25 Common Words That You Didn’t Realize Are Actually Brand Names

You probably didn’t realize it but many of the words you use everyday are actually trademarked. These are 25 common words that you didn’t realize are actually brand names.

25. Band-Aid

Band-Aid is a trademark of Johnson & Johnson. The generic term is adhesive bandage.

24. Jacuzzi

Not only does Jacuzzi makes bath tubs they also make toilets.

23. Kleenex

Kleenex is actually just a brand of facial tissues

22. Ping-Pong

It’s actually a trademarked brand of table tennis products.

21. Velcro

Velcro is the world’s most popular brand of hook and loop fasteners.

20. Super Glue

This brand is only one of many cyanoacrylate adhesives.

19. Roller Blades

They are the world’s most prominent brand of inline skates.

18. Super Heroes

If you really want to avoid copyright infringement then you should use the one word “superhero”. The two word version is actually trademarked by DC comics.

17. Taser

A trademark of TASER International, the name of this electrostatic shock weapon is an acronym for “Thomas A. Swift’s Electric Rifle”.

16. Walkman

Walkman was one of the most successful brands of personal stereos in the 20th century.

15. Wite-Out

The generic term is “correction fluid”.

14. Styrofoam

What you typically call styrofoam isn’t styrofoam at all. It’s Extruded Polystyrene Foam. Styrofoam is a specific brand of the same material that is used only in construction.

13. Jet Ski

Not all stand up personal watercraft are Jet Skis.

12. Hula hoop

Those things you always played with in middle school are actually a trademarked brand of toy hoops.

11. Frisbee

Frisbee is a very large producer of flying discs.

10. Lava Lamp

The generic term is liquid motion lamp.

9. ChapStick

ChapStick is only a brand of lip balm.

8. Dumpster

Chances are you didn’t realize this one was trademarked, but not all front loader waste containers are dumpsters.

7. Bubble wrap

Trademarked by Sealed Air Corporation, the generic term is inflated cushioning

6. Crock-Pot

There are plenty of slow cookers that aren’t Crock-Pots.

5. Post-it

Post-it is a brand name sticky note.

4. Seeing Eye Dog

Once again, you probably won’t believe us but this one is actually copyrighted as well. If it wasn’t trained by Seeing Eye of New Jersey it’s technically only a guide dog.

3. Q-Tips

Originally called Baby Gays and then later changed to Q-Tips, the “Q” stood for quality. The generic term would be cotton swab.

2. Saran Wrap

You probably use this one all the time but not all the plastic wrap in your kitchen is Saran Wrap.

1. Popsicle

Invented on accident by an 11 year old Frank Epperson in 1905 the term is owned by Unilever