Toyota names of models – what they mean

From flowers to Greek mythology, Toyota model names have drawn inspiration from some interesting places. We take a look at the meanings behind 10 iconic Toyota names of models, and outline how each one fits the character of the cars that they have graced.

Toyota names of models explained – Yaris meaning

Yaris is an amalgamation of words from Greek mythology and German. In Greek mythology, ‘Charis’ was a symbol of beauty and elegance. Toyota swapped the ‘Ch’  with ‘Ya’ – German for ‘yes’ – to symbolise the perceived reaction of European markets to the car’s styling.

Toyota names of models explained – Supra meaning

Supra is a Latin word meaning ‘above’. The name is apt for a car that was able to punch well above its weight in magazine road tests – it famously defeated a Porsche 911 Turbo and an Aston Martin DB7.

Toyota names of models explained – Celica meaning

A heavenly smooth drivetrain and linear power delivery were always staples of the Celica. Fitting, then, that the name is Spanish for ‘celestial’.

Auris meaning

Auris takes inspiration from the Latin noun ‘aurum’, meaning gold. It is also inspired by the English word ‘aura’ – the two combine in a car with a ‘golden aura’. The concept version of the car – unveiled at the 2006 Paris Motor Show – was finished in a striking gold hue symbolic of the global importance of the model in terms of sales.

Corolla meaning

A ‘corolla‘ is the ring of petals around the central part of a flower. The name was intended to evoke the image of a beautifully styled, eye-catching small family car.

Prius meaning

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 prior to it.

Corona meaning

The Corona was the first Toyota model to be exported to the UK, way back in 1965. Its name is routed in astronomy; the corona is the ring of pearly light around the sun. The name was a reflection of the robustness of the car – like a light at the end of the tunnel for motorists saddled with less reliable European cars at the time.

Camry meaning

What is the meaning of Camry? Camry comes from the Japanese word ‘kanmuri’, meaning ‘crown’. It’s an apt name for the car, which as the best-selling car in America for 12 years straight, really can claim to be a jewel in Toyota’s crown.

Avensis meaning

What is the meaning of Avensis? Avensis is derived from the French verb ‘advancer’, meaning ‘to advance’ and is indicative of the step forward that the model represented over its predecessor – the Carina E – when it arrived in 1997.

Previa meaning

The name ‘Previa’ is derived from the Italian word ‘previdenza’, which means providence or foresight. The Previa was the world’s first MPV with a mid-mounted engine to maximize cabin space – no other manufacturer before Toyota had had the ‘foresight’ to fit a mid-mounted engine into an MPV.

Where next?

8 of the coolest Toyota cars ever made according to Top Gear
7 great Toyota special editions
5 Toyota Nurburgring triumphs
5 of the wackiest Toyotas ever produced
15 Yaris highlights from 15 years at the top
8 Toyota concepts that could be a shape of things to come