As the new ’25’ plate graces the nation’s forecourts, The Motor Ombudsman has commissioned a poll that reveals the top personal names given to their cars by people in Britain…
They tell us…
(Images and all words from The Motor Ombudsman).
• 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
London, 03 March 2025 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, 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
.
‘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.”
To find a car retailer that is accredited to The Motor Ombudsman’s Vehicle Sales Code, visit
www.TheMotorOmbudsman.org/Garage-Finder
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.
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.
More information:
Top five most popular names for cars (based on the percentage of the top five most allocated names for cars
stated by survey respondents who own or have owned a car)2
• Betty (30%)
• Fred (26%)
• Ruby (17%)
• Bessie (13%)
• Fifi (13%)
About The Motor Ombudsman
The Motor Ombudsman is the independent and impartial Ombudsman dedicated solely to the automotive sector, and self-regulates the UK’s motor industry through its comprehensive Chartered Trading Standards
Institute (CTSI)-approved Codes of Practice. Thousands of businesses, including vehicle
manufacturers, warranty product providers, franchised dealers and independent garages, are
accredited to one or more of the Codes, which drive even higher standards of work and service, and
give consumers added protection, peace of mind and trust during the vehicle purchase and ownership experience.
The Motor Ombudsman provides a comprehensive library of impartial motoring resources for consumers
embarking on the car buying and ownership journey.