Yahoo served as a guiding force for internet users for almost three decades. However, after 29 years, people are only just now learning what Yahoo stands for.
Jerry Yang and David Filo founded Yahoo in January 1994. Initially, the website was named "Jerry and David's Guide to the World Wide Web." However, the website was renamed Yahoo! a mere three months later.
Now, after 29 years, many internet users are only just becoming aware that Yahoo! is an acronym, with some still in the dark about its backronym origin.
One Reddit user said: Insisted they selected the name because they liked the general definition of a Yahoo: "rude, unsophisticated, uncouth."
A second wrote: Regarding the origin of the name, Jerry Yang and David Filo insist they selected the name because they liked the general definition of a Yahoo: "rude, unsophisticated, uncouth." The word was invented by Jonathan Swift and used in his book Gulliver's Travels. It represents a person who is repulsive in appearance and action and is barely human. Yahoo! founders selected the name because they considered themselves Yahoo.
In January 1995, electrical engineering graduate students created the domain name yahoo.com, because they liked the word's general definition, as in Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift, "rude, unsophisticated, uncouth."
Little did they know that this seemingly simple word would later become a backronym known as Yet Another Hierarchically Organized Oracle.
During the late 1990s, Yahoo e grew in popularity alongside, as it competed alongside MSN, Lycos, and Excite. In December 1999, Yahoo's stock price skyrocketed, doubling in value within a short period.
Only six months after this rapid expansion, Yahoo forged a partnership with Google, allowing Google to power searches made on yahoo.com. It is believed that Yahoo's downfall in recent years was due to factors such as unfair acquisitions, refusing a proposal from Microsoft, and missed opportunities to acquire Facebook.
Another said: I remember in the early 2000s everyone's browser homepage was Yahoo (at least in Hong Kong, yahoo.com.hk to be exact). It had everything, daily news highlights, email, dictionary, and search engine.
Someone else said: They remember the good old days when they actually mattered.
Another thing that Yahoo is really great for is its financial section. For any accounting or finance needs, including classes, it's very useful. Another added.
