But it can get much sillier really easily. Away back when, in the days of wooden sailing ships, most of the sailors were illiterate and they needed a way to identify other ships. So they used the figures on the bowsprit to do the job.
Which leads to the question: What ships' name does this suggest?
At least it's a very clean ship...decks all swept and stuff. A mess is not allowed. Thank God it wasn't a Patty/Selma ship - smoke billowing out the back as it sails along...