Eevee charges into car names of choice

With the arrival of the ’25’ vehicle registration across showrooms in England, Scotland and Wales – a key milestone in the first quarter of the annual motoring calendar, a Censuswide poll commissioned by The Motor Ombudsman of almost 1,600 car owners, has revealed the top names that motorists are set to grant their pride and joy.

The findings of the survey show that ‘Betty’ is the top pick overall and the likeliest female moniker for those looking to christen their new car, making up close to a third (30%) of the top five choices stated by survey participants. ‘Fred’, which comes in as the second favourite (26%), has been heralded as the most sought-after male name. Giving a car added identity allows drivers to truly make it their own, coupled with a sense of personality and familiarity. Nearly a fifth of motorists (18%) who took part in the study admitted to giving their wheels a meaningful name, putting it on a par with a member of the family and a trusted companion.

For those aged between 18 and 24, where a car is likely seen as a symbol of status and independence as their driving career begins, this group emerged as the most keen to label their vehicle (27%). At the other end of the scale however, only around one in ten (14%) of people aged 55 and over would follow suit.

In fact, when looking at the top five most desired names stated by respondents, owners seem to have looked to embrace a more classic and traditional route, where choices also carry an element of heritage and historical significance.

With ‘Betty’ having more regal roots – derived from ‘Elizabeth’, and ‘Fred’ finding its origins in a title for noble leaders, ‘Ruby’, associated with a gemstone, is the third most in demand name (17% of top five choices), first gaining prominence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and clearly still having timeless appeal amongst today’s car owners.

Rounding off the top five ranking is ‘Bessie’ – derived from a 16th century nickname for Elizabeth, and ‘Fifi’ – a shortened version of the French name ‘Josephine’.

Similarly, as battery power gains increasing prominence amongst motorists, electric vehicles (EVs) have also sparked the imagination, with ‘Eevee’ also coming to the fore as a personal choice.