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On the Shenzou, Cpt. Georgiou refers to her first officer as “Michael”. At first, I was thinking she was doing something like Spock where he was referred to by one name. But other crew members refer to her as “Cmdr. Burnham” or even “Number One”. We see this especially in her space walk to the mysterious object.
Why does the captain call her by her first name?
In episode 2, we learn that the relationship between Georgiu and Burnham is deliberately less formal than might be expected:
Michael Burnham didn't join Starfleet the usual way. Seven years prior to the series' main events, she transferred directly to the Shenzhou after graduating from the Vulcan Science Academy, without going through Starfleet Academy. Sarek, who had raised Burnham, asked Captain Georgiou to help the Vulcan-accultured Burnham become reacquainted with humanity and human ways.
The dual nature of Georgiu's relationship with Burnham (as commanding officer and as a kind of godmother) seems to have blurred the lines of protocol between them.
The other crew members can't call her "Michael"; they're her subordinates. Georgiou, as her superior, is the only one on the ship who has the ability to use her first name when speaking to her on duty.
