# Has Cecil never used crayons? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [May 8, 2003, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-cecil-never-used-crayons/173905 "2003-05-08T15:02:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-cecil-never-used-crayons/173905/1 "2003-05-08T15:02:49Z")
Regarding [Why do car makers come up with so many meaningless car names?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_189.html) What’s wrong with “Sienna”? Granted, if one catches fire it could lead to some jokes but the word itself is perfectly acceptable. As to the reasoning behind the names, I’ve heard from someone inside the industry that Detroit tends to follow a certain pattern when naming their vehicles. IIRC, the order of preference is: [ul][li]a vowel at the end.[_]three syllables.[_]beginning with a hard consonant.[/ul][/li] Notice that the examples given all have a vowel at the end but only Ciera has three syllables. ---
**Author:** ![gluteus\_maximus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f17d59/32.png) [@gluteus\_maximus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gluteus_maximus)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-cecil-never-used-crayons/173905/2 "2003-05-08T18:08:41Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Jeff Olsen \* > \*\*Regarding [Why do car makers come up with so many meaningless car names?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_189.html) > As to the reasoning behind the names, I’ve heard from someone inside the industry that Detroit tends to follow a certain pattern when naming their vehicles. IIRC, the order of preference is: [ul][li]a vowel at the end.[_]three syllables.beginning with a hard consonant.[/ul][/li] > Notice that the examples given all have a vowel at the end but only Ciera has three syllables. \*\* Cadillac: ends with a consonant/3 syllables/begins with a hard consonant Continental: ends with a consonant/4 syllables/begins with a hard consonant Mustang: ends with a consonant/2 syllables/begins with a soft consonant Thunderbird, Cougar, Corvette, … Where’s the pattern? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Mooster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8edcca/32.png) [@Mooster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mooster)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-cecil-never-used-crayons/173905/3 "2003-05-08T18:11:45Z")
Glut, the examples you give are all older “pre-focus group” type names. Such names would never be created today. ---
**Author:** ![Golden\_Eternity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d07c76/32.png) [@Golden\_Eternity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Golden_Eternity)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-cecil-never-used-crayons/173905/4 "2003-05-08T18:40:29Z")
> **[Definition of sienna | Dictionary.com](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/sienna)** > > Definition of sienna from Dictionary.com, the world’s leading online source for English definitions, pronunciations, word origins, idioms, Word of the Day, and more. Silly made up words for car names… Good job, Cecil. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-cecil-never-used-crayons/173905/5 "2003-05-08T18:48:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mooster \* > \*\*Glut, the examples you give are all older “pre-focus group” type names. Such names would never be created today. \*\* Well, they could be but it’s more likely preference would be given to something that does fit the pattern. The trend I noted didn’t begin until the '60s, most notably the Camero and the Torino. Of course not all names exactly follow this convention, the Toronado or the Malibu, for example. The trend doesn’t apply to just Detroit either, Toyota made the Corolla and the Corona. ---
**Author:** ![Golden\_Eternity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d07c76/32.png) [@Golden\_Eternity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Golden_Eternity)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-cecil-never-used-crayons/173905/6 "2003-05-08T18:50:44Z")
[http://www.babynamesgame.com/whatshot1-20-01.html](http://www.babynamesgame.com/whatshot1-20-01.html) [http://www.babynamesearch.com/ng-500.shtml](http://www.babynamesearch.com/ng-500.shtml) [http://www.kabalarians.com/female/ciera.htm](http://www.kabalarians.com/female/ciera.htm) > **[PrincessPrints.com is for sale | HugeDomains](https://www.hugedomains.com/domain_profile.cfm?d=princessprints&e=com)** > > Choose a memorable domain name. Professional, friendly customer support. Start using your domain right away. > **[The latest from the StarTribune](https://www.startribune.com/)** > > Follow the StarTribune for the news, photos and videos from the Twin Cities and beyond. [http://www.google.com/search?q=baby+names+ciera](http://www.google.com/search?q=baby+names+ciera) But looks like he was right about ‘Ciera’… who ever heard of that? ---
