What other company names or logos have hidden meanings?
June 24, 2018 10:53 AM Subscribe
There's an ad for Oreida potatoes making the rounds and it seems not everyone was aware that Ore-Ida comes from "Oregon-Idaho." A similar revelation about Arby's Roast Beef (RB = Roast Beef) made the rounds a few weeks ago. The arrow in the Fed-Ex logo is something not everyone knows about. What other logos and names have these hidden meanings?
I'm looking for things that most people won't know about but upon learning about seem obvious. Oregon-Idaho makes so much sense.
Something like "Polariod" being named for the polarization process doesn't quite cut it. Ditto names like Atari or Lego. Those names may mean something but the meaning isn't really hidden. Same with something like Wendy's being named after Dave's daughter.
Cool aspects of design, like the circles in the Twitter logo are neat but not quite what I'm after. The Fed-Ex arrow was there all along but a lot of people didn't notice it until it was pointed out to them and now they can't unsee it. That's what I'm looking for.
I'm not interested in arguing just how hidden or obvious something is. Perhaps you knew all along about the Oreidea or Arby's thing but if it's a revelation to someone, that's all that matters.
I'm looking for things that most people won't know about but upon learning about seem obvious. Oregon-Idaho makes so much sense.
Something like "Polariod" being named for the polarization process doesn't quite cut it. Ditto names like Atari or Lego. Those names may mean something but the meaning isn't really hidden. Same with something like Wendy's being named after Dave's daughter.
Cool aspects of design, like the circles in the Twitter logo are neat but not quite what I'm after. The Fed-Ex arrow was there all along but a lot of people didn't notice it until it was pointed out to them and now they can't unsee it. That's what I'm looking for.
I'm not interested in arguing just how hidden or obvious something is. Perhaps you knew all along about the Oreidea or Arby's thing but if it's a revelation to someone, that's all that matters.
(RB=Raffel Brothers - founders of Arby’s)
posted by Sassyfras at 11:20 AM on June 24, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by Sassyfras at 11:20 AM on June 24, 2018 [8 favorites]
I'm still surprised that the Ajax name is linked to the idea that Ajax was the strongest man in Greece. Grease. It's one of those ones that's probably really obvious to a lot of people, but it still really gets me.
posted by AnhydrousLove at 11:25 AM on June 24, 2018 [19 favorites]
posted by AnhydrousLove at 11:25 AM on June 24, 2018 [19 favorites]
I don't know how much you want back story vs. "hidden stuff" -- although the line can be thin.
Bluetooth is my favorite. It's named after King Harald Blatand, nicknamed Chief Bluetooth for his dark teeth. He and his fighting forces (violently) united the Danish and Norse people into a single fighting force. The Intel engineer was reading a book on Vikings when they were looking for a single standard to unite the "warring" wireless tech interconnect. The logo is a rune for HB (Harald and either Blatand or Bluetooth).
Google's parent company Alphabet was originally inspired by X being the structural model and the "moonshot factory" for the other non-Google companies but was ultimately chosen when the team told the new CFO about the purposefully included "Alpha Bets" -- as the organization was created to make big bets that will result in huge alpha.
Nabisco = National Biscuit Company, which I find adorable
posted by Gucky at 11:26 AM on June 24, 2018 [10 favorites]
Bluetooth is my favorite. It's named after King Harald Blatand, nicknamed Chief Bluetooth for his dark teeth. He and his fighting forces (violently) united the Danish and Norse people into a single fighting force. The Intel engineer was reading a book on Vikings when they were looking for a single standard to unite the "warring" wireless tech interconnect. The logo is a rune for HB (Harald and either Blatand or Bluetooth).
Google's parent company Alphabet was originally inspired by X being the structural model and the "moonshot factory" for the other non-Google companies but was ultimately chosen when the team told the new CFO about the purposefully included "Alpha Bets" -- as the organization was created to make big bets that will result in huge alpha.
