Everyone hated the name of the Klingons in Star Trek: The Original Series

The Klingons weren’t a popular name for the warrior race on Star Trek: The Original Series

The Klingons were created by screenwriter Gene L. Coon who wrote “Errand of Mercy,” the first episode in which the race was to appear, in a hurry. According to Gizmodo, Star Trek creator Gene Roddenbery was out sick from a rare disease he’d gotten from working with gemstones so there was no consulting with him on the name.

Coon chose the name based upon a lieutenant Roddenberry had served with in the Los Angeles Police Department, Wilbur Clingan. But that didn’t mean the take on the lieutenant’s name was popular. In fact, everyone behind the scenes hated it, but they were in a time crunch and filming for the episode had to begin.

Star Trek: The Original Series introduced the Klingons in the first season

Coon got a lot of feedback for his choice of the name, especially from writer D.C. Fontana who didn’t like the idea of aliens who sounded like they were clinging to something. She thought the name was silly and even asked Coon “Where do they come from? What’s the name of their planet?” Coon’s response was a simple “Kling.”

Coon didn’t have a much better description for these warriors, either, describing them as “oriental” and “hard-faced.” White actors portrayed the Klingons, their skin was darkened with shoe polish, and long, thin moustaches were applied for whatever reason.

Even though he knew no one liked the name of the aliens, Coon was determined to keep it, and since there were no other better alternatives, it stuck. Now, over 57 years later, we can’t imagine Worf’s race being called anything else but Klingons. The name just seems to fit, and fortunately, the appearance of the Klingons underwent a transformation in Star Trek: The Next Generation that made them actually look like they were fierce warriors. But it’s fun to know their planet could have been called “Kling.”