75+ Popular Brands Full Form: From Acronyms to Brand Stories

In the realm of brands, acronyms, and abbreviations often shroud some of the most iconic and well-known names in mystery.

“Popular Brands Full Form” is a fascinating exploration of the origins and meanings behind these brand abbreviations. This article peels back the layers to reveal the complete, often unexpected, words that lie hidden behind initials we encounter every day.

Join us on a journey to uncover the full forms of popular brands, offering a deeper appreciation of the creativity and storytelling woven into the very essence of these household names.

Popular Brands Full Form

H&M

H&M stands for Hennes & Mauritz. Hennes in Swedish means “hers”, which was the original store name. Mauritz was the name of a shop acquired by H&M founder Erling Persson, who paired the two terms together.

H&M is a Swedish clothing brand well known for its clothing line, which keeps adapting itself to the changing fashion trends. It recently collaborated with Sabyasachi Mukherjee for a new collection themed “Wanderlust” in the Autumn of 2020. 

Amul 

Amul is Anand Milk Union Limited. It is named after the milk capital of India, Anand, which is located in Gujrat. We can not imagine a day with Amul butter or milk.

It is usually the first thing that we have with our breakfast every morning. Amul products have become one of our necessities. Even the catchphrase, “utterly butterly delicious Amul,” is so popular that we can not imagine somebody not knowing it. 

BMW

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is the full form of BMW. Surprisingly this luxury vehicle company has manufactured cars and motorcycles that fascinated every car or motorcycle enthusiast yet not many are familiar with their full form.

It is a German multinational firm and its current full form is different from what it originally was in 1916. 

Discover the intriguing History Behind BMW’s Name, unraveling the Bavarian automaker’s origins and the significance of its iconic brand identity

M&M’s

These multicolored bead-shaped chocolates have captured the market since 1941. M&M’s stands for Mars & Murrie. The brand name originated from the company’s founder’s surnames, Forrest Mars and William Murrie.

With their colorful, diverse, and tasty treats, they became a childhood favorite. Does any child not remember hating to share these candies with their friends and always offering their least favorite color whenever they did?

CNN

CNN or Cable News Network is one of the largest and well known 24-hour American news channels. This channel is owned by CNN Worldwide and is streamed all over the world for their live telecast of breaking news which has drawn criticism on several occasions.

The live reports of the Gulf War were a changing point for this news channel that gave them an edge over all their competitors and was the stepping stone to their success.

JBL

JBL stands for James Bullough Lansing. The initials of the founder were used as a brand name for this audio equipment manufacturing company founded in 1946.

This company does not just serve the local market but they also make professional pieces of equipment for use in studios, tour music, portable music, and movie markets.

HTC

HTC or High Tech Computer is a Taiwanese electronics company founded in 1997. They had first started as a manufacturer of computers and laptops but later branched into smartphones too.

Due to the cut-throat competition faced by HTC from Apple and Samsung, their market share faced a heavy blow around 2015, and they had diversified into a visual reality platform. Yet they ended up selling their intellectual property rights to Google in 2017.

LG

LG or Lucky Goldstar was originally known as Goldstar but after the collaboration of Lucky Chemical and LG Cable, “Lucky”, was added to the brand name in 1995. LG is another household name.

LG has been the main producer of refrigerators, air conditioners, washing machines, and several other home appliances in India. This South Korean multinational electronics company also manufactures smartphones and home entertainment appliances. 

AND

This fashion brand is named after the designer and creative founder of this company, Anita Dongre. It’s elegant and classy designs are a go-to for women for not only casual but also professional wear.

Their clothing line has made boring work clothes look like they were right out of a runway. The diverse sense of fashion caters to women from different works of life. 

FIAT 

FIAT is Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino. It is the seventh-largest automobile manufacturer in the world and was founded in 1899.

In 1948, it was introduced to the Indian market during a joint venture with Tata Motors. FIAT has received several international awards over the years for its vehicles. 

ESPN

ESPN, or Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, is a sports broadcasting television network founded in 1979 and owned jointly by The Walt Disney Company and Hearst Communications.

