I want to start this topic where we shall discuss the origins and meanings of certain brand names. For instance, it is well known that famous Nike snickers owe their name to the Greek goddess of victory, and that Mazda cars are named after the Persian god of light (he was a supreme god, also).

I can’t think of any other right now, but I am sure you can.

-N, waiting for your replies  8)

There’s the Chevrolet "Nova" which as far as I can tell means "doesn’t go".  That’s some FINE marketing!   ;D

In spanish, "no va" means it doesn’t go.  The car must not sell too well in hispanic countries.  Furthermore, it is interesting that Nymann brought up this topic with references to mythology.  For my Latin 3 class last year I wrote a paper on advertising with references to mythology.  Here’s one for you (not associated with mythology): Adidas, the sports company, is a combination of the first and last names of the company’s founder, Adi Dassler.   People have often said that ADIDAS meant all day I dream about sports, but I verified that this is incorrect on the adidas website.

Touareg is a a variant of Tuareg, which is itself a variant of TawAriq, a Bedouin tribe which lives in the Sahara expanse from Timbuktu to Nigeria.

                §

On the automotive front, abbreviations only:

‘Jeep’ comes from WWII U.S. Army terminology: general purpose vehicle.

AC spark plugs are named for Albert Champion, the same fellow after whom Champion spark plugs are named.

The MG car brand derives from Morris Garages.

SU carburetors (given their British origin, I suppose that should be carburettors) are from Skinner’s Union.

Saab: Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget.

Fiat: Fabrica Italiana Automobili Torini.

Daf: van Doorne Aanhangwagen Fabriek.

MAN: Maschinenwerke Augsburg Neuburg.

Alfa Romeo: Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili. Businessman Nicola Romeo bought the company soon after its creation.

Iveco: I don’t have this one exactly, but it’s something like Industrial Vehicle Company in Italian.

DKW: Abbreviation of Dampfkraftwagen, German for ‘steam motor car.’ It has also been interpreted as ‘Das kleine Wunder’ (the little wonder).

REO: Ransom Eli Olds (as in Oldsmobile).

Simca: Société Industrielle de Mécanique et Carrosserie Automobile.

VAZ: Volzjskij Avtomolbilnij Zavod.

Volvo: ‘I roll’ in Latin.

ZIL: Zavod Imiena Likhachov.

Trabant: German for footman or satellite; the car honors (!) the Sputnik satellite.

[quote author=Agoraphile link=board=etymology;num=1062085992;start=0#5 date=08/28/03 at 16:44:58]On the automotive front, abbreviations only:

‘Jeep’ comes from WWII U.S. Army terminology: general purpose vehicle.

Many times I ask myself how can you have such patience and so many time to answer any post in detail and properly. I am speechles.

It would be very funny that the word was - "jeepy".  ;D

I think that it would be very nice that Dr. Language or smn. from the yDc tells us more about brand naming, how it works, their "invetions", how do they come up with the idea… Don’t you think?

more about brand naming, how it works…how do they come up with the idea.

Gosh. I don’t even know where to begin. Branding, including brand naming, is an enormously complex business. It involves developing a brand strategy, positioning, positioning goals, communications strategy, name, voice, graphic standards, running focus group studies, market testing…the list goes on. I’m getting a headache just thinking about it all.

Gone are the days when some genius invented a widget and simply decided to call it Mr Skippy because he felt like it or named it after his daughter, Mercedes.  :)

- PW

Following Chevrolet Nova we have Mitsubishi Pajero, rebranded in Spanish speaking countries to Mitsubishi Montero. Why would you want to own a Mitsubishi Wanker?

Car manufacturers (especially VW) also seem to like using the names of winds: Scirocco, Bora, Passat, Mistral, Zephyr, Diablo.

Here’s a website of wind names. Does anyone recognize any others?

Ilka

Why would you want to own a Mitsubishi Wanker

My Lincoln is in the shop for a little TLC and they gave me a Mitubishi loaner. Having driven it to and from work today, I think I got the model you’re refering to.

One thing I find a little odd is why the VW Golf in Europe turned into a Rabbit when it crossed the Atlantic? Who want’s to drive a Rabbit? Happily, this trend seemed to be a one-off deal. Otherwise, we might be looking at Dodge Squirrels, Chevrolet Hamsters and Ford Fieldvoles.

- PW

Does anyone know how much does a Lincoln limousine cost?  ;D

[quote author=Nymann link=board=etymology;num=1062085992;start=0#0 date=08/28/03 at 11:53:12]
Mazda cars are named after the Persian god of light (he was a supreme god, also).

Ther’s a small twist to that; the company was started by the Matsuda family in Hiroshima following Honda, Toyoda, Suzuki which are all family names.  Like Bridgestone was started by Mr Ishibashi (stone bridge) like Mr Tori (Tori-san) who called his product Suntory (a whiskey brand that tastes like industrial waste).
From time to time the Japanese brand naming can be a little off; who of you would like to quench your thirst with a soda drink called Pocari Sweat?

Nymann, as they say, "If you have to ask, you probably can’t afford it."  

By-the-by the mnemonic I use for a low security password is "Towncar wrecker’s mechanic"  any guesses?

EdW

The Golf turned into a Rabbit because some one else owned the brand name in America, and because it’s made in Mexico where "Golf" implies "deep empty hole". Correction from real Spanish speakers requested.

Any regular contributor to this site ought to be able to make a fortune as a brand name consultant. Think about Diageo, Adventis, etc. all dreamed up to convey something incomprehensibly grand while not frightening the horses. A knowledge of language particles is enough: a sensitivity to Romance languages is desirable, and away you go.

So go for it: any suggestions for rebranding YourDictionary in order to convey its goals and appeal to a worldwide audience?  ;)

I’ve heard that when Standard Oil wanted to change its logo from ESSO to EXXON, it spent a fortune to find out if EXXON meant anything detrimental in any language.  All to avoid the fate of PEN MATE which is supposed to mean DEATH when rendered into Arabic, if I’m correctly informed.

YD’s pages on brand naming.

How did they make Alacritus, Celestra, Mellange?