Do you rename your soldiers?

[Comander Bill Overbeck]

Just out of curiocity, who here renames their soldiers? I usually do, I base the names off of other characters from various Video Games, TV shows, movies and LP's I've watched. Usually I reserve the names of characters I like for the ones with great stats and the ones I don't like or don't care about are given to the ones who's stats are........sub-par. So Do you rename yours and if so is there a pattern to it?

[Tamanfodder]

I suggest people give explanation why they woted for what too?  I don't rename my soldiers, i find it better to have them keep theyr names for whatever reasons, maybe because i am horrible at inventing names.... Other reason would be, that the game gains that much realism when your soldiers aren't named: Cannon fodder #1, Bullet bait#6 and so on....

[Hertzila]

I've just never found a reason to rename. If they're good, I'll learn their 'natural' names easily enough. If they're cannonfodder, why bother (though not a single one of my agents is cannonfodder)?

[Crashdown]

Always. It helps to use familiar sounding names to keep track easily in all situations. If I look in the hospital and see Emma Barnes (Hvy) B crew, is too badly injured to fight, I know who she is, what squad and what specialist she is. That way I avoid little mishaps like arriving at a hot spot and realizing I have a trooper that is at deaths door already.   Also, it speeds up things for loadout as I can see who gets what at a glance.

If I see Rashpindi Wookipoy or some crap I end up clueless.

[Gren]

^
This.. 

[ViolentAJ]

I never rename them, but I do add letters to the ends of their names based on their professions.

G = grenadier
S = sniper
M = dedicated medic
HW = heavy weapons
HE = high explosives
MG = machine gunner
AM = advanced marksman (cross between sniper and assault; I usually arm them with bolter, needler, or particle rifles)

No letters at the end of a name means basic assault. I try to get all of my people out alive though, so there is no cannon fodder on my squads.

[homunculus]

i remember i sometimes used to rename them native american style, based on their stats.
like 'rabid fox' and 'sitting duck'.

[DarthLuca]

Generally I just tweak or 'westernise' the given name but sometimes I will change it based on people or names I know. All of which tends to make the characters more memorable and the whole experience more enjoyable.
Personally I get attached to my squad members especially after many missions and many shared challenges and experiences. Do you remember that mission where . . .
I also feel sad and a sense of loss when they die, but I now rarely do the reload thing and usually accept that it was their time and vow not to make the same mistake again (Like blowing himself up with a plasma grenade).

There are a couple of maps where the alien start positions are just ridiculous though and just death traps waiting to happen especially in the later stages with needle guns and such. That is when reloads might happen.

[PurpleYoshi]

I always do, it helps me keep track of who is who.  i.e. I know who my sniper is, and can tell that my sniper is in the hospital without clicking on him.  I think a class system should be implemented at some point, however. 

[TrashMan]

Yes. It makes it easier to track, especially since I add callsigns.

And naming the soldiers after people you know? Even more fun!
Observe:
www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=80623.0

[ShipIt]

www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=80623.0

Always a pleasure to read those. 

[malkarx]

I don't rename so much as someone else mentioned, I tweak. Add letters to the end of name to help remind me of what specialty there stats are, so I can quickly find my best snipers etc...