I don’t know about you, but I love it when a founder’s name becomes synonymous with the brand. It gives me a connection to the company’s history, and makes me feel like there is something special about that company. You know how it goes: “Apple” is named after Steve Jobs; “Amazon” was named after Huckleberry Finn’s dog; and Coca-Cola was created by pharmacist John Pemberton in honor of two different plants (Coca) and minerals (Cola). But not all companies are so lucky, especially now that naming conventions have changed over time. So today’s question is this: Which of these companies was not named after its founder?

Apple

Apple was founded by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in 1976. Although it’s now one of the most valuable companies in the world, Apple started out as a simple partnership between two friends who wanted to create a personal computer for everyday use.

The name “Apple” comes from an apple tree that grew on the Martin family farm near where Jobs grew up in California. The fruit of this tree was said to be very tasty, so they were often referred to as “perfect apples.” When he was young, Jobs would pick them off this particular tree every day after school and eat them while playing with his friends nearby–which eventually led him to decide that if he ever started his own company (and who knows what), it would have this name attached right away!

Amazon

Amazon is the largest online retailer in the world. Founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994, Amazon has grown to become a household name and one of the most successful companies in history.

Amazon was originally named Cadabra Inc., but changed its name when it went public on May 15th, 1997 because investors thought that they were getting an email service instead of an online bookstore!

Avon

Avon was founded in 1886 by David McConnell. His first product was a nail polish that he sold door to door, and his first customers were women who wanted to buy it. Avon’s headquarters are still located in New York City, where they have been since 1971 when they moved from Connecticut after being acquired by Alberto-Culver Company (now Unilever).

Cisco Systems

• Cisco Systems was founded by Leonard Bosack and Sandy Lerner in 1984.
• It is an American multinational technology conglomerate headquartered in San Jose, California.

eBay

eBay was founded in 1995 by Pierre Omidyar. The name is a portmanteau of the words “electronic” and “bay.” It was originally called AuctionWeb, but after buying PayPal in 2002 it became known as eBay Inc., and then simply eBay.

Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company is the second-largest automaker in the world, and it was founded by Henry Ford in 1903. The company started out by producing Model As at its factory in Michigan, but has since grown into a $160 billion multinational corporation with operations around the globe.

Ford’s first car was actually called “Model A,” but it was later renamed “Tin Lizzie” because of its tendency to rust easily; today you can still find cars from this era on roads across America–they’re just not called Tin Lizzies anymore!

J.C. Penney Company, Inc.

• J.C. Penney Company, Inc. was founded by James Cash Penney, who was a traveling salesman in Wyoming during the late 1800s.
• In 1901, Penney opened his first store in Kemmerer, Wyoming and used to sell everything from clothing to home goods at low prices using the one-price system (the same price for all). This was a revolutionary idea at the time because most retailers charged higher prices based on customer’s ability to pay or what they wanted at that moment in time–not all customers were treated equally!
• Today there are over 1,000 stores across America and internationally too!

Takeaway:

You’ve read the article, now what?

• If you’re a company founder or an aspiring entrepreneur, don’t be afraid to name your company after yourself. It can be a great way to build brand recognition and get people talking about you. Just make sure that the name has some meaning behind it–you don’t want people thinking that every time they see your logo, all they’ll think is “what does this mean?”
• If not naming your company after yourself is part of your personal brand strategy (and for most people it isn’t), then consider using other tactics for getting attention–like hiring celebrities as spokespeople or creating memorable ad campaigns.

It’s important to remember that it’s not always about the founder. Sometimes, companies are named after other things, like their location or the name of their first product (like Ford). But in general, most businesses do have a person behind them–even if it isn’t the sole reason for their existence!