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Why do people name their cars?
Having a nickname for your car doesn’t make you the odd one out. In fact, around 29% of us actually give our cars a moniker in Australia. So why do people name cars? Because it’s cute, or practical? Because it feels like everyone else does it?
We set out to explore the many reasons, as well as some starting points if you’re looking for names to give your car.
Cars are personal
Sure – cars are mass-produced, but we certainly come to love them as we scoot between work, school, sport and holidays. They’re our constant companions. Our cars often have their little idiosyncrasies, which can range from strange noises to refusing to relinquish the CD that’s been stuck in the sound system for years. We get to know and love these quirks just like we would with our loved ones and pets. So why not give our car a name too? It’s just like saying, “You’re part of the family.”
We name a lot of inanimate objects
Naming cars is not all that unusual when you think about the fact we also name ships, storms, instruments and AI voice assistants. When we anthropomorphise inanimate objects, it makes them feel more familiar and even comforting. It can help to give us a sense of control over the unknown. Wouldn’t you feel better heading into a storm on a ship that has a name?
There may be social reasons
Humans are highly social creatures. We’re hard-wired to see faces, even if it’s in headlights and a front grill. We like feeling connected and surrounded by familiar faces and names. Naming cars might tap into our deep drive for social connection. In a way, it’s not dissimilar to the way Wilson the basketball got a name and a face in Castaway!
It’s simply easier to say
You might be in a household with multiple cars, and it’s a lot quicker to refer to Tonk or Embee than it is to say the Mitsubishi Pajero or the Mercedes-Benz. It’s certainly a lot easier to write this on a keyring or a note. Nicknames give us a handy shorthand when life can be so complex. There’s something to be said for simplicity!
