#TIL -
The phrase "Number One" in Star Trek has a rich and evolving history intertwined with both naval tradition and the franchise’s own storytelling innovation.

### Origins in Star Trek

- The term first appears in the unaired 1965 pilot episode "The Cage" as the only name for the character portrayed by Majel Barrett, who served as Captain Christopher Pike’s First Officer on the USS Enterprise. She was simply addressed as “Number One,” highlighting her position as the second-in-command but also lending a mysterious, almost mechanical distinction to her character[1][2][3].
- NBC resisted having a woman in such a prominent role, leading to her removal from the regular series. Much of her logical and emotionally restrained personality was then assigned to Spock in later episodes[1][4].

### Evolution and Significance

- The character of Number One was revived in modern Star Trek—notably in Star Trek: Discovery and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds—with the name Una Chin-Riley and much deeper development[5][4][2]. The nickname “Number One” remains a sign of exceptional competence and respect, reflecting both her role and unique talents.
- The phrase later became widespread throughout the franchise as a general nickname for a starship’s First Officer. This was cemented by Captain Picard’s routine use of “Number One” for Commander Riker in Star Trek: The Next Generation and has been adopted or referenced for various First Officers, such as Saru in Discovery[2][6][7].

### Real-World and Non-Star Trek Usage

- The phrase does not originate in Star Trek, but is actually borrowed from the British Royal Navy, where “Number One” refers to the First Lieutenant—second-in-command aboard a ship and commonly called “Number One” as a form of address[3][7]. Star Trek adapted this naval tradition for its futuristic starships.
- The use of “Number One” outside of Star Trek is uncommon in popular culture but remains standard in naval and occasionally other military settings to mean the person next in command after the Captain[3][7].

### Changing Meanings

- In-universe, “Number One” can be both a sign of rank (First Officer/Executive Officer) and a personal nickname, especially for Una Chin-Riley. Star Trek novels and more recent series have explored it as both a shorthand for her outstanding qualities and as a callback to her mysterious, logic-driven persona[2][4].
- The usage of “Number One” as a routine address has become a mix of Star Trek tradition and narrative choice. Some captains (like Kirk or Janeway) prefer personal names, while the Picard/Riker “Number One” dynamic has become iconic within the franchise[7].

In summary: Star Trek popularized “Number One” as an affectionate, distinguished nickname for the First Officer, inspired by real naval tradition, starting with Majel Barrett’s iconic character and later broadening to represent Starfleet’s second-in-command. The phrase’s blending of real-world and science fiction meanings has helped it resonate far beyond its Star Trek beginnings[1][4][7].

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Number_One_(Star_Trek)
[2] https://screenrant.com/star-trek-una-chin-riley-number-one-name-explained/
[3] https://gizmodo.com/a-brief-history-of-star-treks-number-ones-1786060282
[4] https://screenrant.com/star-trek-strange-new-worlds-number-one-backstory-majel-barrett-roddenberry-invented/
[5] https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Una_Chin-Riley
[6] https://www.startrek.com/news/number-one-list
[7] https://www.reddit.com/r/startrek/comments/1bdvm9k/tos_question_why_was_there_no_number_one_in_kirks/
[8] https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Number_one
[9] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4ndiCn8HiY
[10] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yf_35L7UH6U
[11] https://www.slashfilm.com/839300/a-short-history-of-number-one-in-the-star-trek-universe/
[12] https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/star-trek-first-officers-ranked/
[13] https://fanlore.org/wiki/Number_One_(Star_Trek_character)

#StarTrek #TOS #TheNextGeneration #Discovery #StrangeNewWorlds #LowerDecks #Picard #Riker