How to name your Tesla: Creative ideas and fun facts

Want to know how to name your Tesla? We’ve got you covered. Giving your car its own name might seem a bit quirky, but it’s far from a new practice. 

Even before Elon Musk made naming cars more fun (with hidden Easter eggs on Tesla models), people around the world have embraced the concept of giving a creative name to a car. 

Sometimes, we name our vehicles as a sign of love and appreciation for the machine that gives us so much freedom. Other times, naming your car is a chance to mark a meaningful occasion. Few things celebrate an event like getting your first car than giving it a name.

Plus, if you frequently talk about or reference your Tesla (like many people do), it just makes sense to give it a name beyond “Model X”. 

The good news? Not only can you give your Tesla a name, but you can also enter it into the car’s system to make the whole thing more “official”. 

Here’s your complete guide to how to name your Tesla. 

Why rename your Tesla? The benefits

First, we should point out, you don’t have to name your Tesla. 

Elon Musk might be known for his eccentric behaviors, and unique products, but he hasn’t prevented his vehicles from working if you don’t enter a name when you set up your Tesla account credentials. You can skip the naming part if you like – no harm done.

Saying that, naming your car is a fun way to strengthen your connection with it, and showcase your own personality. 

Plus, naming a Tesla is a lot more fun than naming most cars. Few other automotive manufacturers have embraced the idea of “car naming” more than Tesla. If you’re already familiar with Tesla and Elon Musk, you’ll know the entrepreneur and company like to do things a little differently.

Not only is Tesla transforming the electric vehicle market with cutting-edge technology, but it also gives its customers more ways to personalize the driving experience. 

Once you buy your car, you’ll have access to an app, and a unique Tesla dashboard, brimming with unique features. 

One of the most endearing features is the option to actually give your car an official name. Taking this step doesn’t just add a cute name to your car’s dashboard. It can also unlock some unique features, like hidden Easter eggs, which make your driving experience more interesting.

We’ll cover the top Easter eggs worth exploring in a minute. But first, here’s your step-by-step guide to how to change your Tesla’s name. 

How do I name my Tesla? Rename your Tesla

There are a couple of ways you can change your Tesla’s name. Fortunately, both options are pretty straightforward. You won’t need to contact the Tesla team (hopefully), or a mechanic. All you need to do is access the car dashboard, or your Tesla app. 

How to change your Tesla’s name on the car dashboard

One of the great things about Tesla vehicles, is they come packed with some of the latest tech in the automotive industry, including a pretty impressive dashboard on most models. If you want to add a name to your Tesla from inside the car, tap the little car icon on your dashboard screen.

Next, click on the “Software” tab. You’ll find this listed on a menu alongside things like “Controls”, “Charging” and Navigation”. You might need to install a software update if your car is new before you can start experimenting with the features. 

When a new screen loads, you’ll see an image of your car, alongside your Tesla model number. You can always take inspiration from that number if you’re not sure what to name your car. 

Next to your model number, you’ll see the standard name for your vehicle, which is likely something like “Model X”. Tap that, and enter your new name on the screen keyboard. 

Click save, and you’ll see the name appear on your dashboard. It should show every time you load up your Tesla screen, and it will appear on your mobile app too. 

How to rename your Tesla in the app

If you’ve suddenly come up with a fun new name for your Tesla and you don’t want to get in the car and load everything up, you can also change the title directly from the Tesla smartphone app. You can download this for free from your app store when you buy your Tesla. 

If you haven’t used the app before, you might need to enter a few details, such as your model number and your name, email address, and so on. 

Make sure the app is updated to the latest version, and load the home screen. 

At the top of the app (towards the left) you should see your Tesla’s current name. Tap on it, and you’ll see a list of options. Select “Change name”. 

Clear out the current name on your Tesla’s app, and enter your new title, then click the “Ok” button to save the changes. This will update your Tesla’s name in the system, and it will sync directly with your Tesla vehicle too. 

Simple. 

How to name my Tesla: Quick tips

While learning how to name your Tesla in the app or car dashboard is simple enough, coming up with an interesting name can be trickier. Just as many people struggle with naming their pets, children, and even their brands, Tesla owners can struggle coming up with car names too. 

Don’t worry if you don’t have an idea in mind straight away. We’re going to list some clever Tesla names right here to inspire you in just a moment.

However, before wee dive in, here are some quick tips for coming up with a unique name.

1. Show off your personality

Naming your new Tesla is a chance to showcase your personality to anyone lucky enough to catch a ride in your car. Plus, it’s a great way to add a personal touch to the driving experience. Don’t feel like you have to “follow the trends”. 

Choose a name that’s relevant to you. You might name your car after your favorite pop culture character, or experiment with clever puns. Remember, you can change your name as often as you like, so don’t be afraid to have a little fun with the process.

2. Build on the model name

If you’re struggling to find that lightning bolt of inspiration, working off the model name can be an excellent way to come up with a unique idea. For instance, if you have a “Model E” Tesla, you could choose a name beginning with “E”. 

Alternatively, you could choose a name that’s a reference to Elon Musk and the Tesla brand itself. 

