I think most transformers names have sucked over time.
Prowl, just happens to be given a police car alt mode
hoist just happens to be given a tow truck alt mode,
inferno a fire truck,
bumblebee, a small yellow car
ratchet, the medic kind of makes sense that he'd be given an ambulance.
grapple, - grappling hook, a crane with a hook.
mixmaster - cement mixer
hook a crane
optimus prime, a prime mover
soundwave, the only recognisable piece of sound equipment from the era,

the names make sense in as much as they relate in some way to the alt mode but these 'earthen' words surely wouldn't have associated to their names/alt modes on cybertron. it'd be like every human working as a builder being called bob.

there are others that stand out like megatron, jazz, hound, starscream but they are the minority I think.

I've just accepted that in general transformers names are cornily related to their colour, alt mode or function.


Oh and I really dig the transformation on Orion Pax/Kup from the titans return line. the way the legs transform in particular.