Weird Names That Became Giants

Some brand names started out sounding like a joke — but ended up becoming legends. Proof that what’s “right” isn’t always what stands out. Sometimes, it’s the weird that wins the world.

Let’s look at a few curious (and inspiring) examples:

🍩 Dunkin’ DonutsTranslated literally, it means “dunking donuts.” Imagine pitching that in a branding meeting today! 😅But it worked — and became one of the biggest chains on the planet. The name even feels visual, almost like onomatopoeia: you can picture the donut dipping into coffee… and suddenly, you’re craving one.

🐦 TwitterBefore it turned into Elon Musk’s “X,” Twitter was literally a place to tweet. The name came from “tweet,” the sound birds make — short, light, and quick, just like each post was meant to be.They almost went with “Twitch” (yes, the name that later became the streaming platform), but “Twitter” sounded more friendly.The blue bird did its job — it became a verb, a culture, and chaos. But it defined an era.

🕊️ Dove“Pigeon” doesn’t exactly sound like the ideal name for soap, right?But the founders wanted to convey purity, softness, and lightness — and the dove symbol fit perfectly.Today, the brand stands for care, acceptance, and self-love.What once seemed “too cute” became a global icon of confidence and strength.

🥤 PepsiThe name comes from pepsin, a digestive enzyme.Yes — the drink was originally created to help with digestion! 😅The inventor believed his soda “soothed the stomach,” so he named it accordingly.Today, no one remembers the enzyme — but everyone knows that red and blue logo.

💻 GoogleThe name was born from a typo of “googol,” the mathematical term for the number 1 followed by 100 zeros.They thought it sounded fun — and kept it.Now, the “mistake” became a synonym for searching anything — even “why is Google called Google?”

🍦 Häagen-DazsA classic case of “fake fancy.”The founders wanted a European-sounding, premium name — so they simply made one up.It means nothing in any language. Just a mix of letters that sound elegant.And it worked: the nonsense word became synonymous with luxury ice cream around the world.

✨ Moral of the storyWeird can be brilliant.Unlikely can be unforgettable.And the name that once sounded “too strange” might be the one that puts you on the map.

So if your idea feels a bit too out there… maybe that’s exactly the sign you’re onto something great. 😉

👉 Ever thought of a name that sounded strange at first but just stuck in your head?Nomybox loves that kind of challenge. 💡