In 2018, ESPN was available to 93.2% of US households with paid television. ESPN even developed a Google application for smartphone use for highlights and expert analysis of the sports updates catering to a large population with a shared interest in sports. 

Adidas

In reality, Adidas is an abbreviation of the name of its creator Adolf Dassler. It is a German manufacturing corporation and it specializes in designing clothing, footwear, and accessories.

The second-largest brand for sportswear manufacturers in the world is Adidas. The comfortable yet stylish clothing line of Adidas caters to all age groups and has made it as popular as it is today.

Adidas, a renowned sportswear brand, has an intriguing history. Discover the fascinating story behind ‘How Adidas Got Its Name‘ and its founder’s inspiration

IBM

IBM stands for International Business Machines which was not what it was originally known as in 1911 when the company was founded. It adopted its current name in 1924.

It is a multinational technology company known for producing and selling computer equipment, middleware, and applications. 

IBM’s origins are shrouded in history. Explore the intriguing tale of ‘How IBM Got Its Name‘ and the company’s enduring legacy.

MRF

MRF, or Madras Rubber Company, is a rubber product manufacturing company that is the largest producer of tires in India. Its name originates from the location of its headquarters in Chennai.

MRF tires are advertised as the “go-anywhere tires”, is an extremely well-known catchphrase. However, MRF also manufactures treads, tubes, conveyor belts, paints, and toys, but it is best known for its tires.

LEGO 

LEGO is an abbreviation of the word “Leg Godt” in Danish which means “play well”. We are all familiar with the colorful plastic construction toys and children whining near a toy store to buy a set or two.

The different shapes and sizes fitting for different age groups with the vibrant colors of these building blocks made them a child’s best friend and gained their current popularity. We used to play with LEGOs as a kid, and still, years later, we see children playing with them.

Delve into the enchanting history of the iconic toy brand as we unravel the captivating story of How LEGO Got Its Name.

EBAY

EBAY stands for Echo Bay. It is an American e-commerce corporation founded in 1995. It is not only a shopping website but it also provides a platform for online auction hence it is also known as an AuctionWeb.

It is famous for providing clothing, electronics, cars, collectibles, home appliances, sports goods, and cosmetics at discounted rates.

The reasonable prices of products available on this website helped in popularising the brand among buyers and also provided small sellers a platform to put forward their products. 

“Uncover the origins of eBay, the online marketplace giant, and learn the fascinating tale of ‘How eBay Got Its Name.’

ADB

ADB, or Asian Development Bank, established in 1966, is a regional development bank, the main motive of which is to bring about socio-economic development in Asia.

AOL

American Online commonly referred to as AOL was the first American web service provider that imbibed a sense of community among its users in the United States.

Reports had suggested that top shareholders pressurized Yahoo to merge with American Online.

YAHOO

Did you know that Yahoo is just an abbreviation? That’s right. The real name of this American web service provider is Yet Another Hierarchically Organized Oracle.

Before Google Mail, we have all used Yahoo Mail, and we probably don’t even remember what it was, yet Yahoo had its time to shine in the early 2000s. 

WWE

Every person who had a younger or older brother at home has spent their childhood begrudgingly watching WWE. WWE is World Wrestling Entertainment.

In the early 2000s, WWE stickers and posters were extremely popular. It was the cause of several fights among young boys trying to replicate their moves.

Vodafone

This beloved telecommunications network is most recognizable for its advertisement showcasing a pug that charmed many viewers.

Vodafone is a short form for  Voice Data Fone, and it is one of the most widely used mobile networks.

TESCO

TESCO, or Thomas Edward Stockwell Cohen, is a British multinational retailer of groceries and general merchandise.

Their wi/de range of products has made them the ninth-largest retailer in the world.

Discover the intriguing history behind Tesco’s name and its journey from market stalls to a retail giant. Read ‘How Tesco Got Its Name.’

3M

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company uses the popular brand acronym 3M, which is an American multinational conglomerate corporation that is functional in fields ranging from industry, worker safety, US health care, and final goods.

It provides around 60,000 different types of products.

AMD 

Advanced Micro Devices, also known as AMD is known for developing computer processors. Founded in 1969, it has provided its services for the last 51 years.

