Why is it called Spam? The company held a naming contest in 1937, and the winner got $100. The winning entry, “Spam,” is short for “spiced ham.” But let’s be real—it’s not very spiced, and it’s only partly ham. It’s like calling a hot dog “premium steak.” But the name stuck, and now it’s so famous that we use “spam” for unwanted emails. Thanks, Hormel.
Fun fact: The company actually tried to get the internet to stop using their name for junk mail. They failed. Spectacularly. Now your inbox is full of stuff that’s even less appetizing than the can.
