this isn’t real life. Surely it occurred to _somebody_ when they first decided on a name for Data’s creator that it sounded awfully familiar.

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**Author:** ![kingpengvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9dc877/32.png) [@kingpengvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kingpengvin)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-character-name-similarity-question/123189/2 "2002-08-09T19:52:57Z")

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None given in the series but Word has it that someone really liked the soud oKhans last two names and changed them slightly for Data’s pop.

Me I always like the the Commador Mat Decker/ Captan William Decker conection, even though it was never explained in the film. Might have made Kirk’s attitude towards the younger Decker a little different had they fleshed that out

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**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-character-name-similarity-question/123189/3 "2002-08-09T20:08:15Z")

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Ah! But it WAS explained in the novelization of ST:TMP!

Captain William Decker was **indeed** Matt Decker’s son.

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**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2002, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-character-name-similarity-question/123189/4 "2002-08-09T20:39:42Z")

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I’ve heard that Gene Roddenberry knew a guy named Noonian Singh back during WWII and named his characters similarly to try to get in contact with him again, which he didnt.