Friday, November 7, 2025

Question: How did Starbucks get its name?

Answer: Starbucks takes its name from Starbuck, first mate of the Pequod in Herman Melville’s 1851 novel Moby-Dick. When the coffee giant’s co-founders brainstormed names in 1971, they sought one starting with “st,” believing the sound to be powerful. The trio eventually came across Starbo, a mining camp on Mt. Rainier, which reminded them of the classic literary character.