Why do ships have a gender?

Ever wonder why ships are referred to as “she”?

We looked into it and found some historical narratives you might find interesting…From folklore, to Her Majesty, to notions of nurturing and matronly protection, no one knows for sure. Regardless, it’s been a long-standing tradition that continues on with the Canadian Forces today.

“Why do ships have a gender?”

The Royal Navy has always gloried in its traditions, none more so than the tradition of naming ships. A ship’s name, motto and badge serve as a great source of pride for its crew and a historic pride in the tradition of ships’ forebears. Names such as Ark Royal, Queen Elizabeth, or Invincible have often been repeated in British naval vessels since the days of the age of sail.

Are Ships, Cars, and Nations Always Called 'She'?

It is not clear exactly when ships became female, but it is a long tradition. The earliest example of a ship being referred to as female in the Oxford English Dictionary entry for the word “she” is from circa 1380, and the dictionary includes an intriguing note that “the grammatical gender of the French words…may have influenced the translators.”

Pronoun Overboard, An Essay in the New Yorker

"It's one of those metaphors we live by. It's linked to the idea of the ship as an image for the state—a container, a womb. And it connects with the idea of the Church, ecclesia, enfolding bishops and clergy and kings the way a ship enfolds passengers and crew."

POEM: Why Is A Ship Called A She?

Males are always around her / Fussing about and messing around her / Exposing the top audaciously / She hides her bottom graciously / Men draws to her so lavishly / Surrounding her a little vigorously

“Ask a grown-up: why are boats called she?”

A naval historian at the National Maritime Museum answers eight-year-old Charlotte's question

Gender neutral boats on the rise as Maritime Museum vows to remove all signs referring to ships as 'she'

The decision taken by the Scottish Maritime Museum near Troon was sparked by vandals. Twice in four months, references to boats as "she" have been scratched out of information signs, forcing the charity’s director to scrap the gender-specific term altogether.