K'Kmarak was a renowned Vulcan scientist who lived at some point prior to the 23rd century. When the Federation Starfleet commissioned the K'Kmarak-class for general construction, they started a policy of naming the vessels of that class for Vulcan scientists of history, and began by naming the first vessel after K'Kmarak. (Stardate Magazine vol. 1 (1984), Issue 2: "K'Kmarak-class")