1

Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola's name was created by Frank M. Robinson, the bookkeeper and business partner of pharmacist John S. Pemberton, who developed the drink in 1886. Robinson chose the name because its two parts referred to ingredients in the original formula: coca leaves and kola nuts. He also believed the repeated C sounds would look appealing in advertising.

Robinson wrote the name in the distinctive flowing script that helped define the brand's visual identity. Here's a surprising twist: the original formula contained an extract of coca leaves that included cocaine, which was removed by the early 1900s. The name, however, stuck, and Coca-Cola went on to become one of the most ubiquitous brands in the world.

2

Kodak

When George Eastman introduced the Kodak camera in 1888, he wanted a name that was short, distinctive, and easy to pronounce in different languages. He founded the Eastman Kodak Company in Rochester, New York, where he helped make photography more accessible to everyday Americans.

Eastman created the name from scratch, with a particular fondness for the letter K, which he considered strong and distinctive. Rather than using an existing word like "camera" or "photography," he wanted something original that people could easily remember. Over the decades, Kodak became more than a photography brand: its cameras and film helped families preserve birthdays, vacations, holidays, and countless memories. Although the company filed for bankruptcy protection in 2012 as digital photography transformed the industry, it survived and continues to produce photographic film and printing technology today.

3

Pepsi

Pepsi's story began in 1893, when pharmacist Caleb Bradham created a fountain drink in New Bern, North Carolina. Originally called Brad's Drink, the beverage was renamed Pepsi-Cola in 1898. The new name was inspired by the word dyspepsia , an old medical term for indigestion , reflecting Bradham's belief that his drink could aid digestion.

The name also included "Cola," a familiar reference to the kola nut, which was associated with cola beverages. Although Pepsi eventually became known for its flavor and competition with Coca-Cola, its original name reflected the drink's early image as a refreshing beverage with potential digestive benefits.

4

Starbucks

The name Starbucks comes from Moby-Dick , Herman Melville's classic 1851 American novel about a whaling voyage aboard the ship The Pequod. One of the founders of the Seattle coffee company, English teacher Gordon Bowker, liked the sound of names beginning with "St." The team eventually settled on Starbucks, the name of the Pequod’s first mate, Starbuck.

The literary connection also aligned with the founders' vision of a coffee company inspired by the Pacific Northwest's seafaring history. Since opening its first store in Seattle in 1971, Starbucks has grown into a global coffee giant. Its name remains a small nod to an American literary classic.

5

Nike

Nike takes its name from the ancient Greek goddess of victory, making it a natural fit for a company built around sports and athletic achievement. The company was founded in 1964 as Blue Ribbon Sports by Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman, initially distributing Japanese running shoes in the United States.

In 1971, the business adopted the name Nike as it prepared to launch its own footwear brand. The famous Swoosh logo, designed by Carolyn Davidson, was created around the same time. Today, both the name and the instantly recognizable Swoosh are closely associated with Nike, making the simple, elongated checkmark one of the most familiar symbols in sports.

6

Google

Google's name comes from googol , a mathematical term for the number one followed by 100 zeros . The term reflects the enormous amount of information the company's founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, wanted their search engine to organize and make accessible.

The company began as a research project at Stanford University before being incorporated in 1998. According to the commonly told origin story, "Google" emerged as a playful variation of "googol," reportedly following a misspelling during the naming process. The name proved memorable, and today, the verb "to Google" is widely used to describe searching for information online.

7

Amazon

When Jeff Bezos launched his online bookstore in 1995, he wanted a name that suggested enormous scale. He chose Amazon, inspired by the Amazon River, one of the largest rivers in the world. The name reflected his ambition to build a business offering an exceptionally wide selection of books and, eventually, much more.

There was also a practical advantage: names beginning with A could appear near the top of alphabetical business listings. Amazon soon expanded beyond books into electronics, clothing, household goods, and countless other products and services. Its familiar arrow-shaped logo, stretching from A to Z, reinforces the idea that customers can find almost anything there.

8

Walmart

Walmart's name is a straightforward abbreviation of its founder's name and the type of store he operated. Sam Walton opened the first Walmart Discount City in Rogers, Arkansas, in 1962. The shorter name, Walmart, eventually became the company's official brand name.

Walton built the business around a simple idea: offer customers a wide selection of products at low prices. That approach helped Walmart grow from a single discount store into one of America's largest retailers. The name may be simple, but it became closely associated with the company's promise of affordable everyday shopping.

