Car companies tend to stick to consistent themes with their naming conventions. Sometimes it’s a number designation like BMW’s 3 Series, a letter designation like the Mercedes-Benz S Class, or a combination like the Audi A6.  

In other cases, car companies use actual words. Usually, the terms are selected to project an image. Cars like the Dodge Charger and Ford Mustang were named to project power and performance. Other cars have names that suggest luxury or sophistication, like the Lincoln Continental, Buick Park Avenue, or Toyota Crown. 

Some car names are a bit weird or unusual, like the Volkswagen Jetta or Passat, which are two types of winds. However, of all the names used by car manufacturers since the beginning of the automobile age, only Rolls-Royce has named its cars after ghosts or supernatural entities.     

1. Rolls-Royce Ghost

The Rolls-Royce Ghost is a full-sized luxury car named after the original 1906 Silver Ghost. Launched in 2011, it occupies the “entry-level” spot of the Rolls-Royce lineup, but with a base price of $442,700, you could hardly call it cheap. There’s nothing cheap about the luxurious appointments either, which are on par with the automaker’s more expensive cars. It also offers first-class performance with a 0 to 60 mph time of 4.2 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph.  

2. Rolls-Royce Phantom

First introduced in 1925, the Phantom was Rolls-Royce’s replacement for the original Silver Ghost, according to Gauk Motors. Today it’s the company’s flagship model, and with a few modest option boxes checked, it will set you back a cool half-million dollars.

However, that’s a small price to pay if you have the means and want the signature Roller in your driveway. It’s the ultimate luxury car. Silent and fast, it gets up to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds and glides along, reaching a top speed of 155 mph.    

3. Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph

A seraph is an angelic being, and that describes the Silver Seraph to a tee. Produced from 1999 to 2002, it was the last of the old-school Rolls-Royce cars before BMW bought the company. Its elegant, almost dainty styling is deceptive, hiding the car’s mass, which rivals a Chevrolet Suburban in gross tonnage.    

Despite the heft, it still manages a 7.0 second 0 to 60 mph time and has a near-perfect 50/50 weight distribution. However, in keeping with the regal luxury nature of the car, it’s virtually silent. 

4. Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit/Silver Spur 

When most people imagine a Rolls Royce, they picture something like the Silver Spirit. Built from 1980 until 1997, it replaced the Shadow while carrying on the traditions of the 6.75-liter V8 engine and exceptional quality and refinement. The car came standard with, well, everything, including a Burl walnut trim. However, the buyer could specify the paint color and the color of the Wilton carpets and Connolly leather hide.      

5. Rolls-Royce Spectre

One of the hallmarks of Rolls Royce is how it transports people in silence, something electric cars are also known for. Planned for 2024, the Spectre is the company’s first electric Rolls-Royce. However, you’d be hard-pressed to tell the difference between a powertrain that runs on electricity as opposed to a silky smooth engine that burns hydrocarbons.

Based on the Rolls-Royce Wraith, the Spectre coupe has suicide doors and an estimated range of 310 miles. Despite the massive grille, the car has a drag coefficient of 0.25 thanks to extensive wind tunnel testing and a redesigned and streamlined Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament.    

6. Rolls-Royce Wraith 

The modern Rolls-Royce Wraith is a full-sized grand touring coupe that shares its name with the couple from 1938. Like the Spectre, it’s a pillar-less design with suicide doors and offers impressive performance. The 642-horsepower twin-turbocharged V12 helps the car hit 60 mph in 4.3 seconds and achieve a top speed of 155 mph. Beautifully styled, what sets it apart from other grand touring cars are Rolls-Royce’s bespoke luxury and level of exclusivity.

Here’s why Rolls-Royce picks supernatural names

If you look at all of the names on this list of Rolls-Royce vehicles, you’ll notice a pattern. Every single one is a supernatural being that is an apparition, something ghost-like but remarkable. According to Autoweek, the ghost name dates back to the original 1906 Silver Ghost. Originally a nickname given to one specific car painted silver, the name caught on with the public because, unlike many early cars, which were noisy and vibrated, the Rolls-Royces seemed to glide by silently like a ghost. 

Since then, Rolls-Royce has capitalized on its cars’ smooth, stately, and silent nature, continuing to use ghost and spirit names to stand out among other premium luxury cars.