10 world-famous brand names and their fascinating history

Have you ever wondered where your shoe or smartphone got its name from? We use brand names all the time, but rarely think about their origins. Some of the most well-known brand names have stories that are bizarrely simple yet fascinating. Every brand has a story that resonates with consumers worldwide and contributes to its enduring legacy and influence. Check out ten world-famous names and learn how they got their brands.

Founded in 1964 by Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight as Blue Ribbon Sports, the company initially operated as a distributor for Japanese shoe manufacturer Onitsuka Tiger. In 1971, the brand changed its name to Nike, inspired by the Greek goddess of victory. This marked the transition from distributor to manufacturer and propelled Nike into one of the world’s leading brands.

Interestingly, Knight wanted to change the company name to “Dimension 6.” However, of the two names, Nike was the preferred choice. The famous Nike logo, the swoosh, was designed by Carolyn Davidson, a student at Portland State University, for just $35. However, the company later gifted her over $640,000 worth of Nike products.

Nike’s slogan, however, was not invented by anyone within the company. The popular phrase “Just do it” is actually inspired by the last words of notorious ’70s hitman Gary Gilmore: “Let’s do it.” Legendary advertising executive Dan Wieden of Nike’s long-running advertising agency Wieden + Kennedy came up with the slogan for a campaign in the ’80s. In his 2009 documentary “Art & Copy,” he told filmmaker Doug Pray, “I like the ‘do it’ part of it.”

Larry Page and Sergey Brin founded Google in 1998. The name comes from “googol,” a mathematical term that represents the number 1 followed by 100 zeros. The name was intended to reflect their mission to organize the spectacular amounts of information available on the Internet. Google quickly became a verb, transforming from a search engine into a major technology company that influences how people access information around the world.

Interesting fact: The company’s original name was actually “BackRub” and not Google.

Until early 2000, Google was only text-based. It is interesting to see how Google Images came about. In February 2000, Hollywood actress Jennifer Lopez wore a revealing jungle-print dress by Versace to the Grammy Awards. Google said that in one night, it became the search engine’s most popular search of all time. It was the unprecedented demand for images that prompted Google to create a dedicated tab for images.

In 1997, Google wanted to sell its search engine to Yahoo for a million dollars. Fortunately for Google, Yahoo refused.

Interestingly, Google owns many domains that misspell “Google,” so if you make a spelling mistake when typing the Google name, you will still be redirected to the search engine.

Invented in 1886 by pharmacist John Pemberton, Coca-Cola takes its name from its original ingredients: coca leaves and kola nuts. The name was coined by Pemberton’s accountant Frank Robinson, who also designed the iconic logo in flowing script that is still used today. The name was written in Spencer script, which was popular with accountants of the time.

The drink was originally sold as a tonic for general ailments because it contained cocaine from the coca leaves and caffeine from the kola nuts.

Businessman Asa Griggs Candler bought Coca-Cola from Pemberton for $550 in 1888. It was Candler who popularized the drink and made it available to the masses. Griggs marketed the brand massively and made millions in sales.

Today, 94 percent of the world’s population recognizes the red and white logo. Coca-Cola also stated that its name is the second most understood word in the world after “okay.”

Founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne, Apple was named as a tribute to Jobs’ time spent in an apple orchard. The name also reflected Jobs’ vision of simplicity and accessibility. Apple Inc. has since grown from a garage startup into one of the most valuable companies in the world. The company’s first logo featured an image of Isaac Newton.

Wayne left the company just 12 days after its founding, selling his 10 percent stake for $800 along with an additional $1,500 payout.

Apple had incredible success with the iPod. But that almost didn’t happen. The inventor of the iPod, Tony Fadell, had offered the product to Real Networks and Philips before Apple. Both companies rejected the product.

Founded in 1940 by Richard and Maurice McDonald, the fast-food chain was originally called McDonald’s Famous Barbecue. In 1948, the name was changed to McDonald’s, reflecting the shift to a simple offering of burgers, fries and shakes. Ray Kroc, who later bought the franchise rights, transformed McDonald’s into a global fast-food giant and an iconic brand.

The famous McDonald’s arch originally consisted of just a single arch. It was not until 1971 that Kroc trademarked the name McDonald’s and changed the logo to what it is today. Around a dozen McDonald’s branches in the USA still use the logo with the single arch.

Amazon was founded in 1994 by Jeff Bezos and originally started as an online bookstore. Bezos chose the name Amazon because it represented something big and exotic. The name also evoked the Amazon River, the largest river in the world, and symbolized the company’s ambition to become the largest online retailer.

Bezos had shortlisted a few other names instead of Amazon: “Cadabra” (Abracadabra) and “Relentless”.

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

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

Founded in 1923 by Walt Disney and Roy O. Disney, the company initially began as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio. In 1926, the name was changed to Walt Disney Studio, as he was the creative force behind the company. The name was later simplified to The Walt Disney Company to denote a company that included theme parks, television, and global entertainment.

Mickey Mouse was not drawn by Walt Disney. The famous character was created by Ubbe Eert “Ub” Iwerks, a friend of Disney. However, Walt Disney was the first to lend his voice to Mickey Mouse. He was heard in the 1929 short film “The Carnival Kid,” where his only line was “Hot dog, hot dog.”

The Walt Disney Company’s first animated film was “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” in 1937.

Toyota originally began as a division of Toyoda Automatic Loom Works. The company was founded in 1937 by Kiichiro Toyoda and named after its founder. Toyota was chosen because of its easier pronunciation and the fact that it took eight brush strokes to write in Japanese, which is considered auspicious in Japanese culture.

Sony was founded in 1946 by Masaru Ibuka and Akio Morita as Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo (Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Corporation). The company was renamed Sony in 1958. The word comes from the Latin word “sonus”, meaning sound, and “sonny”, a slang term used in Japan at the time for little boys.

Sony’s Walkman revolutionized the way people listen to music today. The product, which initially did not interest the company’s executives, ended up being sold for 31 years.

In 1994, Sony launched the Playstation. The game console caused a huge stir in the gaming world and challenged the market leader at the time, Nintendo. The Playstation is one of the most successful game consoles of all time.

Interestingly, Nintendo had signed a deal with Sony for Sony to produce an add-on device that would play CDs for Nintendo’s console, but the deal fell through due to problems with the licensing of the device.

Interesting fact: Sony developed the compact disc (CD) in collaboration with Philips. The introduction of the CD changed the way music was stored and played. Until the iPod.