12 popular words you didn't know started as brands

Some companies' products and services become so popular their brand names become common nouns and verbs. In fact, you might be using such words every day – read on to find 12 of the most unexpected examples.


All of the trademarks from the list were once registered by different companies. They got the right to use the symbol ® to inform the public that these names were owned by the companies and legally protected.

Some of the trademarks from the list have already expired – the term of a trademark is usually 10 years. After the completion of the term, the owner has to renew the trademark for another 10 years in order not to lose it.


Which one surprised you the most? Did you know about any of these? Would you like to add any words to this list?

We are waiting for your comments!

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What are your thoughts on this subject?
50 Comments
diff
Kleenex? A brand name now commonly used for tissue.
38
Jan 6, 2020 4:46PM
drmargiem
Scotch tape
18
Mar 1, 2020 10:29PM
Michael Doherty
Kleenex, Band-aid, Saran Wrap, Jello, etc.
15
Dec 27, 2019 9:14PM
rrowland
Coke. I refer to all soda, especially cola, as Coke
10
May 23, 2020 4:54PM
Catherine Miller
Very American, we don’t use all those brand names in NZ, stretch and grow, spa pool, cotton bud, chapstick and lip balm it’s either or, mainly table tennis and a real estate agent is just that!
9
Sep 28, 2020 4:52PM
John Gwalter
Hoover? We still "hoover" the carpet!
6
Feb 6, 2022 5:20AM
George Albert Binet
Scott towel, band aid, coke
0
Nov 2, 2023 11:58PM
zolnem
Rubic cube?
0
Oct 9, 2023 5:08PM
AJ Webb
You missed kleenex
0
Apr 26, 2023 7:40PM
Louella Wilson
Tina Marie Haddad Rhodes, some "babes" wear onesies!
0
Jan 14, 2023 8:29PM
Tina Marie Haddad Rhodes
Onesie surprised me. I had no idea it was a brand name, I thought it was just a name us mothers called these wonderful convenient baby outfits…
0
Jul 11, 2022 11:10PM
Doris Dallaire
How about Kleenex, Scotch tape, Band-aid, Jello, Javex,
1
May 28, 2022 7:58PM
Deepak Roy
What about Xerox?
1
Apr 23, 2022 12:39PM
Elsy O. Stromberg
rrowland, That sounds confusing. So you ask for a Coke even if you want a 7up or some other kind of pop?
1
Feb 23, 2022 2:13PM
Conrado De Leon
In our part of the world, Gillette became generic for a shaving razor blade..
1
Jan 14, 2022 6:08PM
Charna Cykiert
What about Jello, Bandaid?
2
Dec 30, 2021 7:10PM
Ken Putnam
Crescent Wrench
1
Oct 23, 2021 12:20PM
Ken Putnam
Angeles Dembowski, Dewar flask
0
Oct 23, 2021 12:20PM
bettye
Kraft envelope, A manila envelope.
2
Sep 17, 2021 9:18PM
Peter Robertson
Catherine Miller, Most of them though
1
Sep 16, 2021 11:09PM

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