From Lego to Samsung: 10 Famous Companies with Hidden Meanings Behind Their Names
Discover the fascinating stories and hidden meanings behind the names of 10 globally recognized companies, revealing the inspiration that shaped their iconic brands.
Brief tales about how some of the world's most famous companies chose their names.
While many know how Steve Jobs came up with the name Apple, the origins of many other major companies' names remain largely unknown. Here are 10 brands whose names carry hidden meanings and unique stories.
Skype
Launched in 2003, Skype's name is derived from "Sky peer-to-peer," reflecting its original purpose as a wireless communication service connecting people through the airwaves. The name was briefly changed to "Skyper," but since Skyper.com was already taken, the final "r" was dropped, resulting in the now-famous name.
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LEGO
Founded in 1934 by Danish carpenter Ole Kirk Christiansen, LEGO initially produced ladders, ironing boards, stools, and wooden toys. The name comes from the Danish phrase "Leg Godt," meaning "play well." Interestingly, in Latin, "Lego" means "I learn" or "I assemble," perfectly encapsulating the brand's essence.
Amazon
Founded in 1994, Amazon was named after the world's largest river by volume. This name aligned well with its original slogan, "Earth's Largest Bookstore." Two additional factors influenced this choice: the letter "A" at the beginning helped secure a top spot in alphabetical search listings, and the presence of "A" and "Z" symbolized the company's vast range of products—from A to Z.
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Starbucks
Established in 1971, Starbucks was named after Starbuck, the first mate in Herman Melville's novel "Moby Dick." The logo features a stylized siren—a half-woman, half-fish figure known for luring sailors with her enchanting appearance and voice. While the connection is more symbolic than profound, the founders were inspired by Starbuck's love of coffee in the story and found the "St" sound strong and memorable for a brand.
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Samsung
In 1938, Lee Byung-chul named his company Samsung, which means "Three Stars" in Korean. He wished for his company to endure forever like stars in the sky. In Korean culture, the number three symbolizes greatness, power, and brilliance. Some also believe the "three stars" represent the founder's three sons.
IKEA
Founded in 1943 by 17-year-old entrepreneur Ingvar Kamprad, IKEA's name is an acronym combining his initials (I.K.) with the first letters of Elmtaryd farm and Agunnaryd village in Sweden where he grew up.
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The internet giant Google got its name from a misspelling of the mathematical term "Googol," which represents the number 1 followed by 100 zeros. Founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin chose this name because the domain was available and it represented the vast amount of information the search engine could provide.
Page later noted, "Turns out most people misspell many things," which inspired Google to correct spelling errors during searches to deliver accurate results.
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Gap
The first Gap retail store opened in 1969 in San Francisco, California, primarily selling Levi’s jeans and vinyl records aimed at teenagers. The name "Gap" refers to the generation gap between young people and their parents, highlighting the brand's focus on youth culture.
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Sony
Founded in 1946, the name "Sony" combines the Latin word "sonus" meaning "sound" and the American slang "sonny-boy," a term used in Japan to describe a young man with a free spirit and a passion for innovation.
Jack Dorsey created Twitter as a real-time online messaging service. The working name was initially "Status," but Dorsey wanted a name that evoked the constant buzzing of short messages. After brainstorming, the company settled on "Twitter," derived from the English verb "to tweet," meaning to chirp or chatter. This inspired the bird logo and the platform’s lively character.
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*Note: Meta Platforms Inc. and its social networks Facebook and Instagram are restricted in certain regions.
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