by Mike Mccarthy

Created on: June 10, 2009

Those you love and those you hate generally have a name so why should your car be any different. Your car will be more to you than just a machine. It will be something you cherish or something that feels like a heavy weight around your neck, either way, there is a good chance you will have named it, even if the name is not repeatable.

How can that chariot that carried you through terrible storms and heavy snow without a falter of its fuel filled heart not have a name? A name that endears you to it. Surely a mere machine would have failed and left you stranded miles from any help. The car's personality is what delivered you safely home.

And as your car has a personality it's name should reflect it's idiosyncrasies. Perhaps a name that indicates bravery? A name that shows how hard your car works? Even a name that suggests your car has a sense of humour as it decides not to start just when you need it to fire into action? Whichever you choose, naming your car shows the bond you have between you.

It is very human to see personalities in inanimate objects and posessions, the car is no different. Sometimes the personality in the object is a reflection of the person owning it, sometimes the personality is to do with the function and style of the object itself. Whichever reason, this personality is summed up with the name you give it.

Oddly, by giving your car a name and therefore a personality this can lead to being forgiving towards it's shortcomings. Shortcomings one would not accept from an unnamed possession. Again, many such names have humour attached to them, perhaps the name of a particularly cantankerous old Aunt.

Sometimes the car is much maligned and it's only name is something insulting. It is not surprising that such a car does not perform as well as it could. Although, often such naming is more a reflection of the owner indictating poor maintenance and a lack of pride of ownership.

Those cars you have owned that have been named are those that remain in your memory. Such memories may be a mixed blessing but most will be good ones. Perhaps driving your child home from the hostpital for the first time, mixing memories of car ownership and parenthood for the first time. Or, driving home after losing your job, not such a happy time but still a memory linked with your car ownership.

So yes it is very important to name your car, but just as one names one's child, care should be taken in case the recipient has a dislike of the name and shows such dislike in it's behaviour.

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