First buses I saw with names were the Devon General open toppers, this would probably have been in the late fifties when my Mother, Sister and I used to go on holiday to the Waterside caravan park just outside of Paignton.
I remember them, too, I think they were named after naval heroes. Last night, I went home on a Johnsons X20 Birmingham-to-Stratford bus and its name was Romeo.
Very apt.
.....and last night it was Juliet - a splendid ride!
http://nxbus.co.uk/west-midlands/news/mp-takes-her-seaton-her-very-own-bus-/