Nabisco = National Biscuit Company, which I find adorable
posted by Gucky at 11:26 AM on June 24, 2018 [10 favorites]
Canola was developed by selective breeding at the University of Manitoba in the 1970s. The name comes from "Can" for Canada and "ola" for oil, and was even trademarked at one time.
posted by heatherlogan at 12:02 PM on June 24, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by heatherlogan at 12:02 PM on June 24, 2018 [6 favorites]
Ajax was just supposed to be very strong...the slogan was "stronger than dirt." The other is the equivalent of a folk etymology, like Arby's. I think this question will attract a number of such.
posted by praemunire at 12:13 PM on June 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by praemunire at 12:13 PM on June 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
The three Ms in 3M are for Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing.
Sprint was started by the Southern Pacific Railroad.
posted by Flannery Culp at 12:28 PM on June 24, 2018
Sprint was started by the Southern Pacific Railroad.
posted by Flannery Culp at 12:28 PM on June 24, 2018
Amazon's smiley arrow goes from A to Z
posted by Jacen at 1:07 PM on June 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by Jacen at 1:07 PM on June 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
The Intel engineer was reading a book on Vikings
Bluetooth was developed by engineers at an Ericsson lab in Lund, Sweden.
posted by Stoneshop at 1:20 PM on June 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
Bluetooth was developed by engineers at an Ericsson lab in Lund, Sweden.
posted by Stoneshop at 1:20 PM on June 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
One of my favorite pretty obscure examples is the "cameo" logo for Lagusta's Luscious, a (great) vegan chocolate shop in New Paltz, NY.
(She has a knife hidden in her hair.)
posted by bcwinters at 1:22 PM on June 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
(She has a knife hidden in her hair.)
posted by bcwinters at 1:22 PM on June 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
The name of the menopause medication Premarin comes one of its ingredients, pregnant mare's urine.
Crisco is named after crystallized cottonseed oil.
posted by wryly at 2:17 PM on June 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
Crisco is named after crystallized cottonseed oil.
posted by wryly at 2:17 PM on June 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
On the name side of things, Siri was invented by the Stanford Research Institute, nowadays known as just SRI.
Also, from mochapickle's link:
posted by traveler_ at 2:39 PM on June 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
Also, from mochapickle's link:
This logo for Yoga Australia has a little hidden gem in its negative space. In the area between the arm and the leg it’s grasping is the geographical outline of Australia.I think I won't be able to unsee the Great Australian Bight as a Great Australian Butt.
posted by traveler_ at 2:39 PM on June 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
The countertop product Formica was invented to be used in place of (for) mica in industrial uses. Nothing to do with ants, no matter what your Latin teacher told you.
posted by SemiSalt at 3:38 PM on June 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by SemiSalt at 3:38 PM on June 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
Hasbro was started by the Hassenfeld Brothers.
Coleco Toys was originally the Connecticut Leather Company.
ALDI was the Albrecht's family shortening of Albrecht-Diskont.
Adidas was started when Adi (a nickname for Adolf) Dassler split up with his brother Rudolf (who started Puma!)
posted by JoeZydeco at 3:55 PM on June 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
Coleco Toys was originally the Connecticut Leather Company.
ALDI was the Albrecht's family shortening of Albrecht-Diskont.
Adidas was started when Adi (a nickname for Adolf) Dassler split up with his brother Rudolf (who started Puma!)
posted by JoeZydeco at 3:55 PM on June 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
Vile pyramid scheme Amway supposedly means "American way."
posted by BostonTerrier at 4:11 PM on June 24, 2018
posted by BostonTerrier at 4:11 PM on June 24, 2018
IKEA = Ingvar Kamprad Elmtaryd Agunnaryd (founder plus home town)
posted by frumiousb at 4:39 PM on June 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by frumiousb at 4:39 PM on June 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
No one seems to care that I can see a Star of David in the Dos Equis logo!
posted by 8603 at 4:45 PM on June 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by 8603 at 4:45 PM on June 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
Nabisco = National Biscuit Company, which I find adorable
Necco is the New England Confectionery Company, which I find adorable too.
posted by maryr at 5:29 PM on June 24, 2018 [7 favorites]
Necco is the New England Confectionery Company, which I find adorable too.
posted by maryr at 5:29 PM on June 24, 2018 [7 favorites]
Arco gas came about via a merger of the Atlantic and Richfield Companies.