Arby’s 

Arby’s, or American Roast Beef, is a sandwich-making American fast food joint that has been a customer favorite since 1964. After Subway, Arby’s is the largest sandwich chain.

AMG

AMG, or Aufrecht Melcher Grossaspach, is an engineering firm most famous for Mercedes-AMG, which is a division of Mercedes-Benz.

It works for the improvement of the performance of Mercedes-Benz vehicles. 

At&t

American Telephone and Telegraph Company, well known as AT&T, was founded in 1963.

It is a conglomerate holding company that provides telephone services for both local and long distances along with internet access. 

BCG 

Boston Consulting Group, or BCG, is held highly in regard to the management consulting industry.

It was founded in 1963 and is now the third-largest in the world in the consulting industry. 

CNBC

Consumer News and Business Channel, or CNBC, was a joint venture in 1989 by NBC and Cablevision.

It is an American business news channel and is viewed worldwide by people with shared interests.

KFC

Kentucky Fried Chicken, well known as KFC started as a roadside restaurant opened by Colonel Harland Sanders, and today it is the second-largest in the world.

This American fast-food chain is well known for its crispy fried chicken and has 22,621 restaurants in 150 countries. 

Explore the flavorful legacy of KFC and uncover the delicious story of ‘How KFC Got Its Name‘ in the world of fast food.

CN

CN, well-known as Cartoon Network, is something we as kids have grown up watching.

Tom & Jerry, Popeye, and Scooby-Doo were a few of the most popular cartoons and are still watched by people to date.

BBC

British Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as BBC, is a British news channel that is watched all over the world for the live news it provides.

People trust the BBC to provide accurate information about what goes on around the world that deserves public attention, and that is the key reason behind its popularity.

WWF

WWF is the World Wide Fund for Nature. It is an international non-government organization that is the largest in the world in the field of conserving wildlife and reducing human impact on our ecosystem. 

TCS

Tata Consultancy Services, or TCS, is the second-largest Indian multinational information technology and consulting services company.

Founded in 1968, it has 149 subsidiaries and affiliates today after 52 years of its existence. 

Ups 

United Parcel Services, commonly known as Ups, has provided its courier services for the last 112 years worldwide. The company had opened its eyes for the first time in the United States. 

BenQ

Bringing Enjoyment and Quality, commonly known as BenQ, is a Taiwanese brand known for its consumer electronics technology products alongside their computing and communication devices.

It is a multinational company that was founded in 1984. Its products are available in more than 100 countries.

BP

British Petroleum, or BP is a part of the oil and gas industry. Its products vary from petroleum, natural gas, motor fuel, petrochemicals, and aviation fuels. 

DKNY

Donna Karan New York, popularly known as DKNY, is a fashion brand that includes the name of the designer and the origin of the fashion house in the brand name itself.

They are famous for their fashion line for both men and women that have served the changing demands of their customers since 1984.

FedEx

Federal Express, or FedEx, is a well-known company for providing its delivery services worldwide.

This American multinational company was the first in its kind to provide live tracking of packages, letting customers know the actual time their packages reached various locations. Other companies later implemented this in the same industry. 

Learn the intriguing history of FedEx and the story behind ‘How FedEx Got Its Name,’ shaping the global logistics industry.

CAT 

CAT is an abbreviation of Caterpillar Inc., which is the world’s largest construction manufacturer. It was founded in 1925, and it provides its products and services worldwide.

They even have a line of clothing and working shoes under their wing. 

CISCO 

Computer Information System Company is generally known as CISCO. It provides IT and networking services worldwide and is known for reducing all types of traffic virtually over any media.

This multinational technology conglomerate was founded in 1984 and has provided its services ever since. 

Discover the tech giant Cisco’s beginnings and the fascinating narrative of ‘How Cisco Got Its Name‘ in the world of networking.

HCL

Hindustan Computer Limited, or HCL, is a global IT company that provides information technology and consulting services to all of its customers.

It is in the top 20 list of the largest publicly traded companies in India.

CEAT

Cavi Electtrici E Affini Torino, or CEAT is one of India’s leading tire manufacturers.

