Some people emphasize naming their pets, and rocking between Steve and Spot and Burke Twain. Namesing children is even more bothering us, as we don’t want to have nasty names for offspring.
Name your car isn’t always a cake walk. A proper case: Poor Chevrolenova has been laughed out for decades as urban legends spread the low sales in Spanish-speaking countries. The name “Nova” is said to be translated to Va or “Not going.” but, As linguistic experts point outit doesn’t jive anyway by Spanish rules. The myth continues, but it is not true.
Unless it is a car made by Christian von Koenigsegg or fellow Rimac, the majority of vehicles in the market are named by the committee, so there is less research and pressure to be held responsible. Some automakers take the easy way to offer alphanumeric soup monikers to their cars. For example, Mercedes-Benz names cars from A to S in their class. The S-class brand means “Sonderklasse” in German. In between, there are three letter names, such as GLA and GLB. This is the name that looks as if it’s a numerical PI:2025 MERCEDES-BENZ GLC 350E 4MATIC. The car is very fun to drive and has very good fuel efficiency, but you can forget the name and focus on your ride.
Name a car usually requires a process
Jessica Fini, vice president of communications at American Honda, says the company is holding brainstorming meetings with key product planning members and other marketing, communications and sales executives a few years after the launch of the new vehicle. During that series of meetings, team members share the overall concept of the vehicle and explain its comprehensive properties.
Once the brainstormed list of names is edited, they vote with the largest name choice and vote again. The top three names will then be handed over to the Legal Department for background checks. This means you are responsible for making sure that other brands are not yet using it or are not using it in spares.
“Normally, if you send three names, there are couples that are not available. One is the winner,” explains Fini. “If all three are rejected, I’ll go back to the long list and resubscribe.”
Fini says that Honda’s words generally connect to meaning. For example, this prologue is the automaker’s first mass market EV (prologue, or introduction of a larger choice). Passport SUVs are adventure cars, and passports are linked to adventure. Honda has several acronyms, including the CR-V: Comfortable Runabout Vehicle.
Toyota also uses the acronym naming convention. The RAV4 represents a recreational active vehicle with 4-wheel drive. The Lexus RX represents “Radiant Crossover (x).” Personally, I prefer a crown that prefers a crown, meaning “Kamuri” in Japanese.
Etymology of car names
Hyundai’s performance-centric names such as N Line and N Models pay tribute to Hyundai’s Namyang Research and Development Center and Nürburgring Racetrack, highlighting precision engineering. Meanwhile, models like Elantra (meaning energy meaning “Elan”) and Sonata (inspired by musical harmonies) convey their unique personality through language, says Elijah Kim, senior group manager at Hyundai.
“Hyundai’s vehicle naming strategy is a carefully crafted blend of geography, symbolism and innovation designed to evoke emotional connections with drivers,” explains Kim. “Many models draw inspiration from real-world locations like Santa Fe, Tucson, and Kona, each reflecting a sense of adventure and lifestyle.”
The palace, symbolizing strength and protection, reinforces its role as a spacious, family-friendly SUV. Merriam-Webster defines the term Palisade as “a pile fence, particularly for defense, which further enhances safety.” Kim says that when Hyundai accepts electrification, the IoniQ series combines “ion” and “unique” to mean a positive approach to mobility.
“By each name, Hyundai isn’t just about car branding. It tells the story and shapes how drivers perceive and connect with their cars,” says Kim. “As the industry moves towards intelligent, electrified transportation, modern naming strategies continue to evolve and blend science, technology and imagination.”
No one knows more than Lamborghini who created an entire product line named after the Bulls who fought for their lives in the arena. Miura was a breed of Spanish combat bulls, and Murciélago was a bull reportedly fought 28 sword strokes. According to Stephan Winkelmann, CEO of Lamborghini, the latest model, named after The Temerario, the fighting bull, means he is fierce and courageous.
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