[target]Alex Wong/Getty Images * Many of our favorite, go-to stores have surprising origin stories. * CVS is anacronyms with multiple meanings, and Starbucks is named after a character in Herman Melville's "Moby-Dick." * Other businesses, like Zara and Applebees, were forced into new names after learning competitors had already taken their original ones. Target, 7-Eleven, Applebees, and CVS — these are stores that make up our everyday lives. But have you ever stopped to wonder what their names actually mean, and how they came to be? Starbucks is named after a minor character in "Moby-Dick." Panera Bread's name is a portmanteau with Latin and Spanish roots, and the Gap is a reference to the generation gap. Keep scrolling to learn more about 12 popular businesses and how they got their unique names. ZARA WAS ORIGINALLY NAMED "ZORBA," AFTER THE 1964 FILM "ZORBA THE GREEK." Thomson Reuters Back in 1975, Zara founder Amancio Ortega opened up his flagship women's clothing store in La Coruña, Spain — and it was called "Zorba." Ortega was set on naming it after the 1964 film "Zorba the Greek," and he even had the letter mold for his storefront sign ready to go. But there was a bar about two blocks over with the same name, and the owner told Ortega it would be too confusing for them both to be called "Zorba." So, Ortega rearranged the letters to say "Zara," and the rest is history. IN 1946, 7-ELEVEN WAS NAMED AFTER ITS EXTENDED HOURS OF OPERATION: 7 A.M. TO 11 P.M., SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. Paul Sakuma/AP Photo Though 7-Elevens have been in existence since 1927, they didn't officially get their name until 1946. Previously known as the Southland Ice Company, the convenience stores reemerged after the Depression in the '30s and rebranded, calling themselves "7/11" or "7-Eleven" to represent new, extended hours of operation. Though they were originally open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week, 7-Elevens are now open 24/7. H&M STANDS FOR "HENNES & MAURITZ," WHICH IS A NOD TO ITS SWEDISH ORIGINS. Sara Sette/Shutterstock H&M opened in Sweden in 1946, and it was originally called "Hennes," which means "hers" in Swedish. After the store started to gain some traction, it acquired Mauritz Widforss, a hunting and fishing apparel company. The fusion led to both men's and women's apparel being sold at the store, as well as a permanent name change: Hennes & Mauritz. The store is now commonly, if not exclusively, referred to as H&M. SEE THE REST OF THE STORY AT BUSINESS INSIDER SEE ALSO: * 16 photos of Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper's emotional Oscars night that prove the duo's chemistry is real * 6 people and movies that don't deserve their Oscar wins — sorry * Buckingham Palace and the White House have similar State Rooms including Yellow, Green, and Blue Rooms. Here's how they compare.
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