Some band names possessed interesting origins, while some were thought just for the heck of it. There are those with for–the–books behind stories while others are simply less intriguing.

Well, John, Paul, George and Ringo fanatics have surely heard that the name Beetles was suggested by their former bandmate Stu Stucliffe in reference to insect names like The Crickets that were popular then. And that John, who was fond of word puns, modified it to mean ‘beat music.’ Now, it is quite amusing to think that the word Beatles is synonymous to the world’s biggest catalogue of hits coming from just one band. This, considering the moptops could have been permanently called by either one of their initial names like The Quarry Men or Johnny and the Moondogs. It’s plain and simple that Stu’s suggestion was too significant he had become immortal with that one simple act.

Of course, the Swedish quartet ABBA, popularly accepted as the second biggest group act after The Beatles, had their own style of agreeing on a name. They just formed the word, which meant ‘father’ in Hebrew, through the first letters of their first names: Agnetha, Bjorn, Benny, and Anni. Later, a boy band reversed the idea and took their names’ last letters in forming the word N Sync (Justin, Chris, Joey, Lanston, and JC).

The Beastie Boys thought of a rebellious phrase bearing the acronym BEASTIE (Boys Entering Anarchistic States Toward Internal Excellence) as AC/DC denied their name meant ‘Anti-Christ Devil’s Children.’ The members claimed to have seen the name at the back of a sewing machine and felt it meant ‘power.’ True enough, the electrical term Alternating Current/Direct Current has something to do with power.

Below is a list of then and now popular ‘international’ band/group names and their arguably true and worth-the-read origins.

l Air Supply – Five years before Graham Russel, the duo’s songwriting genius, and high-pitched singer Russel Hitchcock were signed up by a record label, the former dreamt of this name which he found written on a marquee.

l Everything But The Girl – This group was intrigued by an advertising sign they saw at a furniture store and took the punch line as their name. The sign read, "For your bedroom needs, we sell everything but the girl."

l System of A Down – The band’s guitarist Daren Malakian wrote a poem called "Victims of A Down." The group liked it for a name but felt the word ‘system’ sounded much stronger.

l Reo Speedwagon – The artist behind "Can’t Fight This Feeling" loved the pick–up truck made by Oldsmobile called ‘Speedwagon.’ Reo was the initials of the car company’s founder named Ransom Elliot Olds.

l Duran Duran – If Pinoy legend Eraserheads were said to have taken their name off a movie title, the leader of the 80s British Invasion named themselves by pulling out a villain character’s name off a 1967 movie entitled "Barbarella."

lGoo Goo Dolls – Who would have thought the trio behind the heart–gripping "Iris" song originally called themselves Sex Maggots! Their label didn’t buy it and so they renamed themselves after a head–doll which changes expression when you inserted your finger into it.

l Cranberries – The group’s vocalist Dolores O ‘Riordan found "Cranberry Saw Us" too long so she shortened it. Beatles fans may love hearing that the original name was a play up of ‘Cranberry Sauce’ which John Lennon was heard saying on "Strawberry Fields Forever" fade–out. "Paul is Dead" rumor freaks once thought it sounded like "I buried Paul."

l Destiny’s Child – Beyonce Knowles’ mom was said to have found a photo of the group members as children. The word ‘child’ was written on it and they added the word to their original one–word choice, Destiny, which incidentally, had been used already by another act.

l Limp Bizkit – According to some people, front man Fred Durst had a dog named Bizkit who "‘limped’ after spraining its leg."

l Guns N’ Roses – The original members played for bands Hollywood Roses and L.A. Guns before finding each other. Some believe, though, that the name was the combination of the surnames of members Axl Rose and Tracii Guns. The group’s famous lead guitar player Slash was not an original member.

l The Who – The group’s original name was High Numbers. But once their name was announced, their audience would have a hard time deciphering it that they often asked, "The who?"

l Pearl Jam – The name of vocalist Eddie Vedder’s mom is Pearl, a woman who makes good jam.

l Foreigner – Guitarist Mick Jones was a British in New York when he was forming the band. That’s that. He’s a foreigner.

l R.E.M – Most people would think this is the acronym for Rapid Eye Movement which is experienced by a person in dream. Yet, others think it meant otherwise, probably ‘Righteous Energetic Music’ or the intriguingly green ‘Really Enjoying Masturbating.’

l Green Day – Members of this currently hot band thought that when one smokes pot and ‘goofed all day, he’s having a green day.’