A new survey of 1,000 UK adults who own robot vacuums has found a variety of popular names for the gadgets – as well as the reasons why people give them a nickname
More than half of robot vacuum owners have affectionately named their devices as Mr Cleaner or Tony Shark, according to a survey of 1,000 UK adults. Variations of the name Robert, including Bob, Rob and Robbie, were also popular choices. Eight out of 10 individuals who have named their ‘pet’ vacuum believe it makes the device more enjoyable to use.
But it’s not only robot vacuums Brits are naming, other electronic devices too have been given pet names by their owners too. The study revealed that 18% of people have named their laptop, while 13% have bestowed a nickname upon their coffee machine.
The research was commissioned for the launch of the Shark PowerDetect device and gathered opinions from various countries including the UK, Germany, Spain, France, the UAE, Norway, Italy and Poland.
Dr Guy Laban, a research associate at the Department of Computer Science & Technology of the University of Cambridge, who has published research on building human-robot relationships, commented on the findings.
Dr Laban said: “In my research, I explore how interactions between humans and robots can take on emotional significance and form affective meanings.”
“We have found that, beyond making our lives easier, robots can also enhance our moods; people feel more comforted and less lonely in the presence of social robots,” he added.
Dr Laban wasn’t surprised that people name their vacuums, stating: “this reinforces and personifies the emotional connection that forms when robots, like robot vacuums, operate in social spaces or respond to social signals.”
He further added that: “I believe this trend will become increasingly common, and we might see more people embracing robotic companions in their homes in the coming years.”
As well as making the cleaning more enjoyable, the study revealed a whopping 77% of participants reckon giving their device a name adds a touch of humour to daily tasks.
The research found that it is predominantly younger adults under the age of 35 who are more likely to give their gadgets a name compared to older individuals. They also admitted that naming their devices makes the technology feel more personal.
James Kitto, the UK and Ireland managing director at Shark, commented: ““Our latest robots are very quickly becoming part of our consumers families as well.
“We want to help strengthen these connections and integrate further into consumers everyday lives. It will be interesting to follow along and see if Robert, Bob, Robbie remain the most popular names in 2026.”
