What makes a great brand name?
A great brand name is one that is easily recognizable, memorable, and relevant to the product or service being offered. A great brand name also has the ability to create an emotional connection with consumers.
Some of the most successful brands in the world have names that are very simple, such as Apple or Nike. Other brands have names that are more abstract, such as Google or Amazon. And still other brands have names that are meant to be clever or funny, such as Oreo or Dunkin’ Donuts.
There is no one formula for coming up with brand names for sale. Sometimes, a company will come up with a list of dozens or even hundreds of potential names before settling on the right one. Other times, a great brand name will come to mind almost immediately.
What all great brand names have in common is that they are highly distinctive and they help a company to stand out in the marketplace. In today’s highly competitive world, a great brand name can be the difference between success and failure.
Here are 10 of the most successful brand names in the world and the stories behind them:
1. Apple
Apple was founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne. The company was originally named Apple Computer, Inc., but the word “Computer” was dropped from the name in 2007.
The name “Apple” was chosen because Jobs thought it sounded fun, friendly, and had the connotation of “apple pie” and “American-ness.” The logo for Apple is a silhouette of an apple with a bite taken out of it, which is a reference to the story of Adam and Eve in the Bible.
2. Nike
Nike was founded in 1964 as Blue Ribbon Sports. The company was renamed Nike, Inc. in 1971.
The name “Nike” is derived from the Greek goddess of victory, Nike. The Nike swoosh logo was designed by Carolyn Davidson, a student at Portland State University.
3. Google
Google was founded in 1998 by Larry Page and Sergey Brin. The name “Google” is a play on the word “googol,” which is a mathematical term for the number one followed by 100 zeros.
The founders of Google originally wanted to call the company “Backrub,” but they eventually settled on the name “Google” because it was a misspelling of the word “googol” and they thought it would be easier for people to remember.
4. Amazon
Amazon was founded in 1994 by Jeff Bezos. The name “Amazon” was chosen because it was the name of the world’s largest river, and Bezos wanted his company to be the largest retailer in the world.
The logo for Amazon is a yellow arrow that points from the letter “A” to the letter “Z,” symbolizing that the company sells everything from A to Z.
5. Facebook
Facebook was founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg. The name “Facebook” comes from the paperface booklets that were given to students at Harvard University, where Zuckerberg was a student.
The original logo for Facebook was a facemask with the letters “f” and “b” on it. The current logo for Facebook is a blue “f” on a white background.
6. Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola was invented in 1886 by John Pemberton. The name “Coca-Cola” was chosen because Pemberton thought that the two C’s would look good together in advertising.
The original logo for Coca-Cola was designed by Frank Mason Robinson. The current logo for Coca-Cola is based on the original design, but the word “Coca-Cola” is written in a Spencerian script, which is a style of handwriting that was popular in the 19th century.
7. Pepsi
Pepsi was invented in 1898 by Caleb Bradham. The name “Pepsi” was chosen because Bradham thought that it would be a good way to sell his carbonated beverage.
The original logo for Pepsi was designed by Edward Bennett, who was also the designer of the Coca-Cola logo. The current logo for Pepsi was designed by Arnell Group in 2008.
8. Ikea
Ikea was founded in 1943 by Ingvar Kamprad. The name “Ikea” is an acronym that stands for Ingvar Kamprad Elmtaryd Agunnaryd.
The logo for Ikea is a blue and yellow Scandinavian-style flag. The colors of the flag represent the blue sky and yellow fields of Sweden, where Ikea is headquartered.
9. Walmart
Walmart was founded in 1962 by Sam Walton. The name “Walmart” was chosen because Walton wanted his customers to feel like they were “wal-marting,” or getting a good deal.
The original logo for Walmart was a yellow star on a green background. The current logo for Walmart is a yellow “spark” on a blue background.
10. Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz was founded in 1926 by Karl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler. The name “Mercedes-Benz” is a combination of the two founders’ last names.
The original logo for Mercedes-Benz was a three-pointed star that represented the company’s domination of the land, sea, and air. The current logo for Mercedes-Benz is a simpler version of the original three-pointed star.
Check out our selection of business names for sale.