Maybe you want to choose a name like “Saturn” to connect with Musk’s quest to transform space exploration. Or perhaps you want to reference the sustainable energy sector with something like “green machine”. 

3. Get inspired with color names

The color palette of your car is another excellent source of inspiration. The chances are a few things come to mind automatically when you look at your Tesla’s color. You might name a blue car “Sonic” in reference to Sonic the Hedgehog, or a red car “Scarlet”. 

There are plenty of white Tesla’s with names linked to their color, like “Snowy” or “Storm”. Why not grab your friends and family members and enjoy an informal brainstorming session?

4. Work from the license plate

Yet another excellent way to get some much needed inspiration when learning how to name your Tesla is to look at the license plate. Sure, not every license plate will include a specific string of letters you can build on like “Bla” for “Blair” or “Ry” for “Ryan”, but you never know.

The good thing about using your car’s license plate in your name is it can help you to actually remember the plate when you’re out and about. That’s handy when you’re entering details into an app to pay for parking or something similar.

5. Personify your car

When you rename your Tesla, you’re already on the path to treating an animate object like a person. Yes – it might seem weird at first, but embrace it! There’s nothing wrong with having a little fun!

Consider what kind of personality your vehicle would have if it could talk to you just like another human being, and build your Tesla’s new identity on that. Alternatively, you can look beyond gender-neutral names and give your vehicle a feminine, or masculine name.

Tesla car names: The top Easter egg names

Now we come to the part you’ve been waiting for – inspiration for your Tesla’s ideal name. We’re going to share a lot of different options here, so you’re sure to find something that matches your individual style. 

To begin however, let’s look at the fun stuff.

As mentioned above, Tesla’s makers have incorporated a handful of “Easter eggs” into the vehicle, which are activated when you enter a specific name. 

Here are a few names that will unlock interesting features in your new car:

Monty Python names

Probably one of the most famous Easter eggs discovered in Tesla cars emerged with the release of the V10 software updates. When users gave their car a name from Monty Python, such as “Biggus Dickus”, “Unladen Swallow” or “Rabbit of Caerbannog” the screen changes.

Suddenly, your dashboard will show the “foot of Cupid” from Monty Python’s Flying Circus. Don’t worry, it won’t get in the way of your driving, but it’s still fun. 

Other Monty Python names that work include:

• Mr. Creosote
• Patsy
• Flying Circus

Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy names

If you’re a fan of the sci-fi and fantasy series by Douglas Adams, “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”, this Easter egg is perfect for you. When you head into the car console to change your Tesla’s name, simply enter the number “42”. 

This will change the name of the car automatically to “Life, the Universe, and Everything” This comes from the book, wherein “42” is determined to be the answer to life, the universe, and everything else, by a super computer. 

Back to the Future Easter eggs

Technically, this Easter egg doesn’t actually involve manually changing your Tesla’s name, but it does affect the name of your car, so we’re going to include it anyway. 

If you touch the battery icon in the Tesla mobile app at 121 miles, this launches a “Back to the Future” Easter egg. A message displays, saying “Time Circuits Off”, and the name of your vehicle will change to “OUTATIME”. 

The Easter egg influences a few other features too. For instance, “Charging scheduled” changes to “Time Circuits on”. The “Charging tab” becomes “Fuel Chamber”. Plus, “121 miles” will change to “1.21 GW”. 

Other Tesla Easter eggs

If the Easter eggs linked to naming your Tesla appeal to you, remember there are a bunch of others to discover which don’t include the naming process at all. 

For instance:

• Mario Kart: Within your Tesla dashboard, you can access the “Rainbow Road” feature, taken from Mario Kart. This transforms the road beneath your car into a rainbow-colored track on the screen, and adds new sound effects.
• James Bond: Holding the Tesla logo on the center display and entering the code “007” transforms the car’s image into a submarine version of the Lotus Espirit. You can also choose the “depth” to which your car is submerged. 
• Light show: Holding down the “Tesla T” on your display and entering the code “holiday” transforms the internal lights in your car into a magical light show. However, the Easter egg is only available during the holiday season. 

Keep an eye out for videos on YouTube and posts by Elon Musk on X (Twitter) too. There’s always a chance new Easter eggs will emerge when the car company releases new models.

Plus, Tesla has a habit of introducing new ways to transform your vehicle at certain times of the year. For instance, there’s a “Santa” option at Christmas, which transforms your car’s image into a sleigh when you say “Ho Ho Ho” to the virtual assistant. 

Names for your Tesla: Inspiration for your car name

If you don’t want to base the name of your Tesla on an Easter egg, there are still plenty of other options. If you’re still struggling for ideas, here are some of our top picks for the coolest, most interesting, and funniest names for your Tesla.

Popular Tesla car names

Once you learn how to name your Tesla, the world is your oyster. You can choose any name you like to show off your personality. Of course, if you follow some of the subreddits and forums dedicated to Tesla owners, you’ll see a few common choices appearing quite frequently. 