9

McDonald's

McDonald's takes its name from Richard and Maurice McDonald , two brothers who opened a hamburger restaurant in San Bernardino, California, in 1940 . Their restaurant developed a streamlined approach to preparing and serving food, helping lay the groundwork for the modern fast-food model.

Businessman Ray Kroc later partnered with the brothers and expanded the concept into a nationwide franchise, opening his first McDonald's restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois, in 1955. The brothers' surname became an international brand, while the Golden Arches evolved into one of the most recognizable symbols on the planet.

10

Apple

When Apple was founded in 1976, Steve Jobs reportedly wanted a name that sounded friendly, approachable, and less intimidating than the technical names common in the computer industry. He had recently returned from visiting an apple farm and suggested the name Apple Computer. According to accounts from the company's early days, he thought the name sounded appealing and memorable.

Interestingly, the name has another connection to a familiar story from science. Apple's original logo featured Isaac Newton sitting beneath an apple tree, a reference to the famous tale of how a falling apple inspired his thinking about gravity. That design was soon replaced by the now-iconic bitten-apple logo, but the company's simple name remained, and eventually became one of the most instantly recognizable anywhere.

11

Ford

Unlike many modern brand names, Ford comes directly from the surname of its founder, Henry Ford . He established the Ford Motor Company in 1903, during a period when automobiles were still expensive and largely inaccessible to ordinary Americans.

The company's Model T, introduced in 1908, helped change that by making car ownership more affordable through mass production. Over time, the Ford name became associated with American manufacturing, assembly-line innovation, and the growth of the automobile industry. The familiar blue oval logo came later, but the family name remained at the heart of the brand.

12

Kleenex

Kleenex was introduced by the paper products company Kimberly-Clark in 1924 as a disposable facial tissue. Its name drew on the word "clean," reflecting the product's hygienic purpose, while the ending gave it a distinctive commercial sound. The tissues were initially marketed as a convenient way to remove cold cream and cosmetics.

The product's role changed when customers began using the tissues as disposable handkerchiefs. That shift helped turn Kleenex into a household staple, and the brand name eventually became so familiar that many Americans use it to refer to facial tissues in general regardless of brand. It's a striking example of how a made-up product name can become part of everyday language.

1

Breaking a mirror

Image: Savannah B.

As we’ve all heard, breaking a mirror is said to bring seven years of bad luck— a belief that dates back to the Romans . They thought a mirror didn’t just reflect your face, but also your soul.

Because the Romans also believed that life renewed itself every seven years, the curse was thought to last exactly that long.

2

Walking under a ladder

Image: Nick Fewings

This superstition has its roots in medieval Europe, where ladders leaning against walls formed a triangle, a shape that symbolized the Holy Trinity .

Walking through it was seen as breaking the sacred shape and inviting misfortune. Today, most people avoid it not only out of superstition but also for simple safety.

3

A black cat in your path

Image: Emmeli M

In the Middle Ages, black cats were linked to witchcraft and were thought to be witches’ companions—or even witches in disguise. Crossing paths with one was considered dangerous .

Though many cultures view black cats as lucky, in the U.S., the old stigma has persisted.

4

Knocking on wood

Image: Glen Carrie

The habit of knocking on wood to ward off bad luck likely comes from ancient pagan traditions. Trees—especially oaks—were believed to house protective spirits .

Touching or knocking on wood was a way to call on those spirits for protection. The phrase and the action traveled across centuries, and now it’s a common phrase in everyday conversations.

5

Opening an umbrella indoors

Image: Kato Blackmore 🇺🇦

The superstition that opening an umbrella indoors brings bad luck originates from 18th-century England. Early umbrellas were large, stiff, and often had metal spokes.

Opening one indoors could cause injury or break household items , so the "bad luck" warning worked as a practical safety rule.

6

Friday the 13th

Image: Nik

Friday has long been considered unlucky in Christian tradition because it was said to be the day of the Crucifixion. The number thirteen was also viewed as ominous, connected to the Last Supper .

When the two were combined, Friday the 13th gained its spooky reputation. Despite rational explanations, some hotels skip floor 13, and many people still avoid major plans on that date.

7

Spilling salt

Image: ekaterina shishina

Salt was once precious and expensive, symbolizing purity and friendship. Spilling it was considered wasteful and unlucky in ancient times.

The practice of tossing a pinch over your left shoulder comes from folklore, supposedly to blind the devil lurking there . It’s a tiny gesture that still lingers on dinner tables today.

