7-Eleven: this chain of convenience stores started in 1927 as U-Tote’m (so called because customers “toted” away their purchases). In 1946, U-Tote’m became 7-Eleven to reflect the stores’ new, extended hours: 7am until 11pm, seven days a week.
Adobe: from the name of the river Adobe Creek that ran behind the houses of founders John Warnock and Chuck Geschke.
Apple: for the favorite fruit of co-founder Steve Jobs and/or for the time he worked at an apple orchard.
IKEA: A composite of the first letters in the Swedish founder Ingvar Kamprad’s name in addition to the first letters of the names of the property and the village in which he grew up: Ingvar Kamprad Elmtaryd Agunnaryd.
Mercedes: from the first name of the daughter of Emil Jellinek, who distributed cars of the early Daimler company around 1900.
Pepsi: named from the digestive enzyme pepsin.
Samsonite: named from the Biblical character Samson, renowned for his strength.
Taco Bell: named after founder Glen Bell.
