Heres how i name my ships (which ever type i am using):
Warthog - URF.Loose Cannon
Revanant - URM.Ruxperia I
Vulture - URLF.Stalker
Ragnarok - URHF.PringerX

Heres a break down:

URF(LF,HF,M)<Ship's name>
^^^
||- Fighter (Light Fighter, Heavy Fighter, Multirole)
|- Registered (UIT specific)
-Union (UIT)

SDF(LF,HF,M)<Ship's name>
^^^
||- Fighter (Light Fighter, Heavy Fighter, Multirole)
--Serco Dominion(Serco)

Craft specific to a particular group, such as the biocom vulture
might have their own designations.

the point:
some basic ability to nickname the craft and some guidelines for the designator if anyone wants to use it. i pitched the idea to delphi, she loved it, said i should post it.

I apologize for raining on your parade, but:

http://www.vendetta-online.com/x/msgboard/3/13656#178580
(Thread Title: VO Ship Names)

Found using the forum's search function (It does work, mwaha...)

Also, you should perhaps read this prior to posting a suggestion. I found the topic in there, as well. That means it has been discussed to death and back to life again many times over.

Please relay this to Delphi, as well.

i was really suggesting designators, and figured some folks may have ideas for faction specific craft.

corvus based craft for example; what sort of designator should they use? should corvian craft lack one on purpose? (without some special scrambling device)