The Best Red Car Names

It’s no secret that red cars draw the eye of passers-by like an open flame gathers moths. Red is a warm color that grabs people’s attention, pumps them up, and whips up their excitement. Cars with a vibrant red paint job give off an irresistible allure of danger and speed. They embody both power and speed on the road.

Given its inherent good looks and appealing aura, your red car should get a matching name. That’s why we collected some of the best red car names and compiled them according to their themes for your convenience.

Car Names for Red Cars

Here are some of the most widely chosen names for red cars:

Human and Celebrity Car Names

Many drivers treat their cars like living beings. Whether you see your car as a pet or as a person, it’s understandable to give it a human name.

• Clifford (who may or may not be a big red dog)
• Reddington
• Red Baron
• Rose
• Rosie / Rosey
• Roxanne
• Rudolph
• Valentina

Brunette or red-haired celebrities are good namesakes for red cars. If you’re a fan of a redhead star, you can show off by naming your car after them:

• Conan O’Brien
• Ginger Spice
• Ed Sheeran
• Molly Ringwald
• Prince Harry
• Red Skelton
• Susan Sarandon

Fictional Characters

You are undoubtedly a fan of a fictional franchise or two. Books, cartoons, movies, and TV series will often have a character with a predominantly red color scheme. If you know or like such a character, consider using their name for your red car.

• Captain Hook
• Daredevil
• Diablo
• Flash (the superhero)
• Tony Stark/Iron Man
• Lightning McQueen
• Little Red Riding Hood
• Magnum, P.I.
• Miss Scarlett
• Robin (the superhero)
• Ron Burgundy
• Queen of Hearts
• Tow Mater
• Winnie the Pooh

Mythological Names

Mythology is a great place to draw car names for your red car. There are many gods and goddesses associated with red and other things connected to the color, such as fire, heat, and the sun.

• Helios
• Hephaestus 
• Hestia
• Lucifer
• Prometheus
• Vulcan

Color-Based Names

Red is one of the earliest colors that were defined by ancient humans. It has many synonyms, words that mean more or less the same thing. Foreign languages also have their own versions of the color’s name. One of these color-based words may be a great red car name for you.

• Aka (Japanese for red)
• Amber
• Blood
• Crimson
• Garnet
• Magenta
• Red
• Reddie
• Redwood
• Rosemary
• Rot (German for red)
• Rouge
• Rosso / Rossa (Italian for red)
• Scarlet

Fire and Heat-Based Names

You know what’s colored red? Fire. It’s no surprise that names related to fire and heat are very compatible with a red car.

• Blaze
• Burners
• Fire
• Fire Truck
• Fireball
• Firebolt
• Firebird
• Firefox
• Flame / Flamer
• Flash
• Heat / Heatblast / Heatwave
• Hellcat
• Hellion
• Inferno
• Lava / Magma
• Scorch / Scorcher
• Spitfire
• Volcano
• Wildfire

Animal Names

Mother knows best, so who better than Mother Nature to give you the name for a red car? There are many animals that have red coloration. Their names can grace your car.

• Cardinal / Redbird
• Dragon
• Fox
• Infurnus
• Ladybug
• Lobster
• Phoenix
• Robin (the bird)

Why Do People Name Their Cars?

In 2018, a survey conducted by the GM Buy Power Card revealed that 42% of Americans name their vehicles. Among these people, 73% of those respondents claimed that naming their vehicles made them form a closer bond with them.

The survey also revealed that women were 7% more likely to name their vehicles than men and 55% of the respondents personify their vehicles as female.

Lastly, 43% of the respondents said that they waited for about a month before naming their vehicles after considering factors like car personality, make, and model.

Naming a vehicle is more common than you think. According to psychiatrist Carole Lieberman, doing so gives people a sense of control over their vehicles.

Also, naming inanimate objects like cars gives them human-like qualities like intentionality, according to University of Chicago Professor Nicholas Epley. By giving cars a persona, drivers tend to take care of them better.

Once you name your car, you’ll notice that it has functions and issues like the average human being. For instance, it breathes air via the air filter, bleeds whenever there’s a leak, or breaks down when it has engine troubles.

Most people choose to name their cars based on classic human names, vehicle appearance, or even some pop culture names. Another reason why people name their cars is because of the emotional connection that they form with them.

For a lot of drivers, their milestones are achieved with their vehicles. Some also view buying their first car as a rite of passage, so it’s only fitting that they name their vehicles.

Over time, drivers learn to take care of their vehicles much like taking care of a pet or another person. Like humans, cars also need basic necessities like water, food (fuel), and oxygen to function properly.

Devising Names For a Red Car

When brainstorming for suitable red car names, it can help to keep these tips in mind:

Meaningful Names

Don’t just choose any name out there. Look for a red car name with a deep meaning behind it. Consult an online source for the meanings behind words or names and pick a name whose meaning matches the aura of your car. Another option is to name it after a famous person.

Put The Pun in Red Car Names

Puns offer one of the best ways to make your red car’s name memorable. A clever wordplay will have a better chance of getting a reaction out of the people who see or hear it. The stronger their response, the easier for them to remember the name.

Look for the most striking characteristic of your red car, such as its particular shade of red or its size, then make a pun based on that word.

Names Made For Your Car

There are many car types out there–compacts, SUVs, limousines, and others. Your car’s type will make some names more suitable while other potential names may not fit it as well.

For example, a sports car goes fast. You will want a red car name that conveys speed, such as Lightning (not necessarily McQueen), Fireball, or Flashfire.

Of course, you can also apply a bit of irony to your car’s name. When people hear you call your car Rusty, they will think of a rustbucket on its last legs. Imagine the looks on their faces when they finally see your perfectly polished red car.

You can take this further by using a pun. Go with something like Rush-ty.

It’s About You, Too

At the same time, your personality extends to your car. You are the one who picked a red car to begin with. Ask yourself the reasons that drove you to get it.

Did you want to call attention? Then you want a flash name. Is red your favorite color? Pick one that incorporates the color.

Inspiration

Sometimes, a great name for a red car simply drops on top of you like the proverbial bolt from the blue. You may be cruising on the highway, running scheduled maintenance, or hard at work on something with zero relation to your car. Whatever the case, inspiration for your red car’s name can arrive without warning.

Short Names Are Better

Who doesn’t want everyone to know the name you picked for your red car? While you can spread it via word of mouth, it’s probably easier to advertise it using your ride. You can hang vanity license plates on both ends (wherever they’re legal). Another option is to spell it out with decal letters on the hood, sides, or rear. Maybe it’s better for you to spray the name on the body panels.

If you plan to show off your red car’s name, it’s a good idea to either keep it short or abbreviate it. Your car only has so much space on its body panels and shrinking the font size will make it harder to read the name.

Have fun naming your red car!