
In no time, tiny superheroes, ghosts, and an array of peculiar characters will be roaming your neighborhood, eagerly asking for sweets. While handing out treats, you can also share some fascinating (and not-so-scary) stories about the origins of their names.
1. 3 MUSKETEERS

Introduced in 1932, the 3 Musketeers bars originally featured three distinct flavors—chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry—and were marketed as 'The 3 Musketeers, Chocolate, Vanilla, Strawberry. 3 bars in a package.' Over time, the vanilla and strawberry flavors were phased out, with historical records suggesting they were never particularly prominent. A 1933 Notice of Judgment from the Acting Secretary of Agriculture highlighted a seized shipment, noting that 'the strawberry and vanilla bars lacked any discernible flavor of their namesakes, and the strawberry bars were artificially colored.'
2. AIRHEADS

As per Steve Bruner, the creator of the name, he believed it took a generation for a candy name to become widely recognized—unless it was already a familiar term. To find inspiration, he asked his kids, 'What would you call a friend who does something silly?' One of them suggested 'Airhead.'
3. BUTTERFINGER

Legend has it that the Curtiss Candy Company in Chicago held a contest to name their new candy bar. Someone proposed 'butterfinger,' a term dating back to the early 17th century, used to describe someone prone to dropping things.
4. CANDY CORN

During the late 1800s, candies shaped like various objects were incredibly popular (the Candy Professor mentions children enjoying cockroach-shaped candies during Christmas). Candy corn emerged during this era as a unique novelty item, as its resemblance to actual corn kernels—primarily livestock feed at the time—made it stand out.
5. DUM DUMS

As stated by the Spangler Candy Company, the creators, the name Dum Dum was selected because it 'was a simple word every child could easily pronounce.'
6. HEATH BAR

In 1914, L.S. Heath purchased a candy shop and soda fountain to secure a stable future for his children. Years later, the family acquired a toffee recipe—rumored to have come from a traveling salesman or nearby Greek candy makers—that became their claim to fame, especially after supplying candy to soldiers during World War II.
7. HERSHEY'S

Milton Hershey gained experience in various candy businesses before discovering a caramel recipe in Denver that became a huge success. Always innovating, he introduced the European trend of 'milk chocolate' to the American public, revolutionizing the industry.
8. HERSHEY'S COOKIES 'N' CREME

The candy bar debuted in 1994, roughly 15-20 years after the ice cream flavor it was inspired by. The origin of the ice cream is unclear, with claims ranging from South Dakota State University to a Blue Bell Creameries employee. Some stories even suggest it was inspired by an unnamed ice cream parlor that added Oreos to their desserts. As early as 1959, Nabisco suggested using crumbled Oreos between ice cream layers for a party parfait. Regardless of its culinary roots, the name's origin is widely accepted—Nabisco refused to let ice cream makers use the Oreo trademark.
9. HERSHEY'S KISSES

More than a century ago, the term kiss referred to any small piece of candy. When Hershey introduced their product, it naturally adopted this generic name. Over time, as the word 'kiss' lost its broader meaning, Hershey successfully secured exclusive rights to the name.
10. JOLLY RANCHERS

William and Dorothy Harmsen moved to Colorado with the dream of establishing a small farm or ranch. They later opened an ice cream parlor called The Jolly Rancher, inspired by Western hospitality and the Jolly Miller hotel from their hometown in Minnesota. When winter sales slowed, they introduced candies to their menu, which quickly became more popular than their other products.
11. KIT KAT

The origin of the name remains unclear. The term 'kit-cat' first appeared in the Oxford English Dictionary in 1665, referring to a game called tipcat, though this is likely unrelated. A more plausible connection is the Kit-Cat Club of the early 18th century, which gathered at a venue run by a mutton pie maker named Christopher Katt or Christopher Catling. Both the pies and the pieman were called Kit-Kats/Kit-Cats (a 1700 play, The Reformed Wife, even mentions, 'A Kit-Cat is a supper for a lord'), and the club derived its name from either the pie or the pieman.
The transition from a gentleman's club or mutton pie to a candy is less clear. One theory suggests a link to kit-cat portraits, described by the OED as 'less than half-length but including the hands.' However, this doesn't fully explain the connection, as Rowntree's registered the name years before the candy existed, and it was initially called Rowntree’s Chocolate Crisp. The most likely explanation is that someone simply liked the name.
12. LIFE SAVERS

The name Life Savers is quite literal—their shape resembles a life preserver. (Any claims that the hole was designed to prevent choking are unfounded.)
13. MILKY WAY

