Uncovering the Surprising Stories Behind 10 Iconic Brand Names

swift Summary:

• Pez: Originally a peppermint candy for smokers, invented in Austria in 1927 by Eduard haas III. Named after the German word “pfefferminz,” combining “P,” “E,” and “Z.”
• WD-40: Created in 1953 as a corrosion-preventing formula. The name stands for “Water Displacement, 40th formula.”
• Etsy: Founder Rob kalin wanted a nonsense word inspired by Fellini’s Italian phrase “etsi,” meaning “oh yes” or “and if.”
• Virgin: Named by Richard Branson’s team as they were all business “virgins.” One rejected name was “Slipped Disc.”
• Delta Airlines: Named after the Mississippi Delta region where it began as a crop-dusting service.
• Pepsi: Originally called “Brad’s Drink” (1893), renamed from the term dyspepsia to suggest health benefits, later becoming Pepsi Cola.
• target: Created in 1962 without an initial name; named based on its utility being the perfect shopping destination or “target.”
• IKEA: Swedish founder Ingvar Kamprad used initials from his name and hometown Elmtaryd & Agunnaryd for the brand.
• Google: originally called BackRub; inspired by mathematical term ‘googol’ but misspelled into what is now Google during domain registration.
• LEGO: Danish words “leg godt” meaning “play well”; created by Ole Kirk Kristiansen in 1932.

Link to full article wiht origin details of other brands like Twitter here Read more

Indian Opinion Analysis:

Brand names often evolve alongside their creators’ vision and ingenuity, reflecting cultural context or personal ideals. This exploration of global brands highlights how simplicity and creativity can establish iconic companies-and is relevant to India’s burgeoning entrepreneurial ecosystem.

For Indian startups aiming for global markets, memorable naming can offer significant strategic value. Companies like Ola and Zomato already demonstrate this approach successfully-positioning themselves with concise but impactful names easily understood across languages. On an aspirational level, stories such as Google’s accidental spelling or Virgin’s humor-driven choice underscore flexibility and adaptability behind naming processes.As India emerges as one of the world’s top startup hubs under initiatives like startup India, branding lessons learned here are particularly valuable amidst fierce competition globally among tech firms advancing creatively across e-commerce digital trends/ domains locally slowing helps rapid adaptation neutral more penetration trending ideas..