10 World-Famous Brand Names and Their Fascinating Histories

Ever wondered where your favorite shoe or smartphone got its name? We use brand names daily but rarely think about their origins. Some of the most iconic brand names have stories that are surprisingly simple yet fascinating. Each brand carries a story that resonates with consumers worldwide, adding to their lasting legacy and influence. Let’s explore the histories behind ten world-famous brand names.

Nike

Nike was founded in 1964 by Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight as Blue Ribbon Sports. Initially, the company was a distributor for the Japanese shoe maker Onitsuka Tiger. In 1971, they rebranded to Nike, inspired by the Greek goddess of victory. This change marked their transition from a distributor to a manufacturer, setting them on the path to becoming one of the world’s leading brands.

Interestingly, Phil Knight wanted to name the company ‘Dimension 6,’ but Nike was the preferred choice. The famous swoosh logo was designed by Carolyn Davidson, a student at Portland State University, for just $35. Later, the company gave her Nike products worth over $640,000.

The slogan “Just do it” wasn’t created by someone within the company. It was inspired by the last words of Gary Gilmore, a notorious killer from the 70s. Dan Wieden of the ad agency Wieden + Kennedy came up with the line for an 80s campaign.

Google

Larry Page and Sergey Brin founded Google in 1998. The name comes from “googol,” a mathematical term for the number 1 followed by 100 zeros, reflecting their mission to organize vast amounts of information on the internet. Google quickly evolved from a search engine into a major technology company, influencing how people access information globally.

Fun fact: The original name choice for the company was ‘BackRub.’ Until early 2000, Google was text-based. Google Images was created after a surge in searches for a picture of Jennifer Lopez in a revealing dress at the 2000 Grammy Awards.

In 1997, Google tried to sell its search engine to Yahoo for $1 million, but Yahoo declined. Google also owns many domains that are common misspellings of its name, so even if you type it wrong, you’ll still reach the search engine.

Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola was invented in 1886 by pharmacist John Pemberton. The name comes from its original ingredients: coca leaves and kola nuts. Pemberton’s bookkeeper, Frank Robinson, coined the name and designed the iconic flowing script logo still used today.

Initially, the drink was sold as a tonic for common ailments, containing cocaine from coca leaves and caffeine from kola nuts. Businessman Asa Griggs Candler bought Coca-Cola from Pemberton in 1888 for $550 and made it popular through heavy marketing.

Today, the red and white logo is recognized by 94 percent of the world’s population. Coca-Cola’s name is the second most understood term in the world after ‘okay.’

Apple

Apple was founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne in 1976. The name was a tribute to Jobs’ time working on an apple orchard and reflected his vision of simplicity and approachability. Apple has grown from a garage startup to one of the most valuable companies globally. The company’s first logo included a picture of Isaac Newton.

Wayne left the company just 12 days after it started, selling his 10 percent share for $800 and an additional payout of $1500. The iPod, one of Apple’s most successful products, was initially offered to Real Networks and Philips, both of which declined.

McDonald’s

McDonald’s was established in 1940 by Richard and Maurice McDonald as McDonald’s Famous Barbecue. In 1948, they rebranded to simply McDonald’s, focusing on a simple menu of burgers, fries, and shakes. Ray Kroc later bought the franchise rights and transformed McDonald’s into a global fast-food giant.

The famous McDonald’s logo originally had only a single arch. In 1971, Kroc trademarked the McDonald’s name and changed the logo to what it is today. A dozen McDonald’s stores in the US still feature the single arch logo.

Amazon

Jeff Bezos founded Amazon in 1994 as an online bookstore. He chose the name Amazon because it represented something vast and exotic, like the Amazon River, symbolizing the company’s ambition to become the largest online retailer.

Bezos had considered other names like ‘Cadabra’ (short for Abracadabra) and ‘Relentless’ before settling on Amazon.

Microsoft

Microsoft was founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1975. The name is a combination of “microcomputer” and “software,” reflecting the company’s focus on developing software for personal computers. Initially known as Micro-Soft, the hyphen was soon dropped.

Microsoft signed its first major deal in 1980 with IBM for their computer’s operating system, a deal worth $50,000. Gates became the youngest billionaire in the world at 31 in 1987.

Disney

Disney was established by Walt Disney and Roy O. Disney in 1923 as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio. In 1926, the name was changed to Walt Disney Studio, and later simplified to The Walt Disney Company to reflect its expansion into theme parks, television, and global entertainment.

Mickey Mouse was created by Ubbe Eert “Ub” Iwerks, a friend of Disney, but Walt Disney was the first voice of Mickey Mouse. The first animated feature film released by Disney was ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ in 1937.

Toyota

Toyota started as a division of Toyoda Automatic Loom Works, founded by Kiichiro Toyoda in 1937. The company was named after its founder, but Toyota was chosen for easier pronunciation and because it took eight brush strokes to write in Japanese, considered auspicious in its culture.

Sony

Sony was established in 1946 by Masaru Ibuka and Akio Morita as Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo (Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Corporation). In 1958, the company rebranded as Sony, a name derived from the Latin word “sonus” (sound) and “sonny,” a slang term for young boys in Japan.

Sony’s ‘Walkman’ revolutionized how people listen to music, despite initial disinterest from company executives. The product was sold for 31 years. In 1994, Sony released the PlayStation, which became one of the most successful gaming consoles of all time. Interestingly, Sony had an agreement with Nintendo to manufacture an add-on device for playing CDs, but the deal fell through due to licensing issues.