CAR and CDR are also good names because they are part of the Lisp tradition. Also due to this tradition, they have a clear meaning in the context of Lisp. If

CAR and CDR are also good names because they are part of the Lisp tradition. Also due to this tradition, they have a clear meaning in the context of Lisp. If the "new Lisp" keeps conses (and some may argue that if it doesn't, it shouldn't really fall under "a Lisp"...), perhaps it should also keep these names.