The Origin of the Starbucks Siren

You’ve probably noticed Starbucks’ little green mermaid adorning every one of their cups. It may seem kind of strange to have a twin-tailed siren as the logo for a coffee brand, but after learning about Starbucks’ origin, it makes perfect sense!

Where Did the Name ‘Starbucks’ Come From?

When it came to naming the company, the founders wanted to go for something that would embody a sense of adventure and maintain the link to the seafaring tradition of early coffee traders.

While working with artist Terry Heckler to help with their branding, one of the founders recommended the name “Pequod” - this is the name of the ship in Herman Melville’s novel, Moby Dick. However, Terry objected, feeling that a cup of “pee-kwod” wouldn’t appeal to anyone.

And so they continued the search. While researching names of mining camps on Mount Rainier, Terry came across “Starbo,” which led them back to Moby Dick, as the first mate of Pequod is called “Starbuck”. This name had close ties to the sea and adventure - exactly what the founders wanted. And so a brand was born.

Why is the Starbucks Logo a Mermaid?

One day, while scouring some old marine books, something called to the founders. You guessed it - it was a beautiful, nautical mermaid. Some believe they came across a Nordic 15th century drawing of a bare-breasted, twin-tailed mermaid. Others believe it was an image of a famous, medieval, two-tailed siren called Melusine.

Whichever mermaid it was that inspired the original logo design, the design was a little more risqué than the one we see today, as the founders chose to show the siren’s bare breasts. But as time went on, the designers covered her breasts and zoomed in closer to her face, forming the Starbucks brand we know and love today.