**Author:** ![gluteus\_maximus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f17d59/32.png) [@gluteus\_maximus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gluteus_maximus)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-cecil-never-used-crayons/173905/7 "2003-05-08T19:16:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mooster \* > \*\*Glut, the examples you give are all older “pre-focus group” type names. Such names would never be created today. \*\* Dear “Moo”, I prefer “Glutes” or “Gluteus Maximus”. I think the whole car-naming formula is just part of the conspiracy to make Spanish the official language of the United States. The main co-conspirators being, of course; the Republic of Mexico, the California Fruit-Growers’ Association, Taco Bell, the Remember the Alamo Belonged to Us Mexicans in the First Place Society, and the Ghost of Pancho Villa. Now, settle back into your _reech, Coreentheean Lea-tha_, and explain to me why there aren’t any cars named “Tequila”, or “Chihuahua”, or “Quixote”, or “Carmen Gila”. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-cecil-never-used-crayons/173905/8 "2003-05-08T19:22:45Z")
Sienna is a real word, but somehow, I doubt the automakers were naming their car for clay. Even red/brown clay. May not be made up, but it generally goes along with the theory that the name is just supposed to be euphonious and not meaningful. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Salhany](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aca169/32.png) [@Steve\_Salhany](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Salhany)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-cecil-never-used-crayons/173905/9 "2003-05-13T13:13:04Z")
Well, I drive a car built in 1999. It’s an Oldmobile Intrigue, hardly fitting the 3 syllables/hard initial consanant/ending in a vowel theme. And one of the most successful recent automobiles has been the Cadillac Escalade, a clearly made up name not following the above rules. ---
**Author:** ![fgarriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c6cbf5/32.png) [@fgarriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fgarriel)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-cecil-never-used-crayons/173905/10 "2003-05-13T14:19:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Steve Salhany \* > \*\*Well, I drive a car built in 1999. It’s an Oldmobile Intrigue, hardly fitting the 3 syllables/hard initial consanant/ending in a vowel theme. \*\* The Intrigue was discontinued… _the plot thickens._ ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-cecil-never-used-crayons/173905/11 "2003-05-13T14:32:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Steve Salhany \* > \*\*And one of the most successful recent automobiles has been the Cadillac Escalade, a clearly made up name not following the above rules. \*\* It does fit the first two, I think there are more of those names than anything else. I wish I could find a cite for that automotive insider, I heard all that in a radio interview. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-cecil-never-used-crayons/173905/12 "2003-05-16T17:27:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Marley23 \* > \*\*Sienna is a real word, but somehow, I doubt the automakers were naming their car for clay. Even red/brown clay. \*\* If auto makers can proudly advertise their cars as being “Like a rock,” why not clay? ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-cecil-never-used-crayons/173905/13 "2003-05-24T18:36:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Golden\_Eternity \* > \*\*[http://www.babynamesgame.com/whatshot1-20-01.html](http://www.babynamesgame.com/whatshot1-20-01.html) > [http://www.babynamesearch.com/ng-500.shtml](http://www.babynamesearch.com/ng-500.shtml) > [http://www.kabalarians.com/female/ciera.htm](http://www.kabalarians.com/female/ciera.htm) > [http://www.princessprints.com/babynames/babygirlsc.htm](http://www.princessprints.com/babynames/babygirlsc.htm) > [http://www.startribune.com/stories/1017/2826532.html](http://www.startribune.com/stories/1017/2826532.html) > [http://www.google.com/search?q=baby+names+ciera](http://www.google.com/search?q=baby+names+ciera) > > But looks like he was right about ‘Ciera’… who ever heard of that? \*\* You got any web search results from 21 years ago, when the article was written? I didn’t think so.