10 Brand Names and Their Real Meaning

Choosing a company's name or that of a brand can sometimes be a brain racking task as we all try to be unique and at the same time keep it simple. When you see some names, you think its the creation of the company, however, sometimes these names are usually already existing words. Let's take a look at some of these names you probably didn't know exist or didn't know has original meanings. Just as the popular internet saying goes - Gone are the days when apple and blackberry were just fruits. 

1. Tinsel: This is the name of a popular Nigerian TV soap opera that airs on M-Net's movie channel, AfricaMagic. Aside being a drama series, the word tinsel actually refers to decorating material consisting of thin strips of shiny metal foil attached to a long piece of thread. To paint a clearer picture, that popular decoration usually used during Christmas and birthday celebration is called tinsel.

2. Chevron: Chevron Corporation is an American oil and gas company having presence in 180 countries including Nigeria. The company's logo is also a representation of its name. According to Cambridge online dictionary, chevron is a V-shaped line or stripe. It can be found on the sleeve of a uniform indicating rank or length of service, especially that of military men. It is also found on flags of some communities/organisations, road signs, as well as symbols in writing. So now you know what a chevron is.

3. Corolla: The Toyota 'corolla' is unarguably the most popular car brand in Nigeria. Well, I believe you know what petals are. In case you don't, petals are modified leaves surrounding the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often brightly coloured or shaped unusually to attract pollinators. Together, all of the petals of a flower is called a corolla.

4. Vanguard: Vanguard Newspaper is the name of a well-known print media in Nigeria. There is also an American investment company known as Vanguard Group. Nevertheless, do you know what the word vanguard means? If you don't know, it means:

(i) the foremost part of an advancing army or navy. (also called advance guard) 

(ii) a group of people leading the way in new developments or ideas.

5. Kiwi: It is a popular name of polish first launched in Australia in 1905 and now a household item in about 180 countries. Kiwi is the name of a unique flightless bird native to New Zealand. Kiwi is also the name of a fruit (kiwifruit), originally from China and native to Australia and New Zealand. The brand lends towards the bird though as the fruit is not called kiwi in the latter countries. If you look closely at the kiwi polish, you will see an image of the bird. 

6. Twitter: Everyone on the internet  knows twitter is a social media platform but not everyone knows the original meaning of it. When a bird chirps or sings, the sound is called 'twitter'. e.g 'the twitter of birds is disturbing my siesta'. Little wonder a bird is the logo of the company. The bird on its logo is a mountain bluebird.

7. Adobe: Pronounced as 'ə-DOH-bee' (a-do-bi), Adobe Inc. is an American multinational computer software known for its software platforms like adobe flash, photoshop, adobe illustrator etc. The term 'adobe' now adopted in English language is Spanish word for mudbrick, made from a kind of clay used as a building material involving mixture of mud and any organic material like leaf or straw that is dried and used for building, especially in hot countries. These type of buildings can be found in West Africa, North Africa, South America, Spain and Eastern Europe. 

8. Chrome (chromium):  Chrome is a web browser developed by Google and launched in 2008. Nevertheless, those in the science field must have come across the word chromium and know it is a chemical element. It is represented with the symbol Cr and it is the first element in group 6. It is the main component in stainless steel. This chemical element is what is used in chrome plating. Chrome plating simply known as chrome, is a method of electroplating thin layer of chromium to a metal object. Chrome is very common in automobiles and its like. That shiny part(s) of a vehicle or motorcycle like is as a result of chrome plating.

9. Puma: When you hear Puma, the first thing that comes to your mind is the popular German sportswear manufacturers. However, not many are aware that puma is an animal, known as cougar, a fenile (in the cat family) found in the Americas, up to Canada. Nevertheless, the brand seems to identify with the fenile hence its logo with the jumping cat. 

10. Harp: 'Give me harp' is a popular phrase you will hear someone who loves the beer say in a bar or its like. For all you harp lovers, I hope you know firstly that the harp is a musical instrument with strings, just like that of a guitar? Now let me tell you a brief history here. The harp, a musical instrument is a symbol well associated with Republic of Ireland. It is the official emblem of the country and can be found in its coat of arms. Guinness stout is from Republic of Ireland and established in 1759, it also has the harp as its official logo. However, to distinguish both symbols, Guinness made its own harp to face right while that of the government faces left.  

In 1960 when Guinness ventured into lager beer, the company named the beer Harp and adopted same as its logo.