The original proposed name for the character was Mr. White. Names of vegetables were next, including Mr. Cauliflower, ending with the choice of Mr. Bean.
Due to the focus on visual jokes as opposed to verbal humor, the show was able to connect to a world-wide audience. In East-Asia, where it is not uncommon for people to also adopt a Western-sounding first name, the show was so popular that many boys adopted the name 'Rowan' in honor of Mr. Bean's performer, Rowan Atkinson.
Based on a character originally developed by Rowan Atkinson while he was studying for his Master's degree in electrical engineering at Oxford University.
The blue vehicle (whose occupant's identity is never revealed) that Mr. Bean encounters and causes to get into accidents in some episodes is a light blue Reliant Regal Supervan III. This model has a history of being highly unstable and easily tipped due to it only having three wheels. It is often incorrectly referred to as a "Reliant Robin," which is the car equivalent to the Regal.
Rowan Atkinson has a stutter which requires him to stress very carefully when saying words beginning with "B." This explains the odd way that Bean pronounces his own name.