Flo, Bumble, and Noddy are some of the top nicknames drivers have given cars

01 October 2023 , 08:00

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One in three drivers feel a car without a nickname is “missing something” (Image: PinPep)

Flo, Bumble, and Noddy are some of the top nicknames – that British drivers have given to their cars.

A survey of 1,500 vehicle owners found that three in ten (31%) will christen their car as soon as they get it – with The Beast, and The Flying Banana, among some of the more comical monikers given.

And a third (32%) feel that cars can have “a real personality” – with 34% even saying that a motor without a nickname is “missing something”.

Some of the top inspirations that help drivers name their cars include the vehicle's paint colour, make and model, or licence plate.

For instance, the nickname “Flo” could come from a licence plate that began with FL0 – while a Volkswagen Tiguan could be dubbed “Tig” or “Tiggy”.

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The survey was commissioned by Volkswagen, ahead of National Name Your Car Day on October 2. The manufacturer has arguably one of the most famous named cars of all time – a Beetle known as “Herbie: The Love Bug”.

And many drivers have taken inspiration from TV or movies, with one naming their vehicle “Gandalf the Grey Golf”, while another opted for “Pamela Vanderson”.

Flo, Bumble, and Noddy are some of the top nicknames drivers have given cars

Some of the top car nicknames include Flo, Deeney, Bumble - and even The Beast (PinPep)

A spokesman for Volkswagen said: “Naming your car isn't just a tradition, it's a celebration of the bond you share. It's like giving your trusty steed a name before embarking on a grand adventure.

“Every car has a story, and giving it a nickname is like writing the first chapter of a lifelong novel filled with road trips, memories, and more.”

The research also found that nearly two-thirds (65%) claim to feel more protective of their vehicle once they’ve given it a name to know it by.

And 37% will give it a few weeks and wait for inspiration to present itself, as they get to know their new pride and joy.

Seven in ten of those polled, via OnePoll, even say they often think back on old cars they owned in the past, and the quirky nicknames they had.

To give people inspiration for their own car names, the carmaker has produced an Instagram filter at @VolkswagenUK, that lets you scroll through a list of common nicknames until you find one that fits your motor.

The Volkswagen spokesman added: “Your car is more than just a machine, it's a loyal companion that's there for you through thick and thin.

Sue Smith with her Volkswagen Beetle, nicknamed Kitty (PinPep)

“It’s clear to see, from how many car owners bestow a nickname on their car, how dear to the nation’s hearts cars can become.

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“So, if your four-wheeled friend doesn’t have a nickname yet, this checklist for inspiration could help you come up with one.”

Sue Smith, 49, from Porthcawl, South Wales is an avid nicknamer of cars. She said: “Every car we've owned has had a name. My husband's car when we met was Emily the Escort – our daughter Emily is named after her.

“A G-plate 1.8l diesel automatic was named after my grandmother, Dorothy, as she had been her car – and when we got our first Passat, my husband kept calling her Dotty, which we changed to Potty.

“I've always given my cars names and talked to them. It was always a dream to own a Beetle – they are classic cars, and I've wanted one ever since watching the Herbie movies in the 70s.

“Kitty was my belated 40th birthday present after a terrible year when our then two-year-old Tommy was diagnosed with cancer on his second birthday.

“After nearly a year of chemo, and a major spinal op, we felt we could celebrate at last, and I ordered my dream car. Tommy insisted she was called Kitty, so I could hardly refuse.”

TOP 10 COMEDY CAR NICKNAMES: