This archive report was first published on 24 October 2021.
From the early 20th century to the present day, the names of popular candies have fascinating stories behind them. Published on October 24, 2021, a graphic revealed how some of these candies got their names.
Let's start with the 3 Musketeers candy, which was initially composed of separate milk, chocolate, and vanilla bars. The name is a reference to the Alexandre Dumas novel.
The Baby Ruth candy was named in honor of Ruth Cleveland, the daughter of US President Grover Cleveland.
The Butterfinger candy got its name as a result of a contest run by the Curtiss Candy Company in 1923. A man from Chicago, known as Klutz, came up with the name.
The Ferrero Rocher candy was named by its inventor, Michele Ferrero, after the Rocher de Massabielle, the sight of the Virgin Mary sighting.
The Heath candy was first sold by Bayard and Everett Heath.
The Hershey's candy was named after Milton Hershey, the founder of the Hershey candy company.
The Jolly Rancher candy was named after an ice cream store in Colorado.
The Junior Mint candy was a word play on the name of the 1940s Broadway play Junior Miss.
The KitKat candy was believed to have been named after the Kit Kat Club in West London, a popular 1920s jazz venue.
The M&M's candy was named after its inventors, Forrest Mars and Bruce Murrie.
The Milk Duds candy got its name because it is the main ingredient, and 'duds' because they couldn't make them round.
The Milky Way candy was named after malted milk, a popular drink in the 1920s.
The Mr. Goodbar candy was named by Milton Hershey, who misheard someone say 'that's a good bar' as 'mister Goodbar'. He liked the sound of it and named it that way.
The PayDay candy was named on payday at the Hollywood Candy Company.
The Reese's candy was created by former Hershey's employee Harry Burnett Reese.
The Skittles candy got its name from a historical word traditionally associated with casual leisurely activities, particularly a type of nine-pin game.
The Smarties candy was named to encourage people to pursue an education.
The Snickers candy was named after a horse owned by the Mars family. In Britain, it went by the name Marathon Bar to avoid rhyming with knickers.
The Starburst candy was first called Opal Fruit in Britain, later renamed Starburst for marketing purposes in the US.
The Swedish Fish candy was first sold by the Swedish company Malaco and was shaped like a fish.
The Toblerone candy was named after the family name of the makers, Tobler, and torrone, the nougat used in the chocolate.
The Tootsie Roll candy was named after the creator's daughter, Clara, who went by the nickname Tootsie.
The Twix candy was named a combination of 'twin' and 'mix'.
