The words you use matter to your brand strategy

Before settling on the name “Amazon,” Jeff Bezos initially considered a few alternative names for his online marketplace. One prominent option was “Cadabra,” short for “abracadabra,” which was meant to convey a sense of magic and wonder associated with online shopping. However, Bezos ultimately decided against it because it sounded similar to “cadaver.”

Another name Bezos contemplated was “Relentless,” which he registered as a domain name. However, after receiving feedback that it sounded too aggressive, he reconsidered and chose to go with “Amazon” instead.

The name “Amazon” was inspired by the world’s largest river, the Amazon River. Bezos selected this name because he envisioned his online store as being vast and exotic, offering an extensive selection of products to customers, similar to the diversity and scale of the Amazon rainforest. The name also had the advantage of starting with the letter “A,” which placed the company at the top of alphabetical listings and search results. This decision was a strategic move to gain a competitive advantage in the early days of the Internet.