Amazon's original name was very different and it's left people floored

Amazon, the globally recognised technology company and retailer, was not always known by its current name.

The company, which is arguably the world's largest online retailer, was founded by business tycoon Jeff Bezos on July 5, 1994, in his converted garage in Washington.

Initially conceived as a book marketplace, it has since expanded to offer a diverse range of products across multiple categories. However, reports suggest that Amazon wasn't Bezos' first choice for the company's name.

Instead, it was initially set to be called Cadabra, as a nod to the magic phrase "abracadabra". But when Bezos' lawyer thought it sounded too much like cadaver, he renamed the company Amazon in November 1994.

Now, it's hard to imagine the company being called anything else. The journey of Amazon from a converted garage to a global industry giant is well-documented, but its original name has surprised some.

On Reddit, one user shared: "TIL [today I learned] Amazon.com was very nearly called ‘Cadabra,’ as in ‘abracadabra.’" Another user queried: "DYK [did you know]: Amazon was initially known as ‘Cadabra,’ but the company changed its name to Amazon.com, Inc. after a lawyer misinterpreted the original name as ‘Cadaver.’" This revelation prompted another user to exclaim: "WHAT. How am I only just learning this?! Would be a good quiz question."

On X, previously known as Twitter, a social media user shared the interesting fact with their followers, writing: "Amazon was originally named Cadabra, and it was an online bookstore. Launched in July 1994 as 'Cadabra Inc.' Changed to Amazon after people misheard it as 'Cadaver'. Now it’s the world’s largest e-commerce platform, but it started with books."

Another X user responded: "I didn’t know". A third person chimed in, calling it "interesting information". One bold X user even claimed: "Amazon would have been twice as big if they were named Cadabra."

Amazon is recognised as one of the ‘Big Five’ American technology companies, alongside Alphabet (Google's parent company), Apple, Meta (Facebook's parent company), and Microsoft. Its success has greatly benefited founder Jeff Bezos, who, according to Forbes, is the second wealthiest person globally, boasting a net worth of $211 (£161) billion as of July 16, 2024.

In 2020, he committed to donating $10 (£7.6) billion to climate causes by 2030 through his Bezos Earth Fund; to date, he has donated $2 (£1.5) billion.

Bezos also owns stakes in other businesses. He owns The Washington Post, an American daily newspaper, and Blue Origin, an aerospace company that develops rockets.

In July 2021, Bezos and three other passengers embarked on Blue Origin's first manned flight to space. He has expressed his intention to donate the majority of his wealth within his lifetime, though he refrained from providing any specific details.