8

Four-leaf clover

Image: Barbara Krysztofiak

The four-leaf clover is a symbol of good fortune dating back to the Celts, who believed the rare leaves provided protection against evil spirits .

Since clovers typically have only three leaves, the fourth leaf came to symbolize rarity and luck.

9

Rabbit’s foot

Image: Timofei Adrian

Carrying a rabbit’s foot for luck traces back to African and European folklore, where rabbits were seen as fertile, magical creatures .

The superstition spread through American culture in the 19th century, especially in the South. Even though it might seem unusual—and potentially unsanitary—the lucky rabbit’s foot remains a well-known charm today.

10

Wishbone

Image: Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

The tradition of making a wish on a wishbone originates with the Romans, who, in turn, borrowed it from the Etruscans. They believed that birds held divine powers .

Breaking the bone with someone else was thought to transfer luck to the person who ended up with the larger piece .

11

Coin in a fountain

Image: Lila Mitchell

Tossing a coin into water to make a wish has its roots in ancient Europe. Wells and springs were considered sacred, often associated with gods or spirits.

People dropped coins as offerings for health or good fortune . Today, fountains across the U.S. and around the world collect millions of coins.

12

Wishing upon a star

Image: Ali

The superstition of wishing upon a star comes from ancient Greece and Rome, where falling stars were believed to carry messages from the gods .

Even today, looking up at the night sky and spotting a shooting star inspires many people to make a wish.

1

Baseball

Image: Josh Hemsley

Originating in the early 19th century, baseball evolved from British bat-and-ball games like rounders. By the 1840s, it was widely played in New York and spread quickly across the country.

Professional leagues began forming in the 1870s, and by the 20th century, baseball had become a defining cultural symbol. The Major League Baseball (MLB) remains a cornerstone of American sports identity.

2

American Football

Image: Tim Mossholder

American football developed from rugby and soccer in the late 19th century, with Walter Camp shaping key rules like the line of scrimmage.

Today, the NFL is a multi-billion-dollar enterprise, with the Super Bowl considered an unofficial national holiday. Its unique strategic play sets it apart globally.

3

Basketball

Image: Markus Spiske

Invented in 1891 by James Naismith in Springfield, Massachusetts, basketball was created as an indoor game to keep athletes active during winter.

Basketball rapidly grew in schools and colleges, evolving into the NBA by 1946. Its fast pace and high scoring made it a uniquely American phenomenon with global influence.

4

Volleyball

Image: Jannes Glas

William G. Morgan invented volleyball in 1895 in Holyoke, Massachusetts, as a less strenuous alternative to basketball for older athletes.

Originally called "Mintonette," it quickly spread through YMCA programs. Today, volleyball is a staple in American schools and a popular recreational and Olympic sport.

5

Lacrosse

Image: Gene Gallin

Though based on Indigenous games, the modern field version of lacrosse was codified in the U.S. in the mid-19th century, particularly in New York and Maryland.

American collegiate leagues helped popularize the sport. Its fast pace, physicality, and unique stick skills differentiate it from similar sports elsewhere.

6

Rodeo

Image: Lee Pigott

Rodeo emerged from cattle herding competitions in the American West in the late 1800s. Cowboys demonstrated skills like bronco riding, roping, and barrel racing.

Rodeo reflects frontier life and is heavily celebrated in states like Texas and Wyoming. It became an organized sport with professional circuits in the 20th century.

7

Skateboarding

Image: Rhendi Rukmana

Developed in California in the 1950s as "sidewalk surfing," skateboarding transformed surfing techniques for urban environments.

The sport gained a professional scene by the 1970s, complete with skate parks and competitions. Its counterculture roots remain distinctly American.

8

Roller Derby

Image: River Fx

Emerging in the 1930s as a banked-track endurance race, roller derby evolved into a full-contact team sport.

Especially popular with women, modern roller derby combines athleticism and theatrical flair. It’s a uniquely American mix of sport and spectacle.

9

Cheerleading

Image: Rojan Maharjan

Starting at the University of Minnesota in 1898, cheerleading began as organized support for college football teams.

Over time, it developed competitive elements with complex stunts and routines. Today, cheerleading is recognized both as a sport and a cultural phenomenon in the U.S.

10

Pickleball

Image: Aleksander Saks

Invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, pickleball blends tennis, badminton, and ping-pong.

It gained popularity for all ages due to its accessibility and social appeal. Pickleball’s exponential growth highlights American ingenuity in casual sports.