Logo Credit: Marva Warnock

Whether you work in the creative world or just the business world, there’s a good chance you will recognize this business name—Adobe. From PDF files to creative tools like Photoshop, Adobe is one of the most influential software companies in the world. How did this business name evolve over time to become the household name it is today?

The Origin of the Business Name Adobe

Many people immediately associate adobe with the southwestern building material used in traditional homes, but the company took inspiration from somewhere else. Adobe shares its name with a creek that runs through Los Altos Hills, Los Altos and Palo Alto. Both of the founders of the company worked in Palo Alto in the heart of Silicon Valley, and coincidentally, both of them lived near Adobe Creek.

When the founders were searching for the perfect business name, they remembered the creek, named Adobe because it contained adobe clay. The pair decided to try out the name Adobe. It stuck, and inspired the now iconic, bold, stylized “A” logo.

Unlike many other tech companies that have made changes to naming and branding over the years, Adobe’s brand has remained constant. And, they have grown to be one of the biggest, most successful software companies in the world.

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