Why Is Etsy Called"Etsy"?

Etsy got its name from founder Rob Kalin, who was watching the Italian film "8½" by Federico Fellini. He heard the Italian phrase "eh, sì" (pronounced eh-tsee), meaning "oh, yes," and liked the sound. Kalin wanted a short, unique word that had no pre-existing meaning, making it easy to trademark and brand. The name stuck, and today Etsy is synonymous with handmade and creative goods worldwide.

Etsy doesn't have a traditional dictionary meaning—it was intentionally chosen as a "nonsense word." However, its origins suggest multiple interpretations: the Italian "eh, sì" meaning "oh, yes," and the Latin "et si" meaning "what if." Rob Kalin preferred a meaningless word because it could become entirely associated with the marketplace without pre-existing connotations.

Etsy itself is not an Italian word, but it was inspired by Italian. Founder Rob Kalin heard the phrase "eh, sì" (meaning "oh, yes") while watching Italian filmmaker Federico Fellini's movie "8½." The way the phrase sounded—"eh-tsee"—became the basis for the name Etsy. So while it has Italian roots in its inspiration, Etsy is a made-up word created specifically for the company.

The name Etsy was inspired by "8½" (Otto e mezzo), a 1963 film by legendary Italian director Federico Fellini. The film is considered one of the greatest movies ever made. While watching it, Rob Kalin heard the Italian phrase "eh, sì" being spoken, which he found pleasant-sounding and memorable. This auditory inspiration led him to create the name "Etsy."

Rob Kalin, the primary founder and original visionary of Etsy, chose the name. Kalin was a carpenter and artist looking to sell his handmade furniture online when he couldn't find a suitable marketplace. He came up with the name while watching Fellini's "8½" and hearing the Italian phrase "eh, sì." His co-founders Chris Maguire and Haim Schoppik helped build the platform, but Kalin is credited with naming it.

There's a theory that Etsy relates to the Latin phrase "et si," which translates to "what if" or "and if." This interpretation fits nicely with the creative, entrepreneurial spirit of the marketplace—"what if you could turn your craft into a business?" However, Rob Kalin has primarily attributed the name to the Italian "eh, sì" inspiration from Fellini's film. Both interpretations add meaning to the brand.

Rob Kalin deliberately wanted a name without pre-existing meaning for several strategic reasons: (1) It would be easier to trademark since it's unique, (2) It could become entirely associated with the brand without competing connotations, (3) Short names are more memorable and easier to type as a URL, (4) A made-up word feels distinctive and creative—fitting for an artisan marketplace. Compare this to names like "Amazon" or "Apple" which also don't describe what they sell.

Etsy is pronounced "ET-see" (two syllables). The first syllable "ET" rhymes with "bet" or "pet," and the second syllable "see" sounds like the letter "C." This pronunciation mirrors the Italian phrase "eh, sì" that inspired the name. Some people mistakenly pronounce it as "EAT-see" or "EE-tsee," but the correct pronunciation has a short "e" sound at the beginning.

The Etsy logo is simply the company name in a distinctive orange color with clean, friendly typography. While the name has interesting origins (Italian "eh, sì" and possibly Latin "et si"), the logo itself is straightforward—it focuses on readability and warmth. The orange color was chosen to convey creativity, energy, and approachability. The simplicity reflects the brand's commitment to keeping the focus on the sellers and their products.

There's no public record of Etsy seriously considering a name change. The name has become one of the most recognizable in e-commerce, synonymous with handmade goods, vintage items, and creative products. Changing it would mean losing tremendous brand equity built over nearly 20 years. The name's uniqueness—which made it easy to trademark and memorable—has proven to be an asset rather than a limitation.

Rob Kalin has not publicly shared alternative names that were considered before Etsy. What we know is that he wanted something short, unique, and without existing meaning. The story goes that he stumbled upon "Etsy" while watching Fellini's film and felt it was right. Unlike many companies that go through extensive naming processes, Etsy's name came from a moment of inspiration rather than deliberate brainstorming.

Etsy follows a naming strategy similar to other major tech platforms: using a unique, short word. Amazon was named after the world's largest river (suggesting vast selection). eBay combines "echo" and "Bay" (founder Omidyar's company was Echo Bay Technology Group). Etsy's approach—using a pleasant-sounding nonsense word—is more like Google (a misspelling of "googol") or Spotify (reportedly combining "spot" and "identify"). These names work because they're memorable and brandable, not because they describe the service.