Google turns 28: Why Larry Page let Sergey Brin name Alphabet

On September 4, Google celebrated its 28th anniversary, reflecting the remarkable journey of the company since its inception. Founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin as a search engine, Google has since evolved into a multinational conglomerate called Alphabet. Alphabet encompasses various sectors, including internet services, cloud computing, AI, self-driving technology, and more.

The naming of Alphabet was an outcome of an unusual compromise between the two co-founders. Page had initially proposed the name "Google," and it was Brin who suggested "Alphabet" as the name for the new parent company. According to Page, "I chose Google, so [Sergey] chose Alphabet." This decision demonstrated their vision for a company that could transcend Google's original search engine business.

Google's name was derived from the term "googol," which represents the number 1 followed by 100 zeros. The founders aimed to create a platform that could organize and make accessible a vast amount of information online. As the company grew, so did its ambitions, leading to the development of diverse businesses spanning video, cloud computing, AI, and autonomous vehicles. This expansion culminated in the formation of Alphabet to serve as the parent company for Google's various ventures.

While Page claimed credit for the initial name "Google," he acknowledged that Brin had the final say in choosing "Alphabet." During an interview with Khosla Ventures in 2014, Page explained his reasoning behind the name selection, stating that he wanted to foster a sense of pride among Google employees and investors in their upcoming projects.

He avoided making Alphabet another consumer-facing brand, similar to Google, and focused on creating a robust structure for businesses alongside Google. The name was not subjected to extensive testing among consumers before its announcement, as the primary purpose was to serve as a designation for employees and investors.