Starbucks: An Old Map and Moby-DickHow the coffee giant almost got a terrible name.

From the show

Iconic Names Explained

Starbucks' name is a result of a fortunate coincidence. The founders, inspired by the seafaring tradition of coffee traders, were brainstorming names. They considered 'Pequod' from Moby-Dick, but an ad consultant's advice and a glance at an old mining map led them to the familiar name we know today. It was a perfect blend of literary influence and phonetic appeal that avoided a much less appealing alternative.