This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Mohsin Ali
If you’ve ever stumbled across n8n and thought:
“Wait… is that n-eight-n? Or maybe ninety-eight-n?!”
You’re not alone.
But here’s the thing 👉 the name isn’t random at all.
In fact, it hides a clever story about automation, creativity, and branding.
🌱 The Birth of “n8n”
Back in the early days, founder Jan Oberhauser was building a new kind of workflow tool.
It wasn’t just another automation app. It was node-based. It was no-code. It was designed to make automation accessible to everyone.
So, naturally, he came up with the name:
“nodemation” → short for “Node.js” + “automation.”
Cool, right? Except… there was a problem.
😅 The Problem With “nodemation”
Imagine typing nodemation into your terminal over and over again.
Kinda clunky, isn’t it?
Jan realized the name was way too long for real-world use.
He needed something short. Memorable. Terminal-friendly.
So, he turned “nodemation” into something much leaner: n8n.
🔢 Why the “8”?
Here’s the genius part:
The 8 isn’t just random.
It represents the eight letters between the two “n”s in “nodemation.”
n [eight letters] n → n8n
Once you see it, you can’t unsee it.
And just like that, the quirky, hacker-culture name was born.
🎯 The Perfect Fit
The name wasn’t just shorter.
It fit the project’s DNA:
Node-based (drag-and-drop workflow builder)
Automation-first (the core purpose)
No-code friendly (accessible for beginners, powerful for pros)
Even better? It stuck.
“n8n” is now a recognizable brand in the automation world, lean, memorable, and unmistakably unique.
💡 The Takeaway
Great product names aren’t always obvious.
Sometimes, they hide stories, clever shortcuts, or even inside jokes.
👉 Next time you see a brand with a “weird” name, ask yourself: what’s the story behind it?
Because more often than not, there’s a piece of creativity hiding in plain sight.
✅ Your turn: What’s the most unusual (or clever) product name you’ve come across in tech? Drop it in the comments. I’d love to see your list!
Sources:
Reddit discussion on n8n
n8n Press Kit
n8n GitHub Repo
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Mohsin Ali
Mohsin Ali | Sciencx (2025-09-25T16:16:07+00:00) 🚀 The Weird Story Behind “n8n”: Why It’s Spelled That Way (And What It Really Means). Retrieved from https://www.scien.cx/2025/09/25/%f0%9f%9a%80-the-weird-story-behind-n8n-why-its-spelled-that-way-and-what-it-really-means/
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