Clu 1: Extra Details & Theories - Clu & C.L.U.
I noticed a tiny detail that may matter.
Clu 1's name is simply Clu in the first film.
In Legacy, however, Clu 2's name is an acronym for "Codified Likeness Utility" (C.L.U.), whereas Clu 1's isn't. Both names reflect the nature of their functions. Clu 1's name is a play on the word 'clue.' It hints at Clu 1's tasks as a hacker program: finding data to acquire, alter, or delete for his User. Hence, his name. Codified Likeness Utility (C.L.U.) is a program copy of Flynn, made for the administrative role on the Grid. This tiny detail confirms that these two programs are separate and, therefore, not the same.
It's my theory that Flynn most likely named Clu 2 in honor of Clu 1. After what happened in '82, Flynn must have had the realization that his hacking program, a living being, died at the hands of the MCP. That's pretty heavy, and guilt must have weighed on him. However, he made the name into an acronym to make C.L.U. distinct from the original.
It's unknown whether or not C.L.U. knows of his true name origin, or of his predecessor. Nonetheless, it's an interesting topic to dive into.
