How 15 Famous Companies Got Their Quirky Names

Ever wonder where Starbucks got its name? How about Google or Yahoo?

It's not something we think about often, but the names of many major companies that now seem familiar are often made up, seemingly unrelated, and quite quirky. After all, why would you call a cell phone company BlackBerry? What does IKEA have to do with home goods and furniture?

We tracked down the etymologies of 15 of the world's biggest and most oddly named companies. You'll find that each of their names has a fascinating origin story.

Company Name Etymologies updated

Mike Nudelman/Business Insider

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