We take names like Geico and Sega for granted, but just what do they mean? Here’s your answers:

GEICO:

Geico actually stands for Government Employee Insurance Company. As you can probably guess, Geico started off only offering insurance to employees of the government. They started off in Texas in 1936 and than moved to DC when they realized there is more government there. It wasn’t until 1974 that Geico began offering insurance to regular folk.

COLECO:

Here’s one you’d probably never guess. Coleco, the video game giant of the 80s, actually is short for Connecticut Leather Company. Obviously, the company used to make leather products and then decided to specialize in video games instead.

SEGA:

Speaking of a defunct video game company, here’s one that almost is. What child of the 90s doesn’t remember arguing if Sega or Nintendo was better. While the answer was obviously Nintendo, that’s not what we’re here to discuss. Instead, we’re here to talk about how Sega is actually short for Service Games. The company actually got their start by providing slot machines at military bases. In fact, some of those slot machines were at Pearl Harbor when it was bombed.

PEPSI:

Pepsi was originally called Brad’s Drink. Not being exactly the most catchy name, it was renamed Pepsi Cola not too long after. Supposedly this was named after two of the ingredients in the soda: pepsin and kola nuts. Don’t know what pepsin is? It’s a digestive enzyme, sound delicious, right?

Another theory is that it’s called Pepsi because the caffeine gives you pep! But that’s probably too obvious.

COCA-COLA:

Yes, the urban legends you heard are true. Coca-Cola did contain cocaine. It was a very small amount, but it was in there. The drink contained trace amounts of the drug until 1929. Now if you want cocaine in your soda you have to add it yourself.