What was the USS Monitor named after?

In Latin, a monitor is someone who admonishes—that is, reminds another of his duties—which is how USS Monitor was given its name.

This is a very good question. The answer is difficult to find on the internet. I may have to turn to (gasp) my 'books' on the Civil War. The name "Monitor" became the general term for a whole class of warships modeled after the original USS Monitor.

I suspect the name came from the word :

"monitor' - - Latin, one that warns, overseer,

from monēre to warn

- - Date:1546

The USS Monitor was an overseer that "monitored" shipping

since it was designed to aid the Union naval blockade of the South - especially close to shore and on rivers where it was more seaworthy. (It was not a good ocean going craft.)

I'll keep looking for a good source with a definitive answer.

It wasn't named after a person, place, or battle like many US Navy ships.