Motor Ombudsman poll registers top names for cars
As the new ‘25’ vehicle registration arrives in showrooms across England and Scotland and Wales, ‘Betty’ is set to be the top name bestowed to a car by owner according to a Motor Ombudsman poll of nearly 1,600 vehicle owners
‘Fred’ emerged as the second favourite and the highest-ranked male name from the preferences stated by survey respondents
For the five most popular choices according to the study, owners have ventured down a more classic and traditional route, with those carrying an element of heritage and historical significance coming to the fore
Electric vehicles (EVs) have also sparked inspiration, with ‘Eevee’ seen as a front-runner for zero-emission models
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, which included polling 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 overall1
1 From results of a survey carried out between 24.01.2025 - 28.01.2025. Car owners’ demographic profile determined by natural fall out as there is no data available to represent the national population. All data based on this survey unless otherwise stated. , 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 participants2
2 Calculation uses the percentage of respondents who named their car this, out of the number of respondents who named their car any of the top 5 names. . ‘Fred’, which comes in as the second favourite (26%), has been heralded as the most sought-after male name2.
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) 2, 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.
Away from the more common gender-specific names, pursuing a more neutral direction was also identified as a trend from the names earmarked by respondents, with ‘Mystery Machine’, ‘The Black Bullet’ and ‘Silver Streak’, all being contenders. For literature and movie buffs, ‘Quasimodo’ – one of the main characters of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, a French novel, and ‘Genie’ from Aladdin, were cast into the spotlight – preferences possibly inspired by films and literature from yesteryear.
Commenting on the survey findings, Bill Fennell, Chief Ombudsman and Managing Director of The Motor Ombudsman, said: “Getting the keys to a new vehicle is an exciting time, especially when you’re amongst the first to drive off the forecourt with one sporting the year’s first new registration. Furthermore, with such a financial and emotional investment that goes into buying a car, personalisation in the modern era highlights the significance in creating something which is unique to them, whilst the principle of naming is designed to the reinforce the importance that drivers place in their vehicles as an integral part of their lifestyle.”
Bill added: “Whilst the survey has shown that many of the top choices of names hark back to past eras, it will be interesting to see whether the ongoing shift to zero emission and electrification changes these trends going forward, as the first EV-derived names start to creep into the top choices.”