“CEAT all-season tires” has been advertised for ages and has now become a phrase that reminds people of their product every time. 

GM 

GM is an abbreviation for General Motors, which is a well-known manufacturer and distributor of vehicles and their parts alongside financial services.

This American multinational company has been in the automotive industry for 111 years and has marketed its products worldwide.

DHL 

Dalsey Hillblom Lynn, or DHL, is a part of Deutsch Post DHL, which is a German logistics company.

They are well-known for providing courier, express mail, and parcel services.

Fcuk

French Connection, or Fcuk is well known for its clothing line for men and women, along with fashion accessories and even homeware.

It provides global wholesale and retail services in these products. Their merchandise is even available online on shopping sites like Myntra. 

CTS

Cognizant Technology Solution, or CTS provides information technology and consulting services over the globe.

This American multinational corporation was founded in 1994 and became one of the Fortune 500 companies in 2011. 

EA

Electronic Arts, commonly recognized as EA is a video gaming company and publishes games on mobile, computer, and console.

Founded in 1982, it became America and Europe’s second-largest gaming company. It has provided video games worldwide.

DBS

The Development Bank of Singapore Limited referred to as DBS was the first company to show an effort towards gender equality in the first Bloomberg gender-equality index.

This Singaporean bank provides its banking and financial services globally. 

WB

WB is Warner Bros. Entertainment. We all have a shared love for the Harry Potter series, Aquaman, Wonder Woman, Scooby-Doo, and many more.

This mass media and entertainment company has been a leader in the American film industry. They are also well known for their contribution to diversified fields like video games, cartoons, DC comic books, theme parks, music, and theatre. 

ZTE

Zhongxing Telecommunication Equipment Corporation, or ZTE, is a Chinese company that is a global leader in information technology and telecommunication and even manufactures electronics, including handphones, computers, and related devices.

It made headlines in 2017 for violating economic sanctions, as a result of which it was banned in the United States for seven years.

TAFE

Tractor and Farm Equipment Limited, or TAFE, is a well-known manufacturer of tractors in Chennai, India.

It was founded in 1960, and it provides farm equipment, engines, and automotive components alongside its manufacture of tractors in India.

Eni

Ente Nazionale Idrocarburi is widely known as Eni and Italian terminology, which means ” State Hydrocarbons Authority”. This Italian energy company was founded in 1953.

It deals with petroleum, natural gas, and petrochemicals and is one of the largest European oil companies from the viewpoint of sales. 

VIACOM

VIACOM is the short form for Video and Audio Communications. It is an American company that primarily focuses on film and television.

Some of their notable films were Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Keeper of the City, Taking the Heat, and The Fear Inside. 

MTV

Music Television is popularly known as MTV and most teenagers have spent their early teenage years watching shows and listening to live music telecasts on this channel.

This American multinational cable channel was founded in 1981 by Robert Pittman, Les Garland, Tom Freston, and John Sykes. 

IKEA

Ingvar Kamprad Elmtaryd Agunnaryd, or IKEA, is well known for the furniture, kitchen, and home appliances that it provides.

This Dutch-based Swedish company includes the name of its founder, Ingvar Kamprad, in the brand name itself. This is the world’s largest furniture retailer and was founded by its owner when he was only 17 years old.

Explore the history of the beloved furniture retailer, IKEA, and uncover the intriguing tale of ‘How IKEA Got Its Name.’

HSBC

HSBC, or Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, is the seventh-largest bank in the world known for its investment and financial services. It was founded in 1865 and has provided its services ever since. 

Intel 

Integrated Electronics are widely known as intel. This 52-year-old company has provided computer processors to high-end computer manufacturers like Apple, Lenovo, Dell, and HP.

Their semiconductor chips are highly valued, and they are the world’s largest manufacturer of these in terms of revenue. 

P&G 

Procter & Gamble Company was formed in 1837 and is well-known as P&G. The consumer goods produced by this American multinational company cover almost two-thirds of a supermarket.

This consumer goods company started as a manufacturer of soap and candles, but today, after diversification, it has become the largest manufacturer of consumer goods. 

