Qualtrics collected naming histories of some of the world’s most famous companies. It’s chock full of information about the naming history of these brands, including all previous names, the years they were adopted, and the reasons and story behind the change. One of the most interesting aspects of the infographic is the inspiration behind the name. It gives us some insight into how these brands chose memorable names. You might be surprised to learn that Google was once called BackRub. EBay had the very literal name “AuctionWeb” in its first two years in business. Facebook has certainly had an interesting name change and purpose from the early days.
Maybe the most surprising is Pepsi’s name change. It was originally called, “Brad’s Drink.” The name is connected to the founder, Caleb Bradham, a pharmacist who created the sugary carbonated drink and served it at his local soda fountain. He later decided the soda needed a memorable new name, so he took inspiration from the ingredients, which included pepsin and cola nuts.
infographic by: www.qualtrics.com