I still remember the commercial saying "Your local Richfield station has now become your local Arco station!" And a Richfield station sinking into the ground and an Arco station rising up.
posted by SLC Mom at 5:42 PM on June 24, 2018
I still remember the commercial saying "Your local Richfield station has now become your local Arco station!" And a Richfield station sinking into the ground and an Arco station rising up.
posted by SLC Mom at 5:42 PM on June 24, 2018
There is a Canadian company near me called Linamar - named after the wife and two daughters of the founder. Linda Nancy Margaret --> Linamar.
posted by Vicmo at 6:31 PM on June 24, 2018
posted by Vicmo at 6:31 PM on June 24, 2018
There's a company on route 3 between 495 and Nashua called Piconics which never fails to make me chuckle.
Probably not quite what you're looking for but chown hardware is a lovely *nix joke.
posted by bendy at 7:14 PM on June 24, 2018
Probably not quite what you're looking for but chown hardware is a lovely *nix joke.
posted by bendy at 7:14 PM on June 24, 2018
sudo make me a kitchen
posted by traveler_ at 8:41 PM on June 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by traveler_ at 8:41 PM on June 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
Tarmac comes from tarmacadam, which comes from tar + macadam, and macadam was invented (popularized?) by John McAdam.
posted by The corpse in the library at 8:48 PM on June 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by The corpse in the library at 8:48 PM on June 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
I swear I can see the word 'FUN' in the flags
of the Round Table logo.
posted by royboy at 9:50 PM on June 24, 2018
of the Round Table logo.
posted by royboy at 9:50 PM on June 24, 2018
Esso - S.O. - Standard Oil company
posted by seawallrunner at 4:43 AM on June 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by seawallrunner at 4:43 AM on June 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
WD-40 got its name by being Water Displacement Formulation #40 (ie, the 40th attempt at making it).
posted by TwoStride at 5:12 AM on June 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by TwoStride at 5:12 AM on June 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
The back-formation of Arby's showed up in a 1980s(?) ad campaign where Arby's was an acronym for America's Roast Beef Yes Sir.
The general store Pamida (upper Midwest) was named after the three founders (Pat, Mike, Dave).
The three "Y"s in the Yamaha logo are actually tuning forks. (Yamaha started as a piano/organ company, and still makes musical instruments.)
posted by jlkr at 8:05 AM on June 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
The general store Pamida (upper Midwest) was named after the three founders (Pat, Mike, Dave).
The three "Y"s in the Yamaha logo are actually tuning forks. (Yamaha started as a piano/organ company, and still makes musical instruments.)
posted by jlkr at 8:05 AM on June 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
As a kid I thought that Adidas stood for All Day I Dream About Soccer. Obviously that isn't the case, but I believe Adidas has said that they don't mind the rumor. :^)
posted by Elly Vortex at 8:34 AM on June 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Elly Vortex at 8:34 AM on June 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
A lot of people (of those who know the brand name anyway) think Berini mopeds are Italian. They're Dutch: Bernard, Rinus and Nico.
posted by Stoneshop at 10:47 AM on June 25, 2018
posted by Stoneshop at 10:47 AM on June 25, 2018
The logo for Pacific Gas & Electric includes a stylized gas flame. I grew up seeing the logo but never noticed the flame until someone pointed it out.
posted by Lexica at 12:02 PM on June 25, 2018
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posted by Lexica at 12:02 PM on June 25, 2018
The logo for Pacific Gas & Electric includes a stylized gas flame. I grew up seeing the logo but never noticed the flame until someone pointed it out.
I think it's meant to be a light from above, like a streetlight. PG&E came out of the merger of California Gas and Electric Corporation and San Francisco Gas and Electric, who were the original company to light the streets of San Francisco. Their motto at the time was "Fiat Lux" (Let there be light).
posted by oneirodynia at 6:57 PM on June 25, 2018
I think it's meant to be a light from above, like a streetlight. PG&E came out of the merger of California Gas and Electric Corporation and San Francisco Gas and Electric, who were the original company to light the streets of San Francisco. Their motto at the time was "Fiat Lux" (Let there be light).
posted by oneirodynia at 6:57 PM on June 25, 2018
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by mochapickle at 10:56 AM on June 24, 2018 [12 favorites]