HMV

His Master’s Voice, or HMV, is recognizable for its logo that was used in Elvis Presley’s Golden Album during the three-month period when it announced that the animated dog in their logo would stand for Nipper.

This 121-year-old British record label has released recordings of artists ranging from The Swinging Blue Jeans to Ravi Shankar. 

Infosys

Infosys is a short form for Information Systems. This Indian multinational corporation is a global leader in a new generation of digital and consulting services.

They even provide outsourcing services and have done so since 1981. 

HP

Hewlett Packard, or HP, is well-known for its computers, printers, laptops, toners,  desktops, software, and drivers.

This American multinational information technology company has been in the business since 1939, and it also provides business consultancy services.

Delve into the tech giant HP’s past and discover the compelling story of ‘How HP Got Its Name‘ in the world of computing.

ITC

Indian Tobacco Company Limited, or ITC has gained recognition for its fast-moving consumer goods and its luxury hotel chains.

They have even branched into the agriculture business, paperboards & specialty papers business, information technology services, and packaging & printing business.

We all have products in our houses that have been manufactured by ITC, like Classmate notebooks, Yippee noodles, Bingo chips, and many more. 

ING 

International Netherlands Group, or ING is a Dutch-based banking and financial institution. Their goal is to empower their customers with immediate information and make them realize their vision of a better future.

Their goal is to provide banking services anytime and anywhere. 

SKF 

Svenska Kullagerfabriken, commonly known as SKF, is a Swedish-based manufacturing company. 

This is a 113-year-old bearing and seal manufacturer with 17,000 distributing locations in 130 countries. 

ORACLE 

Oak Ridge Automatic Computer and Logical Engine, or ORACLE, was founded in 1977 and the name of this American computer technology corporation was changed once before it became what it is currently referred to.

This second-largest software company sells cloud engineering systems, database software and technology, and enterprise software products. 

JCB

Joseph Cyril Bamford, or JCB is a well-known brand in the heavy equipment industry.

Their pieces of equipment are mostly used for construction, demolition, agriculture, and waste handling. This England-based manufacturer provides its products in over 150 countries.

LT

Larsen & Toubro Limited, or LT, was founded in 1938. It provides technology, construction, manufacturing, engineering, and financial services alongside global operations. 

KTM

Kronreif & Trunkenpolz Mattighofen, or KTM, was formed in 1992 and owned by Pierer Mobility AG and Bajaj Auto. This is one of the largest manufacturers of bikes.

NASA 

National Aeronautics and Space Administration, or NASA is an American space agency that provides civilian space programs alongside aeronautics and space research.

They focus on advancing knowledge through research in their chosen field. If not for NASA, we would not have had infrared ear thermometers, artificial limbs, and many more such technologies.

SEGA

Service Games, or SEGA, originated in 1940 with the main goal of providing amusement machines to military bases since Martin Bromley, Irving Bromley, and James Humpert thought that the beginning of World War ll would create a demand for entertainment as a necessary distraction.

It was later founded in the year 1960 by Martin Bromley and Richard Stewart in Japan. 

MTC

Mobile TeleSystems, or MTC, is a Russian mobile network operator. It was founded 26 years ago and had the largest market share in Russia in 2017. 

SAP 

Systems, Applications, and Products, or SAP, is a German multinational software company.

It specializes in enterprise software, which is used to manage business operations and public relations. This 48-year-old company is best known for its Enterprise Resource Planning software. 

NBA

The National Basketball Association, or NBA, was founded in 1946. In the United States and Canada, it is a part of the four major men’s professional sports leagues.

It is a top basketball league and is well-known all over the world. 

RBS

The Royal Bank of Scotland, or RBS, established in 1727, was a retail banking subsidiary of NatWest Group but became a direct subsidiary in 2019.

They provide consumer and corporate banking services alongside their insurance services. 

Hence, we have now familiarised ourselves with several brands, and some of them were a shocking revelation since we have grown up only knowing the abbreviations of such brands.

What we can derive from this is some abbreviations are so catchy that if they used their original full forms, then we would have had a tough time remembering the names of our favorite brands.

So, the abbreviations that have stuck with us worked wonders in advertising these brands and making them as popular as they are today.

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