The Real Reason Star Trek's Una Chin-Riley Is Called “Number One”

The nickname "Number One" has a surprisingly personal meaning for Una-Chin Riley in Star Trek tradition. Introduced in the pilot episode "The Cage" and played by Majel Barrett, Number One was cut from Star Trek: The Original Series when it began to be broadcast properly, but has since been given a modern lifeline. Appearing in both Star Trek: Discovery and Strange new worldsNumber One is currently played by Rebecca Romijn. Whereas Barrett's original was known exclusively as "Number One" during its only Star Trek credit, the character's real name was later revealed to be Una Chin-Riley.

Star Trek"Number One"'s nickname is partially a reference to Una's position aboard Captain Pike's Enterprise. The title typically denotes the ship's second-in-command and, after Majel Barrett, was used for Riker in The next generationSaru in Star Trek: Discoveryand several others. Regardless, Una Chin-Riley's case is special. Considering the word was clearly just a nickname for people like Riker, Star TrekThe rapper's "The Cage" acted as if "Number One" was unmistakably Una's real name. Happily, Star TrekThe deepest tradition has a perfect explanation for this.

Una Chin-Riley’s “Number One” Nickname Goes Back to Her Star Trek Origin Story

Una was number one before it became cool

Various pieces of Star Trek literature illuminates the hidden meaning behind Una's nickname by delving into her backstory. Glory of Vulcan by DC Fontana, Children of Kings by David Stern and Captain to Captain by Greg Cox all paint a picture of Una's life before the Enterprise - a life of duty, hard work, expectation, and fulfillment. According to these stories, Una's home planet of Illyria was an environment where "excellence is the only accepted criterion." Una stood out as the most capable among her peersand the nickname "Number One" dates back to that point.

Printed Star Trek the lore also explains that "Una" itself is an invention, used because the character's true Illyrian name is difficult for other species to understand. Meaning "one"in languages ​​like Italian, "Una" can therefore be interpreted as an extension of the character's existing "Number One" nickname..

For Una, being called “Number One” isn't just a recognition of her status as the Enterprise's second-in-command. The nickname is a symbol of her success and a sign that she prospered in the eyes of Illyrian culture. This detail helps explain why, unlike Starfleet first officers like Riker, who can take it or leave it, Una insists on being known as “Number One” to the point where it virtually becomes her only name.

The Original Meaning Behind Number One's Name in Star Trek and How It Changed

It's all Riker's fault

Only in the context of “The Cage” did Number One’s name speak to the nature of her character. Star TrekThe pilot episode of Majel Barrett portrayed Starfleet officer Majel Barrett as a cold, logic-driven figure largely devoid of emotion, and Talos IV's Vina even compared her to a computer. After Number One was removed from the Star TrekIn the cast, these qualities were incorporated into Spock, who acted much more human in “The Cage” compared to his later appearances.

The name “Number One” acted as an indication of the character’s calculated nature. She had apparently eliminated the sentimental attachment of traditional human names and adopted a more practical and professional title. This interpretation also fits perfectly with Number One's backstory, told by Star Trekof print media.

It was largely Star Trek: The Next GenerationBlame it on the reasoning behind Number One's name getting confused. Before the Enterprise-D appeared, the name "Number One" remained an individual characteristic of a specific character. The next generation effectively reconverted the title to a broader Starfleet nomenclature, suggesting that all first officers could be summoned with a sharp cry of "Number One!" Other Star Trek TV shows followed suit, and it quickly became clear whether "Number One" was a woman's nickname or a Starfleet tradition that some crews adhered to more than others.

How Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Settled the Number One Naming Debate

Strange New Worlds found a balance between “Number One” and “Una”

The task of finding a solution ultimately fell to Star Trek: Strange New Worldswho tried to locate the best of both worlds. Unlike "The Cage", people like Captain Pike refer to Number One as "Una" much more frequently, reinforcing the idea that his nickname is simply a consequence of being Starfleet's second-in-command. This aligns Rebecca Romijn's character with The next generationRiker and most of Star Trek tradition since then, but avoids its backstory from the wider media.

At the same time, Rebecca Romijn's Una remains more attached to the title of “Number One” than most of Starfleet's first officers, and that at least allows for the possibility of a more personal meaning. Even after Strange new worlds reinvented the character, it is still possible that Una (or whatever her Illyrian name may be) earned the nickname "Number One" early in her life due to excellent academic performance, developing a taste for the title, and, coincidentally, ascending to the corresponding position in Starfleet. .

It could even be argued that the nickname “Number One” was given to Una explicitly because of her Starfleet aspirations, almost foreshadowing her career. Perhaps those around Una during the early stages of her training were astutely aware of her ambition to join Starfleet and rise through the ranks, and could see her clear aptitude for command, and so calling her "Number One" was at once a celebration of her excellence and a witty nod to the work Una wanted.

The fly in the ointment remains "The Cage," where it becomes painfully clear that Majel Barrett's role Star Trek character has no name other than "Number One". Even mind-reading Talosians use it, without a single instance of “Una” being found in the pilot. That said, "The Cage", as an early example of Star TrekSpock's universe has many inconsistencies when compared to the known franchise, from Spock's behavior to the Enterprise crew's phasers. Number One never being called "Una" is just another oddity on the list, so it makes sense for Strange new worlds stay on side The next generation about "The Cage".