Bob Is The UK’s Most Popular Car Name, As Betty And Betsy Complete The Top Three

• On international 'Name Your Car Day', carwow.co.uk reveals the most popular car names in the UK – with Bob and Betty taking the top two spots
• Bob was the most popular choice among men, followed by Fred while Betty was most picked by women, just ahead of Betsy
• In the 45-54 age group, Herbie was the most popular name, with those born from 1970 onwards fondly remembering Herbie the VW Beetle of the late '60s, '70s and '80s
• Betsy and Bertha also both make the top ten, stemming from 1978 film 'The Betsy' and Bertha Benz, wife of the founder of Mercedes respectively
• Some of the more unusual names on the list include Moby Dick, Loser Cruiser and Mr Darcy

London, 2 October, 2015. As part of international Name Your Car Day, carwow (www.carwow.co.uk) – the site for Britain's new-car buyers – has conducted a national survey of 1000 people to find the most popular car names. Bob came out on top, and was also the most picked name by men, while Betty topped the poll for women.

Bob is the most popular name in all age groups from 18-44, but in the 45-54-year-old age group Herbie grabs the top spot. Clearly those born from 1970 onwards have fond memories of the Volkswagen Beetle from the Herbie films of the late 1960s, '70s and '80s.

And popular culture plays a part in another of our top car names: Betsy is at number three, having been made popular in the 1978 film 'The Betsy' about development of a fuel-efficient car of the same name. The popularity of Betty and Bessie is also likely linked to the film.

A name associated with cars since the very beginning – and one that came in at number five in thecarwow.co.uk poll – is Bertha. Bertha Benz, wife of Karl Benz (founder of Mercedes-Benz) was the first to take a car on a long journey. Bertha drove the Benz Patent Motorwagen 66 miles to visit her mother in 1886.

Some of the respondents did have more unusual names for their cars, including Silver Dream Machine, Moby Dick and Mr Darcy – while some seemingly have a love-hate relationship with their cars, naming them Loser Cruiser, Oink Oink and Costly.

James Hind, CEO of carwow, said: "Cars are these amazing products that generate a lot of feelings for a lot of people – there's not really any other product people use regularly that gets a name and the emotional connection that comes with it.

What prompted us to start carwow.co.uk was the fact that often the experience of buying a car doesn't live up to the experience of owning it. So we've simplified the process and made it completely transparent to ensure buyers get great customer service and the peace-of-mind that comes with knowing you've got the best price."

The top 10 most popular car names in the UK are:

1. Bob
2. Betty
3. Betsy
4. Fred
5. Bertha
6. John
7. Baby
8. Bessie
9. The Beast
10. Harry

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors:

carwow

There's a rapidly growing movement of people in Britain who are choosing a new way to buy their next car. It's where the best-rated dealers in Britain compete over buyers.

It's a way where awkward haggling is a thing of the past – you simply choose exactly the car you want online, then we find as many as five of the best offers from top-rated local and national dealers. You can compare offers by price, location and customer reviews. Your personal information stays private so you deal directly with the dealer on your terms, confident you already have their best offer up front.

It's great news for dealers, too. This revolution in car buying introduces them to more potential customers, helping increase sales, reduce costs and improve stock turnover. It's a better experience for everyone.

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For further information:

Ian Tonkin – Senior Manager
t: +44(0) 207 287 9610
m: +44 (0) 7718 897 803
e: ian@influenceassociates.com

Luke Madden – Manager
t: +44 (0) 207 287 9610
m: +44 (0) 7771 514 245
e: luke@influenceassociates.com