Before 1970, the Milky Way candy bar had a very different association. That year, newspapers nationwide ran headlines like 'FTC Rules Candy Bar Not Equal to Milk.' The FTC had criticized Mars for suggesting in their ads that 'Milky Way's nutritional value matches a glass of milk' and that it could 'replace milk.' (Unusual nutritional claims weren't new—Hershey’s once promoted their chocolate bars as 'more filling than meat.')
While the galaxy inspired the name, the original emphasis of the Milky Way was on its 'milky' quality, specifically highlighting that it was creamier than a malted milk drink from a soda fountain.
14. M&M's

The two Ms represent Mars and Murrie. Forrest Mars, son of Mars candy company founder Frank Mars, had a falling out with his father, leading him to Europe where he started his own candy business. Years later, he returned to take control of Mars, Inc. after his father's passing.
The origin of M&M's is somewhat unclear, with stories ranging from imitation to inspiration during the Spanish Civil War. It’s often linked to Smarties, a British chocolate candy with a similar coating. When Forrest Mars returned to the U.S., he needed a reliable chocolate source. Hershey, led by William Murrie, was a major supplier. Forrest partnered with William's son, Bruce, allegedly to secure chocolate during World War II, and they named the candy M&M's.
15. MR. GOODBAR

As per corporate history, Hershey's chemists were developing a new peanut candy bar. During testing, someone remarked, 'that's a good bar,' which Milton Hershey mistakenly heard as 'Mr. Goodbar.'
16. REESE'S PEANUT BUTTER CUPS

Harry Burnett Reese began working for the Hershey Chocolate Company in 1916 as a dairy farmer. After leaving and rejoining Hershey multiple times, he eventually started his own venture. His iconic peanut butter cups were reportedly inspired by a store owner who mentioned difficulties sourcing chocolate-covered peanut butter candies.
17. SKITTLES

Skittles were first created in the United Kingdom, where 'skittles' refers to a bowling game played on lawns or in pubs. The expression 'beer and skittles' became synonymous with pure joy (now often used in the phrase 'life isn't all beer and skittles'). The candy's name was likely chosen to evoke a sense of fun and enjoyment.
18. SNICKERS

The candy bar was named after the Mars family's beloved horse. The Mars family had a deep passion for horses, even naming their farm the Milky Way Farm—home to Gallahadion, the 1940 Kentucky Derby winner.
19. SOUR PATCH KIDS

Initially named Mars Men, the candy was rebranded as Sour Patch Kids to align with the 1980s Cabbage Patch Kids phenomenon.
20. TOBLERONE

The name Toblerone is a blend of its creator, Theodor Tobler, and torrone, a term for Italian nougat. The iconic triangular shape is often attributed to the Swiss Alps, though Toblerone’s UK site hints at a more playful inspiration—'a pyramid formed by dancers at the Folies Bergères in Paris, adorned in red and cream frills.'
21. TOOTSIE ROLL

The official account claims Leo Hirschfeld created the Tootsie Roll in the late 19th century, naming it after his daughter's nickname. However, the Candy Professor has uncovered inconsistencies, with evidence pointing to its creation around 1907. Additionally, the company behind Tootsie Rolls had an earlier product called Bromangelon, featuring a mascot named 'Tattling Tootsie.' Whether this Tootsie was inspired by Hirschfeld’s daughter or another source remains a topic of debate.
22. TWIX

The origin of the name Twix remains unclear, but the widely accepted theory is that it combines 'twin' and 'sticks' (or 'stix'), or perhaps 'twin' and 'mix.'
23. TWIZZLERS

The exact origin of the name is unclear, but it’s likely tied to the word twizzle, which has been in use since the 18th century. The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as 'to twirl, twist; to turn round; to form by twisting.'
24. YORK PEPPERMINT PATTIES

The beloved patties were first developed by the York Cone Company in York, Pennsylvania, which initially produced ice cream cones before focusing on their new creation. Regarding the 'Peanuts' character Peppermint Patty, Charles Schulz mentioned that the name came from 'a dish of candy in our living room.' However, since the York version was still a regional product at the time, it’s likely that a different peppermint patty inspired the name.
25. BABY RUTH

A timeless debate. Otto Schnering named the candy bar after either Ruth Cleveland, daughter of President Grover Cleveland (whose New York Times obituary noted, 'She was known to the Nation as 'Baby Ruth' during her childhood in the White House') or Babe Ruth, the legendary baseball player. While 'Baby Ruth' was a common name (not just for presidential daughters—an actress at the time was also called 'Baby' Ruth Sullivan), supporters of the Babe Ruth theory highlight that Cleveland’s daughter passed away in 1904, nearly 17 years before the candy’s debut. However, a recently uncovered court document shows Schnering under oath answering, 'When you adopted the trademark Baby Ruth…did you consider the potential value of Babe Ruth’s nickname…?'
Schnering replied, 'The bar was named for Baby Ruth, the first baby of the White House, Cleveland, from the Cleveland administration…There was a suggestion that Babe Ruth, though not yet a major figure, might grow in popularity and aid in marketing our Baby Ruth bar.'