The Name Comes From "Air Bed and Breakfast"
Airbnb is short for "Air Bed and Breakfast." The founders chose this name in 2008 when they started renting out air mattresses in their San Francisco apartment to visitors attending a design conference. They needed a quick way to describe what they were offering: a bed (even if inflatable) and breakfast, available through the internet to travelers passing through the city.
The "air" part was literal at first. Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia, two of the three co-founders, bought air mattresses to rent out because they needed money for rent. They advertised these beds on a straightforward website and charged guests $80 per night. The name stuck because it was honest about what they had and what they were selling.
The breakfast part of the name reflected a traditional bed-and-breakfast model, where hosts provide lodging plus a morning meal. Though Airbnb eventually became a platform for all kinds of rentals—entire homes, rooms, treehouses, boats—the original name captured the humble beginning of the service.
Key Takeaways
- Airbnb stands for "Air Bed and Breakfast," named after the inflatable mattresses the founders rented out in their San Francisco apartment in 2008.
- The name was practical and descriptive: it told potential guests exactly what they would get—a bed and a meal—in a few words.
- The founders chose this name because they were renting air mattresses out of necessity to pay their own rent, not because they planned to build a global company.
- Though Airbnb now lists everything from private rooms to entire homes and unique properties, the original name reflects its roots as a straightforward room-rental service.
How the Name Helped the Company Grow
The name "Airbnb" was memorable and straightforward to spell, which mattered in the early days when the company was competing for attention online. It was also short enough to work as a domain name and a social media handle. When the founders pitched their idea to investors, the name helped them explain the concept quickly: people could rent beds from other people, not just hotels.
The simplicity of the name also made it straightforward for the company to expand beyond air mattresses. As Airbnb grew and hosts began listing entire homes, private rooms, and other types of accommodations, the name remained broad enough to cover all of them. "Bed and Breakfast" could mean a room in someone's home or a whole apartment—the name did not lock the company into one specific product.
Why They Did Not Change the Name Later
As Airbnb expanded globally and began listing luxury homes, entire villas, and properties that had nothing to do with air mattresses or breakfast, the company could have rebranded. Many growing companies do this when their original name no longer fits their actual business. Airbnb chose not to.
The name had already become recognizable and associated with the company's mission: connecting travelers with people willing to rent them a place to stay. Changing it would have meant losing years of brand recognition and confusing customers who already knew the name. By the time Airbnb was large enough to consider a rebrand, the name was too valuable to abandon.
The Original Domain Name Was Taken
The founders initially wanted to call the company "AirBed and Breakfast," but the domain name airbnb.com was already registered by someone else. Rather than wait or pay to buy it, they shortened the name to Airbnb and registered that domain instead. This constraint—a common problem for startups—ended up working in their favor because the shorter name was catchier and easier to remember.
The original domain holder eventually sold airbnb.com to the company, but by then the shorter name had already taken root. The company kept it because it had already built brand recognition under the Airbnb name and saw no reason to switch.
What the Name Meant to Early Users
When Airbnb launched, the name communicated something important to travelers: this was not a hotel chain or a corporate booking service. It was a personal, local experience. The word "breakfast" suggested hospitality and a home-cooked meal, not a continental spread in a lobby. The name promised something more intimate than a traditional hotel stay.
For hosts, the name made the service feel approachable. You did not need to be a professional innkeeper to participate. You just needed a bed—even an air mattress—and willingness to welcome a guest. The name lowered the barrier to entry and helped convince ordinary people that they could be hosts.
How the Name Shaped the Company's Identity
The origin story of the name—two broke designers renting air mattresses to pay rent—became part of Airbnb's brand identity. It made the company relatable and showed that it started from a real problem that real people faced. This story helped Airbnb stand out from hotel chains and other travel companies that had been around for decades.
Even as Airbnb became a multibillion-dollar company, the name kept that origin story alive. Every time someone heard "Airbnb," they were reminded that the service was built by people trying to solve their own problem, not by a corporation trying to extract profit from travelers. That association with authenticity and scrappiness became central to how the company marketed itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Airbnb ever consider changing its name?
There is no public record of Airbnb seriously considering a rebrand. By the time the company had the resources and scale to rebrand, the name was already too valuable and recognizable. The company has kept the name throughout its growth from a startup to a global platform.
What does the "breakfast" part mean if hosts do not have to provide breakfast?
The name reflects the original service model, where the founders rented out rooms and offered breakfast. As Airbnb expanded, breakfast became optional. The name stuck even though most listings today do not include a meal, because changing it would have meant losing brand recognition.
Is Airbnb still called "Air Bed and Breakfast" officially?
The company is officially registered as Airbnb, Inc., but the full name "Air Bed and Breakfast" is still used in some official documents and brand history. Most people and the company itself straightforward use "Airbnb" in everyday conversation.
Could someone else have registered the airbnb.com domain before the company did?
Yes. The founders wanted airbnb.com but it was already taken by someone else. They registered a different domain and shortened the name to Airbnb. The original domain holder eventually sold it to the company, but by then the shorter name was already established.