20 Products That Changed Names Without Warning
Here's a look at 20 real products that surprised customers by changing their names, from snacks and shampoos to tech giants and toothpaste.
- Alyana Aguja
- 5 min read
Brand names can feel permanent, but history shows they often change — sometimes quietly, sometimes with fanfare. These 20 products underwent rebranding for reasons ranging from global consistency and legal disputes to modern marketing strategies. While some changes sparked backlash, most eventually became the new normal for consumers.
1. Oil of Olay → Olay
Image from Wikipedia
Oil of Olay dropped the “Oil of” in 1999 to modernize its image and appeal to a younger market. The rebranding aimed to simplify the name while keeping the brand’s recognition intact. Many loyal customers barely noticed until they saw the streamlined packaging.
2. Diet Pepsi Max → Pepsi Max → Pepsi Zero Sugar
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This high-caffeine cola first hit shelves as Diet Pepsi Max in 2007 before becoming simply Pepsi Max in 2009. In 2016, it changed again to Pepsi Zero Sugar to match Coca-Cola’s naming style. Despite the shifts, the formula stayed mostly the same.
3. Kentucky Fried Chicken → KFC
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In 1991, Kentucky Fried Chicken officially became KFC to create a snappier brand and distance itself from the word “fried.” The move also supported a more health-conscious image. Today, most people forget that the full name ever appeared on the signs.
4. Uncle Ben’s → Ben’s Original
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In 2020, Mars Inc. rebranded Uncle Ben’s to Ben’s Original in response to conversations about racial stereotypes. The change included new packaging and logo updates. While the rice stayed the same, the familiar face was gone.
5. Dunkin’ Donuts → Dunkin’
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In 2018, Dunkin’ Donuts dropped “Donuts” to signal a broader menu beyond baked goods. The new name reflected its growing focus on beverages, especially coffee. Long-time fans still use the old name out of habit.
6. WWF → WWE
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The World Wrestling Federation became World Wrestling Entertainment in 2002 after losing a legal battle with the World Wildlife Fund over the WWF initials. The rebrand also helped shift focus to entertainment rather than purely “sport.” Fans still slip up and call it the WWF years later.
7. Google Home → Nest Hub
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Google renamed its smart home devices under the Nest branding in 2019. The Google Home Hub became the Nest Hub, signaling integration with Nest’s smart ecosystem. The change confused some early adopters who had just gotten used to the old name.
8. Cif → Jif (UK)
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In 2001, Unilever renamed the UK household cleaner Cif to Jif to align with its global branding. The change was meant to simplify marketing and avoid pronunciation issues in different countries. British shoppers were divided, with many still calling it Cif years later.
9. Rajah Coffee → Great Taste Coffee
Nathan Dumlao from Unsplash
In the Philippines, Rajah Coffee quietly became Great Taste Coffee in the 1980s after being acquired by Universal Robina Corporation. The rebrand included new flavors and a stronger marketing push. Today, many younger consumers have no idea the brand ever had another name.
10. Opal Fruits → Starburst
Image from Wikipedia
In 1998, Mars rebranded its fruity chews Opal Fruits to Starburst to unify the name worldwide. The move upset UK fans who grew up with the original name. Despite protests, Starburst became the accepted brand over time.
11. Snickers → Marathon (UK) → Snickers again
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In the UK, the Snickers bar was known as Marathon until 1990, when Mars aligned it with the global Snickers branding. The switch initially caused confusion among British shoppers. Now, Marathon only lives on in nostalgic conversations.
12. Mr. Clean → Flash (UK)
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In the UK, the iconic Mr. Clean cleaning product was rebranded to Flash due to trademark issues. The bald mascot remained, but the name change left some consumers scratching their heads. Many still associate the character with the American name.
13. Lay’s → Walkers (UK)
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While not exactly a name change in the traditional sense, Lay’s potato chips are sold under the Walkers name in the UK. PepsiCo uses the same packaging design and flavors but markets them differently. Visitors are often surprised to see familiar chips with a different brand name.
14. Peking Duck Sauce → Hoisin Sauce
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In some regions, bottles labeled as “Peking Duck Sauce” quietly shifted to “Hoisin Sauce” for clarity and consistency. The recipe stayed the same, but the new name aligned with international culinary terms. For many, the change was so subtle they barely noticed.
15. Darkie Toothpaste → Darlie Toothpaste
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This toothpaste brand in Asia rebranded in 1989 from Darkie to Darlie to move away from offensive racial imagery. The logo was softened but kept a similar design. The change was gradual, so the product remained recognizable.
16. Salon Selectives (Shampoo) → Selectives
Mockup Free from Unsplash
This once-popular 90s shampoo brand shortened its name to Selectives during a packaging overhaul. The aim was to refresh the brand for modern shelves. Unfortunately, it lost some of its nostalgic identity in the process.
17. Comcast → Xfinity
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In 2010, Comcast began branding its cable and internet services as Xfinity to improve its public image. The rebrand was part of a strategy to distance itself from past customer service complaints. Many still know the parent company as Comcast.
18. Anderson Consulting → Accenture
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In 2001, Andersen Consulting split from Arthur Andersen and adopted the name Accenture. The change represented a new vision focused on “accenting the future.” It became one of the most successful rebrands in corporate history.
19. Soundabout → Walkman
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In the US, Sony’s portable cassette player was originally called the Soundabout when it was launched in 1979. It was soon changed to Walkman to match the global brand name. Today, “Walkman” is the name that is stuck in music history.
20. BackRub → Google
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Before it became the tech giant we know today, Google was called BackRub in 1996. The name reflected its original function of analyzing backlinks on the web. Thankfully, the switch to Google in 1997 gave it a cleaner, more memorable identity.