Here are some popular choices among Tesla lovers:

• Juice
• Kilobyte
• Kit
• Neutron
• Nikola (as in Tesla)
• Boost
• Doge
• Edison
• Electron
• Energizer
• Surge
• Sparky
• Voltron
• Flux
• Zapp
• Watts
• Thunderbolt
• Zues
• Jolt
• Zippy

Funny Tesla names

Want a name that’s going to make you and your friends smile every time you sit behind the wheel? A funny name is a great choice, particularly if it references your unique sense of humor. 

Here are some great options we love:

• High Voltage
• Diva
• Grandpa
• The Chair
• Land Yacht
• Watt’s Up
• Juice Box
• Volt Vader
• Lightning McQueen
• Zero Emission Possible
• Fuse
• Caraoke Machine
• Electric Slide

Tesla car names by color

Choosing names for your Tesla based on color might not be super original, but it is a lot easier than trying to come up with the ideal name from scratch. 

Here are some of the best Tesla names to consider based on your car’s color. 

White cars

• Marshmallow
• Phantom
• Blizzard
• Ghost
• Ivory
• Storm Trooper
• Snow White
• Polar Express

Black cars

• Batmobile
• Blackjack
• Black Widow
• Knight Rider
• Oreo
• Panda
• Midnight
• Shadow
• Venom
• Vader
• Dark Knight

Red cars

• Blaze
• Inferno
• Red Bull
• Ruby
• Cherry
• Clifford
• Burn
• Rose
• Hot stuff
• Siren

Blue cars

• Gonzo
• Aqua
• Beast
• Blue Devil
• Blue Steel
• Blue Streak
• Sonic
• Smurf
• Mystique

Silver cars

• Pewter
• Iron Man
• Iron Maiden
• Magneto
• Katana
• Smokey
• Steely Dan
• Sterling
• Grey Wolf
• Silver Fox

Tesla names by model

Since most Tesla models feature either a letter or a number, choosing to name your car based on the model itself can be pretty simple. 

Here are some fun ways to rename your Tesla based on the model you choose:

Model 3

• Cubed
• Triple Threat
• Third Charm
• Trinity
• TriVolt
• Thrice
• Third Degree

Model Y 

• Yankee
• Yeti
• Yoda
• Yonder
• YinYang
• Yardstick

Model S

• Solo
• Serenity
• Sonic Bolt
• Sexy
• Storm
• Symphony
• Sirius
• Starlink

Model X

• X-man
• Xavier
• Xander
• Xena
• Xia
• X Marks the Spot

Gendered Tesla car names

Though a gender-neutral name is a lot more flexible if you don’t want to associate your car with a specific sex, you can always play around with gendered names. 

If you’re looking for a feminine name for your new Tesla model, consider:

• Delta
• Infinity
• Radiance
• Nova
• Yara
• Willow
• Jinx

If you’re looking for a masculine name, options include:

• Elon
• Han Solo
• Black Panther
• Hal
• Watson
• Nikolas
• Jarvis
• Thor
• Rambo

Other unique and quirky Tesla car names

So far, we’ve shared dozens of ideas if you’re wondering how to name your Tesla and you’re struggling to find inspiration. But we’re not done yet. Like we said, there’s really no limit to how unique you can get with your Tesla’s name. 

Here are some other fun ideas you can experiment with when you change your car’s name. 

Electricity-inspired names

• Nikola Tesla
• Charge
• Leaf
• Solar Flare
• EcoBeast
• Supernova
• Thunder 
• Sparky
• Wattson
• Volta

Speed names

• Lightning Bolt
• Gigawatt
• Power Surge
• Sonic Bolt
• Speed Machine
• Data Stream
• Bot Runner

Pop culture names

• Ahsoka
• Grogu
• X-wing
• TIE Fighter
• Death Star
• Millenium Falcon
• Wolverine
• Hawkeye
• Quicksilver
• Hulk
• KITT
• Herbie

Mythological names

• Valkyrie
• Hermes
• Nyx
• Odin
• Hades
• Poseidon 

Nerdy names

• Starlink
• Space Pilot
• Krypton
• Argon
• Radon
• Periodic

Space names

• Apollo
• Galaxy
• Orion
• Eclipse
• Astro
• Starman
• Star

Choosing names for your Tesla

There you have it, everything you need to know if you’re wondering how to name your Tesla, plus plenty of inspiration to help you showcase your car’s personality. Though giving your car a name might seem odd at first, it’s something countless drivers have done over the years.

For decades, car lovers have assigned unique names to their vehicles, whether it’s to show off their personality, or just have a little more fun with the driving experience. 

The good news is that the CEO of Tesla, Elon Musk, certainly doesn’t see choosing the perfect name for your car as anything unusual. His decision to implement the “name change” feature into Tesla cars means you can have more fun with the naming process than usual. 

Hopefully, the Tesla name ideas above have given you some of the inspiration you need, but don’t be afraid to experiment. The possibilities are endless, and you can change your name as many times as you like, whenever you choose. 

So go on, have a little fun and give your Tesla a new name. 

Fabrik: A branding agency for our times.

Now read these:
—Your guide to Tesla’s marketing strategy
—All the companies owned by Elon Musk
—The Tesla logo, its history and meaning