How 50 Big Companies Got Their Names

Every company has rumors about how they earned their name. For example, it's rumored that BuzzFeed was named after founders Jonah Buzz and Mark Feed. (Not true.) Here's the real story behind the names of fifty companies that you've probably heard of.

• 1. 3M

  

• 2. 7-11

  

• 3. Adidas

  

• 4. Adobe

  

• 5. Amazon.com

  

• 6. AMC Theaters

  

• 7. Arby's

  

• 8. Arm & Hammer

  

• 9. Atari

  

• 10. AT&T

  

• 11. Audi

  

• 12. Bridgestone

  

• 13. Canon

  

• 14. Coca-Cola

  

• 15. Comcast

  

• 16. ConocoPhillips

  

• 17. CVS

  

• 18. Duane Reade

  

• 19. eBay

  

• 20. Garmin

  

• 21. Geico

  

• 22. Hasbro

  

• 23. H&R Block

  

• 24. IBM

  

• 25. Ikea

  

• 26. Kia

  

• 27. Lego

  

• 28.

  

• 29.

  

• 30. Nikon

  

• 31. Nintendo

  

• 32. Nissan

  

• 33. Nokia

  

• 34. Pepsi

  

• 35. Qualcomm

  

• 36. QVC

  

• 37. Reebok

  

• 38. Saab

  

• 39. Sega

  

• 40. Sharp

  

• 41. Sony

  

• 42. Sprint

  

• 43. Starbucks

  

• 44. Taco Bell

  

• 45. Verizon

  

• 46. Virgin

  

• 47. Vodafone

  

• 48. Volkswagen

  

• 49. Walmart

  

• 50. Wendy's