“Lumia” is old Spanish slang for a prostitute.
Astonishingly, Nokia knew this before launch.
They still liked the name because it reminded them of the Finnish word “lumi”, meaning snow.
It sounded light and bright.
The problem?
More people speak Spanish than Finnish.
Spanish-speaking markets did not get the Finnish meaning of bright and light.
Mitsubishi launched the Pajero in Japan.
The name came from a wild cat species.
In Spanish, “pajero” means “wanker.” Not the best image to sell a car.
Mitsubishi changed the name in Spanish-speaking markets to Montero.
Smart move. The car was a success.
Many IKEA product names sound funny in English.
People share the names online and laugh.
This cannot have gone unnoticed. Still, IKEA does not change them.
Sometimes a funny name does not hurt the brand.
It can even go viral and help it grow, when done with class.
Was Nokia trying to create buzz with the “hooker phone”?
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