Mini Cooper Name Generator

Minis get named more than almost any other small car, and the names owners actually use fall into a few clear families. The biggest is British character: Minnie, Winston, Mabel, Alfie, Lady Penelope, Paddington and Mr. Bean all lean on the car's London-taxi-meets-Carnaby-Street image, and a Union Jack roof practically begs for Jack or Blighty. The second is paint. Mini's own colour names are half the work: Chili Red becomes Chili or Cherry Bomb, Pepper White becomes Pepper or Stormtrooper, British Racing Green turns into Kermit or Gherkin, Volcanic Orange into Tango or Marmalade, and a Midnight Black Cooper S ends up as Vader or Guinness.

Heritage names carry weight. Issigonis, Austin, Morris, Cowley and Longbridge point back to the 1959 original; Hopkirk, Monte and 33 EJB honour the Monte Carlo rally wins; Croker, Bridger and Turin are Italian Job nods, and Citron is the colour of Mr. Bean's car. Trim names do the same job, which is why so many JCWs are called Johnny Works.

The list below adds pint-sized puns like Pocket Rocket and Half Pint and Italian, French and German names that suit a car sold across Europe. Say the name out loud as you would at a Mini meet, and check it fits on a bonnet stripe or a roof decal.