10 Popular Vehicles and How They Got Their Names
When it comes to naming vehicles, European automakers (except for Volkswagen) and Asian luxury brands are all about alphanumerical combinations. Fortunately, others across the industry insist on finding cool names with some kind of meaning that will resonate with customers.
Here are 10 popular models and how they got their names…
Chevrolet Corvette
In 1953, GM executives accepted a suggestion by Myron Scott, then the assistant director of the Public Relations department, to name the company's new sports car after the corvette, a small maneuverable warship invented in France. The first Corvette, a convertible, was introduced at the 1953 GM Motorama as a concept car. Production models went on sale later that year.
Hyundai Kona
Hyundai’s hot new Kona irrupted into the small-crossover segment in 2018. It refers to Kailua-Kona, a volcanic region in the western part of the Island of Hawaii.
Jeep Grand Cherokee
This one is about conquering savage lands. "I'm sure this comes from a place that is well-intended, but it does not honor us by having our name plastered on the side of a car," said Chuck Hoskin Jr., principal chief of the Cherokee Nation in the U.S. back in 2021. Will political correctness ever force Jeep to rename its iconic and high-selling Grand Cherokee?
Ford Maverick
Previously used for a compact car in the 1970s and the first-gen Escape sold in Europe in the early 2000s, the Maverick name returned for 2022 with a segment-busting truck. “Maverick challenges the status quo and the stereotypes of what a pickup truck can be,” said Todd Eckert, Ford truck group marketing manager. “We believe it will be compelling to a lot of people who never before considered a truck.”
GMC Yukon Denali
GMC is really into geography with vehicles like the Terrain, Canyon and Sierra. The Yukon full-size SUV shares its name with one of Canada’s three northern territories, while top-line Denali models refer to the highest peak in all of North America, located in Alaska (formerly known as Mount McKinley).
Toyota Camry
The Camry, which continues to rule the midsize sedan segment, got its name from the Japanese word kanmuri meaning “crown.” How fitting. Of course, there’s now an all-new Toyota Crown in the lineup. Is a royal battle looming?
Toyota Prius
Prius is Latin for “prior” or “previous.” Its name can be interpreted as a reference to the fact that at, the Prius' Japan launch in 1997, there had never been a mass-produced hybrid car before.
Volkswagen Tiguan
Tiguan is a combination of the German words for “tiger” (Tiger) and “iguana” (Leguan), and it came from a naming contest held by Volkswagen. To be clear, it’s pronounced “TEE-gwan.” Other names that were considered include Namib, Rockton, Samun, and Nanuk.
Porsche Macan
Taking a page from its parent company, Porsche came up with Macan, which is “derived from the Indonesian word for ‘tiger’ and combines suppleness, power, fascination and dynamics.” This compact luxury SUV was originally codenamed Cajun, a portmanteau of “Cayenne” and “Junior.”
Subaru Impreza
Most Subaru models are synonymous with the great outdoors—think Forester, Outback, Crosstrek and Ascent. In the case of the Impreza, the company simply coined a name that derives from an originally Italian word, "impresa," meaning a badge or motto. However, marketing says it also stands for "the car with an added impression of youth, lightness and sportiness," and "giving a fresh impression to a new era."