Amazon Brand Name Meaning | Company Name Ideas & Brand Naming Guide

Amazon Brand Name Story – Meaning, History & Naming Insights

Brand Name: Amazon

Company Name: Amazon.com, Inc.
Founded: 1994
Founder: Jeff Bezos
Industry: E-commerce, Cloud Computing, Digital Services
Headquarters: Seattle, Washington, USA

Meaning & Origin of the Name

The brand name Amazon was chosen by Jeff Bezos to reflect scale, abundance, and dominance. The Amazon River is the largest river in the world, symbolizing Bezos’ ambition to build the world’s biggest online marketplace. The name also conveniently starts with the letter “A”, ensuring early placement in alphabetical listings—an intentional strategic advantage in the early internet era.

Originally, Bezos considered names like Cadabra (from “abracadabra”), but dropped it after it sounded too much like “cadaver.” Amazon felt bold, expansive, and memorable—ideal traits for a global brand.

How the Name Was Coined

The name was inspired through dictionary exploration, a common brand name generator–style approach before automated tools existed. Bezos wanted a word that suggested something vast and unstoppable, aligning perfectly with Amazon’s long-term vision.

Brand Identity & Hidden Symbolism

• Logo: The curved arrow from A to Z represents selling everything from A to Z and doubles as a smile, symbolizing customer satisfaction.

• Color: Black (authority), orange (energy, friendliness).

• Tone: Customer-obsessed, efficient, innovative.

Business Growth & Success

Amazon started as an online bookstore and evolved into a tech giant spanning e-commerce, AWS, AI, entertainment, and logistics.

• Market Cap / Net Worth: Amazon is consistently ranked among the world’s most valuable companies, with a market capitalization exceeding $1 trillion in recent years.

• Ownership: Publicly traded (NASDAQ: AMZN).

Brand Facts & Naming Takeaways

Amazon is a masterclass in how to name it right: short, symbolic, scalable, and emotionally powerful. It’s often cited in brand name ideas and company name suggestions discussions for startups aiming for global reach.