so Nona translates all the names she hears subconsciously & on instinct, I’m pretty sure, because she knows all the languages.
exhibit a: everyone calling Corona “Crown” might be the shortened version of her new BOE name, or people might be saying “Corona” which Nona then translates to “Crown.” this is the one that holds the least water, i’m aware, which is why it comes first.
exhibit b: when Nona mentions Born in the Morning to Hot Sauce and Hot Sauce goes, “you mean Born in the Morning,” and Nona says “that’s what I said.” i believe she translated some of the name back wrong or used a synonym, causing Hot Sauce to correct her.
exhibit c: when Palamedes asks if Honesty’s name is truly Honesty and Nona squirms and says that that’s how she hears it - she can’t be sure, because she might be translating his name from whatever it is into Honesty as soon as she hears it.
which all brings me to my point! Kiriona is Māori for Gideon (see screenshot below). I wouldn’t be surprised if Nona just… translated her name automatically. that does beg the question of why she didn’t translate Gaia to Earth, but someone smarter than me is gonna have to figure that out. maybe Gideon didn’t change her name, maybe we’re just being led to believe that she did to increase our sense of alienation?
