Learn How 6 Iconic Brands Got Their Names
There’s a reason we (and so many others) harp on the importance of a quality brand name. In the beginning, a good name can be what helps a small business scale. An easy to remember, familiar and fun to say moniker helps a business stick in the mind of customers.
That being said, down the road, when a brand is successfully established, customers hardly question the brand name. By this point, it’s all about what it represents - the business’s product, service or vision. This evolution is the epitome of successful brand building.
With that in mind, do you know the stories behind these six brand names? We can say with all honesty that some came as an absolute shock to us:
Apple: According to legend (and some fact), Steve Jobs liked the name because he liked to eat apples. Well, it’s not quite that simple. He also found the word to be simple and intimidating. It was also helpful that Apple comes before Atari in the phonebook.
Chobani: Unknown to many, the brand name for this globally recognized yogurt brand translates to “shepherd” in Turkish, intended to represent the hardworking, kindhearted spirit of the mountain farmer.
Adobe: An ideal example of a truly “random” brand name, Adobe is inspired by a creek that backed up to founder John Warnock’s house. The guy loved to run around the creek so much, he named his brand after it.
Slack: This workplace instant messaging platform was thought by many to be inspired by the project management related term “slack,” referring to the "amount of time a delay could take from a task without causing subsequent problems.” Many were shocked to hear it’s actually an acronym, standing for Searchable Log of All Conversation and Knowledge.
WD40: This tried and true staple likely adored by your parents or grandparents has a more interesting brand story than we should have thought. After 39 unsuccessful lab tests, the renowned “water-dispensing” spray was created. A-ha!
eBay: Originally, the founders wanted to go by Echo Bay but the domain was taken (a familiar story?) They instead shortened it to eBay. Were we the only ones who thought the “e” represented the internet? Mind=blown.
Learning about others' brand naming journey can help inspire your own. When you keep your mind open to it, inspiration can come from all sorts of places. It may even be in your line of sight at this very moment.
