Half of Gen Z drivers give their car nicknames, with 'Baby' being the most common

LONDON: Nearly half (47%) of Gen Z drivers in the UK have a nickname for their vehicle, with "Baby" being the most common, says recent research by Honda UK.

The new study explores how UK drivers personify their cars and which driving memories trigger the most nostalgia.

The survey of 1,500 UK drivers found that while most (77%) still call their vehicle a “car,” younger drivers are much more likely to give it nicknames.

Favourites include affectionate names like “Baby”, “Babe,” and “Betty.” Power-driven names like "Beast" and "Rocket" were also popular. Nostalgic picks like “Herbie,” “Churchill,” and “Elvis” also made the list.

Troy, 31, from London, shared how his family named their small white car "Blanco": “My partner always wanted to name the car, and my daughter just enjoys naming things. Knowing your car has a nickname evokes positive emotions – it feels like it’s part of the family in some weird way.”

According to drivers Honda spoke to, giving cars nicknames helps create an emotional connection. Whether it’s about affection, personality, or nostalgia, these names become part of the driver’s own story.

Jennika, 31, from Leeds, added: “I call mine Penny the Polo. My mum randomly came up with the name, and it just stuck! I used to get called Penny at school (not really sure why), and it rhymes with Jenny, plus the alliteration of Penny the Polo just works. It’s a great conversation starter – I always talk about her as if she’s a person, which gets a few laughs.”

The survey goes beyond nicknames, looking into the emotional bond drivers have with their cars. Nearly half (42%) said that specific songs or genres bring back memories of past journeys.

Millennials are the most nostalgic when it comes to music, with 46% reflecting on songs that shaped their formative driving years. Boomers, on the other hand, feel most nostalgic when seeing classic cars on the road (29%) and the days of using physical maps (24%).

Celebrating 25 years of hybrids, Honda shared a milestone that mirrors Gen Z’s age. Drivers in this age group (29%) often feel nostalgic about simple things, like the breeze through an open window.