I don’t know what the last name is, but why not try to get the initials to spell out V.A.N. or find a simple V name and for the middle select the simple name like ‘Andy’ for a boy or ‘Ann/e’ for a girl.
Writing from Nashville, the home of the illustrious Vanderbilt University. How about the middle name of Vanderbilt for a boy and Vandy for a girl. Then the child could always lie and say they were named after a respected institution of higher learning.
I love the idea of Van as a middle name, especially if the last name makes it sound prestigious – Amy Van Wagner, for one example. Wouldn’t work as well if the last name doesn’t fit.
for a boy Van or Vance. For a girl Vanessa…but how about incorporating VW in the name such as Vance William or Victoria Wendy…think of all the possibilities and said baby may never know the irony of the initials
Since they traveled through Canada how about naming the child after a town in Canada. I can think of a few…
Girl: Delta (BC), Victoria (BC), Regina (SK)
Boy: Brandon (MB), Preston (ON), Raymond (AB)
My cousin’s fiance is named Van, so for a guy’s name it doesn’t seem weird to me.
I see someone already suggested the name that was my first thought: Devan
I used to know someone named Delevan. Could make a great middle name. Sort of “of the van”. Or a first name…
It is obvious that many of those in the discussion do not get it… it is not about the cross country trip, it is all about THE VAN! If you have ever owned one, you know- life revolves around THE VAN. Our two boys (ages 8 and 5) would take great pleasure in explaining that their name was related to our '84- if only we had thought of it! Good Luck!
Does no one remember when both Van Johnson and Van Heflin were big movie stars? My maiden name was a “Van” name…very Dutch… and both my parents were called “Van” by many friends and neighbors. Van for either the first or middle name if a boy…Vanessa for the first or middle name if a girl. I don’t think you can go wrong…I love the name!
My favorite is Ivan but it should be spelled iVan as in iPod. Make sure it isn’t already copywrited and, if not, you should get it done yourself in little iVan’s name. It just might pay his way through college and then some!
The name “Vannah” seems to hit a soft spot in my heart, for a girl name.
For a guy, maybe “Vann” might be a proper life sentence: masculine, and to the theme. 
I like the name “Nevada” It could be either male or female and has the letters of van in it. They might have gone through Nevada on their trip as well.
My cousins middle name is Van-Douglas (both Grandfathers) Maybe Van-Curtis?
My longtime friend is named Vanita, and goes by “Van” for short. It’s a somewhat old-fashioned girl’s name, but could be nice depending on your last name.
Ok, I think that the baby’s middle name should be Westphalia, a beautiful sounding name to me. If the kid doesn’t like that name, well, you’re not really required to tell people your middle name. If the kid loves the name, then great. Alternitively, if you’re a “Dracula” fan, and it’s a boy, you might consider Van Helsing. Also, there is the option of Ophelia (sounds like Westphalia), or you could give the kid a first name starting with “V” and a middle name starting in “W” (since your car’s a Volkswagon)
How about just giving the kid the initials V.W.? You could name a girl Virginia Wendy or a boy Victor Wallace (plus the last name).
How about Vannette (a variation of Vanetta) for a girl?
Regardless of the actual names you pick, you MUST create that link. In his book (Maybe, Maybe Not), Robert Fulghum (All I Really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten) comments on the importance of the circumstances of one’s conception…no joke…really. AND…I found the simple candidness of your phone call *charmingly, warmingly refreshing as you raised the conversation on the generation of new life far above the usual tabloid snickers and giggles. Thank you, and may the best of life come your way as you navigate the thickets and trenches that lie ahead.
I think this is a terrific idea. Nothing wrong with jump starting your child’s character this way. My parents had no reason for picking my name and that always pissed me off. Since VW is German, I looked up translation for VAN and it is “Lieferwagen” - sow how about Lief? I think that is a nice name for a boy and it is not as direct as VAN. Or, you could pick a first name that starts with V and middle name that starts with W and his initials would be VW - another less obvious reference. (I agree with below - Savannah for a girl - gorgeous city.
Estevan or Istvan for a boy;
for a girl Lavender, Vandana or Alvanie but I seem to recall thinking at the time that you might consider naming her for the area you were touring Becky for Quebec or Bertha for Alberta - OK 'twould require some tinkering… What kind of van was it? Winne could be a girl’s name…
I do like the suggestion Evangeline or Evangelina for a girl