Henry Ford famously named one of his models after son Edsel, but the bootie can be on the other foot, researchers have found working for Scrap Car Comparison.
Naming a new baby is never an easy task – from wondering if they’ll suit their chosen name, to making sure that the first name works with their surname – parents are likely to have many questions and dilemmas in their heads ahead of the arrival of their newborn.
Names may come from more familiar sources, such as family names, or those inspired by hobbies and idols, with the names of footballers and TV characters often among those considered by parents-to-be. However, inspiration for names can be found in many places – with motoring fans perhaps turning to their favourite car makes and models in the hopes of having that lightbulb moment.
To find out which car inspired names are the most common in the UK, the motoring experts at Scrap Car Comparison have analysed data from the Office of National Statistics to reveal which are used most frequently, which are the most unique, and which have seen a surge in popularity over recent years.
Which Motoring Inspired Names Are Most Popular?
After analysing 250 car makes and models, it was revealed that Hudson was the most popular motoring inspired boys name, with Nova topping the list for girls.
Inspired by the Hudson Motoring Company which produced cars from its headquarters in Detroit from 1909 until 1954, the name Hudson was the most popular of those analysed overall, with 1,268 babies given this name during 2022.
The most popular female name of Nova harks back to the Chevrolet Nova (above popular as a rally car), which was a smaller model of car produced by Chevrolet until 1988 – though it does also means ‘new’ in Latin, while also being an astronomic term given to ‘bright stars that appear suddenly in the sky and release powerful energy’.
Leon (below) and Alba follow as the second most popular names across the two genders. Leon derives from the hatchback SEAT model, which has been on the market since 1999 and has also featured in several motorsport series, including the World Touring Car Championships (WTCC).
With 584 babies named Leon in 2022, it’s also the second most popular name overall in the rankings. A slightly more unusual name, Alba references the Italian car manufacturer from Trieste which lasted for just a year, after its two models failed to reach mass production.
Other notable names feature among the remaining top 10s for both boys and girls – with Axel, a name recently used by popstar Perrie Edwards for the little boy she shares with footballer Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, ranking in third, followed by Austin (4th) and Cooper (5th).
For the girls, Ariya, an alternate spelling of Arya, featured in hit TV series Game of Thrones, ranks in third, with Elise in fourth and Liana in fifth.
Which Motoring Inspired Names Are The Most Unique?
For those looking for more unique names for their little ones, the analysis also revealed the names which were used the least often in the UK in 2022.
Though it ranked highly among the girls names, the use of Ariya is definitely more unusual for a boy, with just three children given the name in 2022. Meanwhile Legacy ranked among the most unusual for both boys and girls, with Nash, Maverick and Lotus also among the least used.
On the other end of the spectrum, Cruze and Nova were revealed among the top trending motoring inspired names – those that have seen the greatest increase in use from 2017 to 2022. The overall top ranking boys names Axel and Hudson also featured in the top trending names for boys, with Avalon and Liana completing the topflight for girls.
David Kottaun, Operations Manager at Scrap Car Comparison said, “Choosing a name for a new baby is never an easy task, and it’s only natural that people draw inspiration from their passions and interests – including motoring.
“Some of our favourite car models have names that we may see quite frequently, such as Elise from the Lotus Elise, or Austin from the Austin-Healey – which many people wouldn’t even realise are linked to the automotive world.
“As the data shows, with just a handful of children receiving some of these names in 2022, it’s more than likely that these motoring inspired names may be a bit more unique, and leave a child with an interesting name, that isn’t shared with several others in the classroom”.
