Google turns 27: What does the word ‘Google’ really mean? The real meaning and origin

Every time you open your browser, chances are you tap into Google’s vast ecosystem. But have you ever paused to wonder: what does “Google” actually mean? And how did a mere misspelling pave the way for one of the world’s most powerful brands?

From “Googol” to Google: The Name and Its Origins

The word “Google” is a playful twist on the mathematical term googol—a number so vast it’s written as 1 followed by 100 zeros (10^100). The term was coined by Milton Sirotta, nephew of mathematician Edward Kasner, when he was just a child.

When Larry Page and Sergey Brin sought a name for their search engine, they wanted something that evoked the immensity of information they aimed to index. During a brainstorming session, the term “googolplex” came up, but they pared it down.

Here’s where serendipity struck: one of Brin’s collaborators (Sean Anderson) checked domain name availability but typed in “google.com” instead of “googol.com.” The version stuck.  In effect, our everyday “Google” is a happy typo that morphed into a global brand.

A Birthday That Moved

Interestingly, although Google was officially incorporated on September 4, 1998, the company celebrates its birthday on September 27. That later date is said to mark a key internal milestone—when Google indexed a record number of web pages—so the founders chose it as their annual “birthday.”

So in 2025, Google turns 27—not just in name, but in celebratory spirit.

From BackRub to a Global Giant

Believe it or not, Google was initially called BackRub, referring to its algorithm that ranked web pages by backlinks. But by 1997, the founders felt they needed something more evocative. That’s when the “googol → google” sequence came into play.

Over the decades, what began as a search experiment in a Menlo Park garage has grown into a sprawling empire under the umbrella of Alphabet Inc. Today, Google touches nearly every corner of digital life—from Gmail and YouTube to Android, Maps, AI, cloud services, and more.

The 27th Birthday Doodle: A Nod to the Past, a Glimpse of the Future

To commemorate its 27th anniversary, Google released a nostalgic Doodle on September 27, 2025. The artwork resurrected the company’s very first logo from 1998—bringing users on a time-warp back to the early internet era. Google Doodles The Doodle also pointed forward, inviting observers to explore Google’s latest AI innovations.

In Google’s own words:

“This Doodle artwork features Google’s first-ever logo (created in 1998). Let this vintage logo transport you back to the ‘90s and teleport into the future by checking out Google’s newest AI innovation.”

Why Google Matters More Than Ever

We often shrug and say, “Just Google it” without thinking twice. But that phrase reflects a larger cultural shift: Google has become not just a company, but a verb—the go-to tool for discovery, problem-solving, and instant access to collective knowledge.

On this 27th birthday, Google isn’t just looking back—it’s gearing up for increasingly AI-driven horizons. New models, smarter search, voice interaction, and more immersive experiences are already reshaping how we engage with information.

FAQ Section

Q1: What does the word ‘Google’ really mean?
Google comes from “googol,” a mathematical term for 1 followed by 100 zeros. The name reflects the founders’ ambition to organize an almost infinite amount of information.

Q2: Why is Google’s name a misspelling?
In 1997, a Stanford student accidentally typed “google.com” instead of “googol.com” while checking domain availability. The error stuck—and became one of the most famous brand names in the world.

Q3: How old is Google in 2025?
Google is celebrating its 27th birthday on September 27, 2025.

Q4: Who founded Google?
Google was founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin in 1998 while they were Ph.D. students at Stanford University.

Q5: What was Google’s original name?
Before becoming Google, the search engine was called “BackRub,” a reference to its algorithm that analyzed backlinks.

Q6: Why does Google celebrate its birthday on September 27 instead of September 4?
Although officially incorporated on September 4, 1998, Google chose September 27 as its birthday to mark an internal milestone—when it indexed an unprecedented number of web pages.

Q7: What did the Google Doodle look like for the 27th birthday in 2025?
The 2025 Google Doodle featured the company’s first-ever 1998 logo, blending nostalgia with a celebration of Google’s latest AI innovations.

Q8: What impact has Google had on everyday life?
Google has transformed the way people access information. From Search and Maps to Gmail, YouTube, Android, and AI tools, Google has become part of daily routines worldwide.

Q9: What is Alphabet Inc. and how is it related to Google?
Alphabet Inc. is Google’s parent company, created in 2015 to oversee Google and its other ventures, such as Waymo and Verily. Sundar Pichai is currently the CEO of both Alphabet and Google.

Q10: What does the future hold for Google?
With AI, machine learning, and voice-powered search evolving rapidly, Google is poised to push deeper into intelligent, personalized search and next-gen digital services.