The new prefix names were not chosen at random, according to Brown. The letters R and Q were the only letters not already in use. Additionally, an existing precedent requires the names to sound ...

Following that, there’s a precedent that they sound similar to Greek letters and that big number prefixes end with an ‘a’ and smaller numbers with an ‘o,’” he added. “It was high time.

Following that, there's a precedent that they sound similar to Greek letters and that big number prefixes end with an 'a' and smaller numbers with an 'o,"' he added. "It was high time.