In my Head Canon
Space Opera's "United Federation of Planets" was the winning name in a contest, narrowly defeating "Jedi Alliance" and "League of Evil McEvilskins".
My Head Canon probably does not have very much to do with the setting as the original authors intended.
Other My Canon Heresy
The Federation Postal Service is the fifth UFP armed service. Joins Star Force, Defense Forces, Interstellar Police Agency, and Survey.
No mercenaries on UPF member worlds.
The actual ranks in Star Force and Defense Forces are a single hexadecimal numeral, from 0 to E. Traditional rank titles of the various Federation Home Worlds are alternative titles.
