Sign In
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
Have you ever wondered where everyday words and objects get their names? Many common things we use or hear about daily are actually named after real people—some famous, some forgotten by history. From scientific inventions to fashion trends and even food, these names have surprising origins.
For example, the Teddy bear comes from a US president’s hunting trip, while the sandwich is named after an 18th-century nobleman who preferred eating on the go. Even the saxophone, diesel engine and braille system owe their names to their inventors.
Some names, like boycott and maverick, started as people's surnames before evolving into widely used words. In this list, we’ll explore 15 things you never knew were named after real people — revealing the fascinating stories behind everyday language and inventions.
15 things named after real people
Silhouette – Derived from Étienne de Silhouette, a French finance minister known for his frugality. To reduce France’s deficit, he imposed strict economic measures, earning a reputation for austerity. His name became associated with anything inexpensive. At the time, people who couldn’t afford painted portraits turned to cheaper black paper cutouts to capture their likeness. These simple profile images became known as silhouettes. Before photography, they were the most affordable way to record a person's appearance. The phrase "à la Silhouette", meaning “on the cheap”, also emerged further cementing his name in history.
Diesel Engine – Named after Rudolf Diesel, the German engineer who invented it.
Teddy Bear – The name "teddy bear" comes from President Theodore Roosevelt's nickname, "Teddy". The name originated from an incident during a bear hunting trip in 1902 when Roosevelt refused to shoot a tied-up bear. The incident was illustrated in a political cartoon by Clifford Berryman in The Washington Post. Inspired by the cartoon, Brooklyn candy shop owner Morris Michtom created plush bears and, with Roosevelt’s permission, named them "Teddy bears." The toys became hugely popular, and the name stuck, making the Teddy bear a beloved childhood companion worldwide.
Jacuzzi – Named after the Italian-American Jacuzzi brothers, who created the first hydrotherapy pumps.
Ferris Wheel – Designed by George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. for the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair.
Boycott – Named after Charles Boycott, an English land agent who was ostracised by Irish tenants during a dispute.
Sandwich – Named after John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, who reportedly ate meat between slices of bread to avoid stopping his card games.
Braille – Named after Louis Braille, who developed the tactile writing system for the visually impaired.
Cardigan – Named after James Brudenell, the 7th Earl of Cardigan, who popularised the knitted sweater.
Guillotine - A beheading device named after French doctor Joseph-Ignace Guillotin. He advocated for its use as a quicker and more humane execution method. Though he didn’t invent it, his name became linked to it.
Maverick – Named after Samuel Maverick, a Texas rancher who refused to brand his cattle.
Mesmerise – Inspired by Franz Mesmer, an 18th-century physician known for his theories on hypnotism.
Nicotine – Named after Jean Nicot, a French diplomat who introduced tobacco to France.
Saxophone – Invented by Adolphe Sax, a Belgian musician and instrument maker.
Fahrenheit – Named after Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit, who developed the temperature scale.
