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Is there a word to describe names that have no meaning but take on meaning over time for example "Google"?

English Language & Usage Asked by mark_h on January 15, 2021

Sometimes we create names for things that are just meaningless identifiers, the only example that springs to mind is "Google". That "Google" originally had no meaning may be disputed but this is besides the point. We do create nonsense words to name things, usually to ensure that the name is original and unique however over time these words aquire meaning; Google is no longer a nonsense word and is regularly used as a verb.

Is there a word to describe these sorts of words?

"Google" is a search engine, but I am not familiar with its use as a proprietory eponym, for example "Bing is a type of Google" does not sound correct (to me), I do not use the word Google to mean search engine. My experience of the word Google is normally as a verb i.e. "to google something".

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