How Mercedes-Benz Got Its Name: The Race, the Daughter, and the Brand That Made History

Mercedes-Benz is a name so well-known that it doesn’t need an introduction. But did you know that the car company was once known as Daimler before this commercial vehicle? Mercedes-Benz CEO Sten Ola Kallenius recently shared the story of how the firm obtained its name in a video that went viral on social media.

In the video, Kallenius shared that the company, founded in 1886, was initially named after its founder, Gottlieb Daimler. Fifteen years later, Austrian businessman Emil Jellinek approached Daimler and Maybach to design an engine specifically for racing, as he wanted to compete in a race in Nice, France. They delivered a car with a powerful engine, which Jellinek drove to victory. In appreciation, Jellinek requested that the car be named Mercedes in honor of his daughter, thus giving the company its iconic name.

On social media, this post was shared quite some time ago. The post has received nearly two million views since it was published. There are a ton of likes and comments on the video.

Here’s how people reacted to it:

“First time hearing this, so fascinating,” someone commented.

Chris Da Glorias, another X user, stated: “The name’s origins are in the Latin word merces, which means ‘wage’ or reward.’ “Kindness, compassion, and generosity are all embodied in Mercedes.”

“I have to say, Mercedes turned out to be a much better name in the long run!” posted by X user Kyle Klus.

“It’s a nice story,” said another person. I wish Mercedes would return to “German Standards.” in terms of quality.”

According to Kallenius, Mercedes Jellinek, the daughter of Gottlieb Daimler, is the source of the name Mercedes. He named the car in her honor because she was an admirer of his work. That must be one method for getting a positive review, said user Benjamin Lockheart.