In the early days of the internet, creating a memorable and catchy domain name wasn’t always the primary concern for entrepreneurs and startups. In fact, many of today’s most successful websites started with domain names that many would consider “bad.” Whether they were long, awkward, hard to spell, or just plain weird, these domain names could have easily been a hindrance to their founders’ success. But somehow, they managed to overcome the odds and build world-renowned brands.
In this post, we’ll dive into the stories behind famous websites that started with bad domain names and how they managed to thrive despite their less-than-ideal URLs. Let’s look at how a “bad” domain didn’t stop these companies from becoming household names and how they turned their initial setbacks into opportunities for growth.
1. Amazon – Amazon.com (Originally “Cadabra.com”)
It’s hard to imagine Amazon as anything other than the global e-commerce giant it is today, but in its early days, the company had a bad domain name. In 1994, Jeff Bezos originally registered the domain name Cadabra.com for his online bookstore. However, it didn’t take long for Bezos to realize that “Cadabra” sounded a lot like the word “cadaver”, which could evoke images of death rather than books and products.
When Bezos pitched his company to investors, he discovered that the name “Cadabra” didn’t come across as magical or exciting. To avoid any negative associations, Bezos rebranded the company and switched to Amazon.com in 1995. The name “Amazon” was chosen because it was big, like the Amazon River, and would help signify the scale Bezos was hoping to achieve. This proved to be a brilliant decision. Amazon is now one of the most recognized brands in the world, but it owes part of its success to recognizing early that a domain name is more than just an address—it’s a brand identity.
2. Google – Google.com (Originally “Backrub.com”)
The story behind Google’s domain name is another example of how a bad domain name can hold a company back—if the right changes aren’t made. In 1996, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, the founders of Google, initially named their search engine Backrub. The name was inspired by the algorithm that evaluated backlinks (or the “back rubs”) that each page received from other websites. While it was an interesting name for a project at the time, it wasn’t exactly catchy or memorable.
As Page and Brin continued developing their search engine, they quickly realized that the name Backrub wasn’t going to make their company stand out. So, in 1997, they opted for a new name: Google. The name was a play on the mathematical term “googol,” referring to the number 1 followed by 100 zeros. This change proved to be an inspired decision. Today, Google is not only the most used search engine on the planet but also a verb, with people saying “just Google it” when they want to search for something.
3. Facebook – Facebook.com (Originally “TheFacebook.com”)
When Mark Zuckerberg and his college roommates launched the social networking platform that would eventually become Facebook, they started with a bad domain name: TheFacebook.com. While the domain itself wasn’t exactly a disaster, it was awkward and long. The “The” in the name was somewhat unnecessary and didn’t have the kind of memorable, punchy quality that a brand like Facebook would need to become globally recognized.
In 2005, Sean Parker, co-founder of Napster and one of Facebook’s early investors, convinced Zuckerberg to drop the “The” from the name. This simple change to Facebook.com was a pivotal moment in the company’s history. The shorter, more streamlined domain made it easier to remember and share, and Facebook soon became the go-to social network for millions of people around the world. Today, Facebook is one of the largest social media platforms globally, and the domain is synonymous with social interaction online.
4. Yahoo – Yahoo.com (Originally “Jerry’s Guide to the World Wide Web”)
Before Yahoo became the internet giant we know today, it was originally launched as “Jerry’s Guide to the World Wide Web” by Jerry Yang and David Filo in 1994. The site was a directory of other websites, serving as an organized way to browse the burgeoning internet. While the site itself was useful, the domain name was long and cumbersome, not exactly the kind of name that would capture the attention of internet users in the way that a catchy brand name would.
In 1995, the founders changed the name to Yahoo!, a word that was originally coined by Jonathan Swift in his novel “Gulliver’s Travels.” The word referred to a race of people who were crude, filthy, and unpleasant. However, Yang and Filo thought it was a fitting, playful name that could stand out. With the addition of an exclamation point and a more memorable, quirky domain name—Yahoo.com—the company became a dominant internet portal. Today, Yahoo! is still a well-known brand, even though its role has changed over the years.
5. Tumblr – Tumblr.com (Originally “Tumbler.com”)
David Karp, the founder of Tumblr, initially registered the domain name Tumbler.com when he launched the blogging platform in 2007. However, he soon ran into a problem: Tumbler.com was already taken by another company, and there was no way to acquire it.
Rather than abandoning the idea, Karp decided to tweak the spelling and went with Tumblr.com, dropping the “e” from “Tumbler” to create a unique and brandable name. The domain name Tumblr.com worked perfectly for the platform’s image: short, quirky, and memorable. Over time, Tumblr became a massive social media platform for creative expression, attracting millions of users with its easy-to-use interface and endless customization options.
Though the name originally came from a bit of bad luck, the small change to the domain name ended up becoming one of the most iconic names on the internet.
6. Flickr – Flickr.com (Originally “Flicker.com”)
When Flickr first launched as a photo-sharing website in 2004, it actually had a bad domain name: Flicker.com. The name was simple, easy to spell, and suited the service’s goal of letting users upload and share images. However, the domain name was already registered, so Flickr founder Stewart Butterfield opted to drop the “e” from “Flicker” and settled on Flickr.com instead.
At first glance, Flickr.com doesn’t seem like a huge improvement over “Flicker,” but the distinctive spelling made the name more memorable and allowed for easier branding. Today, Flickr is a popular photo-sharing platform, and its unique domain name has contributed to its identity and brand recognition in the photography and social media space.
7. Spotify – Spotify.com (Originally “Spottyfy.com”)
While Spotify’s name and domain are now iconic, the service’s original name was far from perfect. Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon, the founders of Spotify, initially came up with the name Spottyfy for their music streaming service in 2006. However, after a brainstorming session and a few mistakes, the founders realized that the name was awkward and didn’t quite have the right sound. The domain name Spottyfy.com was also taken.
They soon arrived at the name Spotify, a fusion of “spot” and “identify,” and the domain name Spotify.com became available. Today, Spotify has become one of the largest music streaming platforms in the world, but it owes part of its success to its ability to come up with a better, more brandable domain name at the right time.
8. Etsy – Etsy.com (Originally “Etsy.com”)
While Etsy’s domain name might seem straightforward today, the site actually started with a bit of a peculiar twist. Etsy was founded by Rob Kalin in 2005 as a marketplace for handmade and vintage items. When he was brainstorming names for the platform, he wanted something unique and memorable.
He reportedly stumbled upon the name “Etsy” after seeing the word “et cetera” in a movie and deciding that “Etsy” was a quirky, easy-to-remember name for his business. The domain Etsy.com was available, and despite some initial doubts about the name’s relevance, it caught on. Today, Etsy is a huge success, and the unique domain name has helped it become a standout in the world of online shopping.
Conclusion
The journey from a bad domain name to internet success isn’t always smooth, but these famous websites prove that a less-than-ideal URL doesn’t always mean the end of the road. Whether it was a minor tweak or a complete rebrand, the founders of these companies realized early on that a good domain name isn’t everything—it’s the product, the service, and the brand that truly matters.
If you’re just starting out on the internet and are worried about finding the perfect domain name, take a note from these tech giants: sometimes, a quirky or awkward name can turn into something extraordinary.
Have you ever had to work with a bad domain name? Or maybe you’re looking for tips on how to choose the best one for your business? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
