What should you name your car?

Why do we name our cars?

Many of the world’s most famous cars have names: Herbie the Love Bug, Greased Lightning, and our fine four-fendered friend, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang are just a few of our favourites.

So, if you’ve ever accidentally called your car by its name in public, there’s no need to be embarrassed. Naming your car is a lot more common than you might think. In fact, a survey by Swinton Insurance found that 8 out of 10 people give their car a nickname. Car naming is so common that there’s even a day dedicated to each year: 2^nd October is Name Your Car Day in the UK.

There’s no clear reason why so many of us decide to anthropomorphise our vehicles (that’s the psychological term for giving human characteristics to a non-human object). However, some believe that it’s due to familiarity and our desire for connection; we spend so much time in our cars that we start feeling affectionate towards them.

Whatever the reason, naming your car could make you a better driver! It’s thought that caring about your car and considering it more than just a piece of metal could make you more likely to want to protect it, so you’ll be more cautious on the road.

Are cars masculine or feminine?

While boats are almost always given feminine names, the gender of cars is more ambiguous. While there are no strict rules, deciding whether your car would suit a masculine, feminine, or unisex name could help you narrow down the options. It’s totally up to you and how you feel about your car; some people might feel that a sleek sports car suits a more feminine name while a heavy-duty off-roader would match a more masculine label. Or defy gender stereotypes altogether and call your Mini Cooper, The Hulk, and your Jeep, Jemima Puddle-duck.  

How to choose a car name

1. Reflect the car’s personality

If you’ve owned your car for a while, you’ve probably got a good understanding of its personality. Maybe it’s old faithful, a solid set of wheels that you can trust to start in all weathers and get you from A to B without any issues. Or perhaps it’s a newer model equipped with all the tech gadgets you could ever want. If it’s a well-worn used car it might be a little beaten up around the edges, sport a couple of character-building scrapes, and sometimes struggle to make it uphill, but you love it anyway. The name you choose should match your car and how you feel about it.

2. Take inspiration from its colour or shape

While looks aren’t everything, if your car’s personality doesn’t immediately spark ideas then you could find inspiration in its colour or shape. A muscle-car with a strong silhouette might suit a name like The Beast, Iron Man, or The Rock while a baby blue supermini could be named Skye, Bluebell, Sapphire, or Blue Velvet. You really can’t go wrong with a car name that matches its appearance.

3. Follow your passions

It’s your car, so why shouldn’t its name reflect your passions and interests? If you have a favourite film star, band, song, or place then it could inspire a car name, especially when you can work in a pun. Seen Titanic a dozen times? Leonardo DiCardio could work. Drive a Ford Fiesta - how about Harrison? Naming your car after something you love can help it feel like part of the family.

4. Embrace the cheese

Remember you’re naming your car, not your first-born child. The title you choose doesn’t have to be serious, in fact, the cheesier the better! This might be a vehicle you only own for a few years and a nickname that you never say out loud unless you want to. Embrace awkward puns, family in-jokes, and terms of endearment to create a name that makes you smile every time you think about it.

5. Ask friends and family

If you’re looking to name the family car or your wheels are regularly used as a taxi service by your friends, you might want to consider asking for their opinion. Children are full of creative ideas and might come up with something you could never have imagined, while your close friends could already have an affectionate nickname for your car that they’ve not share with you. Don’t be afraid to crowdsource names and find one that the whole family can get behind.

6. Stick with it

Once you’ve considered all the options and chosen a car name, stick with it. Cycling through different names and changing it every week won’t instil the same sense of familiarity and affection that picking one moniker would. Whether you opt for Silver Lightning, Old Faithful, or Betty, your car is part of the family now and deserves a name that’ll go the distance.