Spioenkop is named for the January 1900 battle between Boer and British forces for the possession of the hill on the banks of the Thukela (Tugela) River in now KwaZulu-Natal.
There is a progression in the names and the fourth frigate takes its name from a naval incident in World War I - but unlike the others, her name commemorates not a battle, but valour during a maritime disaster.