Summary

• Naomi Wildman, the half-Ktarian daughter of Ensign Samantha Wildman, quickly became a fan favorite on Star Trek: Voyager.
• Despite complications with her half-Ktarian biology, Naomi forges a close friendship with Seven of Nine and becomes part of the Voyager family.
• The character of Naomi Wildman highlights the importance of family, education, and friendship in the Star Trek universe.

Who is Naomi Wildman (Scarlett Pomers), the youngest hero of cast of Voyager continues a trend of including children on Star Trek shows that started with Ensign Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) on Star Trek: The Next Generation, and continued with Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Jake Sisko (Cirroc Lofton), Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks)'s teenage son; and Nog (Aron Eisenberg), the son of Rom (Max Grodénchik). Although the USS Voyager was not designed for families, Star Trek: Voyager found a way to attract younger viewers with a relatable character.

Ensign Samantha Wildman (Nancy Hower), a xenobiologist assigned to the USS Voyager, discovers she is pregnant in Star Trek: Voyager season 2, episode 4, "Elogium". Samantha Wildman's husband, Greskrendtregk, is Ktarian, so the Wildman baby's 18-month gestation period means Samantha Wildman is pregnant without knowing it when Voyager is stranded in the Delta Quadrant. The baby's half-Ktarian heritage leads to complications with Samantha's pregnancy, and Naomi Wildman dies soon after being born in Voyager season 2, episode 21, "Deadlock". However, there are two Voyagers in "Deadlock", so the infant Naomi Wildman (Emily Leibovitch) and Ensign Harry Kim (Garrett Wang) from one ship replace the versions of themselves lost on the other Voyager.

Naomi Wildman In Star Trek: Voyager Explained

Naomi Wildman is everyone's favorite half-Ktarian.

Naomi Wildman is the half-Ktarian daughter of Ensign Samantha Wildman, and the first child born aboard the USS Voyager. Naomi's Ktarian biology is responsible for the exo-cranial ridges running vertically down her forehead, and rapid childhood growth despite a long gestational period. At 2 years old, Naomi is equivalent to a six-year-old human but develops at a normal human rate after that. Because of this, Naomi is played by 3 different child actors in her first few Star Trek: Voyager appearances: Emily Leibovitch as an infant, Brooke Stephens as a young child, and Scarlett Pomers for the remainder of young Naomi Wildman's appearances on Voyager.

Because the USS Voyager is primarily a science vessel that wasn't intended for long-term missions, the infrastructure to take care of children like Naomi Wildman is cobbled together from Voyager's various resources. In lieu of a formal classroom, Voyager's crew take on the responsibility of educating Naomi through hands-on practice, such as Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) giving Naomi the important job of Captain's Assistant. Ensign Samantha Wildman remains on active duty on the USS Voyager, so entrusts Neelix (Ethan Phillips) as Naomi's godfather. Neelix looks after Naomi frequently, often reading Naomi's bedtime stories and playing with Naomi on the holodeck.

Why Naomi Wildman Is So Popular In Star Trek: Voyager

Naomi Wildman takes after Voyager's breakout star, Seven of Nine.

Naomi Wildman is a popular character in Star Trek: Voyager because of the easy way Naomi befriends others, regardless of who they are, and in particular because of Naomi's friendship with Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan). Although initially intimidated by Seven, Naomi persists, and Naomi and Seven eventually grow close, bonding over shared meals and games of kadis-kot. Befriending Naomi lets Seven experience a childhood that Seven never really had, because Naomi appears about the same age Seven was when Seven was assimilated by the Borg. Naomi Wildman regards Seven of Nine as part of her family, which expands to include the ex-Borg children in Voyager season 6.

Naomi Wildman could be one of the Voyager characters in Star Trek: Prodigy.

Like Seven of Nine, Naomi Wildman isn't as eager to return to Earth as the rest of Voyager's crew, because the USS Voyager is the only home that Naomi Wildman has known. It isn't confirmed what happens to Naomi after Voyager's return to the Alpha Quadrant, but a future version of Naomi Wildman (Vanessa Branch) is in Starfleet, following through on aspirations to be like her heroes, Seven of Nine and Captain Janeway. If so, Naomi could be one of the Voyager characters in Star Trek: Prodigy, who might show Star Trek's newest young characters how their own iral Janeway helped Naomi Wildman be Star Trek: Voyager's first youngest hero.

Star Trek: Voyager is streaming on Paramount+.