How was SR-71 Blackbird named?

Originally the aircraft was designated RS-71 to reflect its reconnaissance/strike role. But Air Force Chief of Staff General Curtis LeMay preferred the SR (Strategic Reconnaissance) designation and wanted the RS-71 to be named SR-71.

The finished aircraft were painted dark blue, almost black - to increase the emission of internal heat (fuel was used as a heat sink to cool the avionics) and also to act as camouflage against the night sky. The call sign of the aircraft was "Blackbird".