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'Uhura' comes from 'Uhuru' which means 'Freedom' in Swahili; 'Nyota', Swahili for 'Star', is sometimes quoted as her first name, although this name is not 'official' Star Trek lore or canon. It does appear in a Star Trek script from the 1960s, and was also later mentioned by William Shatner in his book Star Trek Memories. However, Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry stated that she only had one name, Uhura. The existence of Uhura's first name has been the subject of much debate among fans for years. One publication, The Best of Trek suggested that her first name is 'Penda' (the verb "Penda" has the meaning "to love" or "to like" in Swahili).
In the movie , it seems that Kirk may murmer "Nyota" when speaking to Uhura at one point.
Uhura, Nyota