Aircraft names are typically a sterile combination of letters and numbers with little consideration for public perception. Boeing jets, however, have names that differentiate their planes in the public eye. Each one’s name starts and ends with a seven, while the 787 is also named the Dreamliner, and the current generation of the 737 is called the MAX. In the public eye, the recognizable names build recognition with the average traveler, enhancing brand knowledge.

Currently, Boeing sells the 737 MAX, the 767 (767-300F and 767-2C only), the 777X, and the 787 Dreamliner, and it has also produced the 707, the 717, the 720, the 727, the 747, and the 757 in the past, in addition to its piston-powered planes. Boeing itself has long been a successful manufacturer ot military planes, but it found true success in the commercial sector with the 707, kicking off the jet age. Here’s how these aircraft are named.

A Brief Overview Of The Boeing Company

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The Boeing Company was founded in 1916 by William E Boeing in Seattle. The company became notable for its Boeing 247 aircraft, an airliner that pioneered many design elements that we see in modern aircraft construction. The Boeing 314 Clipper flying boat was also a famous design, as were its successful military aircraft in the Second World War. Most famously, it built the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and the Boeing B-29 Superfortress.

After the war, the company had little success in the commercial aviation industry but continued to produce popular military aircraft. It first flew its jet-powered Boeing B-47 Stratojet strategic bomber in 1947, and the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress strategic bomber in 1952 (which remains in service to this day). Boeing also enjoyed success with selling new military technologies, such as guided short-range and intercontinental missiles.

Boeing delivered its last 377 Stratocruiser in 1950 and wouldn’t receive another passenger order for five years. It then decided to develop a complete prototype for a jet airliner, a novel technology at the time that was hugely expensive. The result, the 367-80 (also known as the Dash 80), debuted new design elements like podded engines and swept wings that impressed observers. The plane was adapted into the KC-135 Stratotanker and the larger 707 airliner.

Boeing’s Naming Convention

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Previously, Boeing used the number three as the beginning number for its passenger aircraft designations. The numbers four, five, and six were already in use for other Boeing products like missiles, leaving seven as the next available number series. By using seven, Boeing also further differentiated its upcoming jetliner from its piston-powered planes. While there wasn’t an issue with using 700, marketing decided that the name Boeing 707 was more memorable.

Internally, Boeing called the KC-135 the Boeing 717, as the two aircraft had significant structural design differences (the 707 is wider and longer than the 367-80/KC-135). This left 727 as its next available designation. Additionally, Boeing shortened the 707 to create the 720 before releasing the 727, which largely assumed the 720’s role. The 720 was originally to be named the 707-020, but it was renamed to the 720 at the request of United Airlines.

From there, Boeing largely went in numerical order. The 737 followed up the 727, with Boeing later releasing the 747, 757, 767, 777 (pronounced as ‘triple-seven’), and 787. Additionally, when Boeing merged with McDonnell Douglas, it acquired all of its aircraft programs, including the still-in-development McDonnell Douglas MD-95. As the KC-135 Stratotanker was no longer in production, Boeing renamed the MD-95 as the Boeing 717.

Naming The Boeing 787

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The 787 is as groundbreaking for aircraft design today as the 747 was in the 1970s. With it, engineers had a field day with the advanced technology that was being incorporated into the design. Its features included a majority carbon-composite construction, dimmable windows, chevrons on the engine nacelles for noise reduction, the Boeing Sky Interior, and a bleedless design. It also had two of the most advanced jet engines in development at the time.

Boeing wanted to promote its new jet as a new, memorable experience for passengers, which would generate awareness for the plane and, in turn, differentiate its operators from the competition. As such, the company decided to name it. In 2003, when the aircraft was still known as the 7E7, Boeing held an online naming contest with four options: Dreamliner, eLiner, Global Cruiser, and Stratoclimber.

Executives expected ‘Global Cruiser’ to win, but, after 500,000 votes in over 160 countries, Boeing announced at the Paris Air Show that ‘Dreamliner’ had won, thereby becoming the 7E7’s new name. Additionally, 120,000 people signed up to provide feedback on the aircraft online as part of Boeing’s ‘World Design Team.’ Furthermore, Boeing also held a sweepstakes contest for prizes, with the winners also receiving a two-hour flight in a 737NG simulator.

Naming The Boeing 737 MAX

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It’s rare for airliners to receive special names, but even less so for aircraft derivatives. With the Boeing 737, the plane was firstly dubbed the 737-100/200, then the 737-300/400/500 for the second generation 737. With the third generation, Boeing significantly overhauled the aircraft’s design. As such, it dubbed the 737-600/700/800/900/900ER as the 737 Next Generation (737NG), while the second generation was retroactively renamed as the 737 Classic.

With the launch of the Airbus A320neo in 2010, Boeing needed a fast response, and it decided to reengine the 737NG with the CFM LEAP as the 737 MAX. The name MAX is meant to represent ‘Maximum Advantage’ over the A320neo, but, according to Leeham News & Analysis, the name wasn’t viewed as an absolute winner. Rather, the company’s marketing department struggled to come up with a better name for it, so the refreshed 737 was named the 737 MAX.

While the name was certainly distinctive, the 737 MAX remained relatively anonymous. However, after the two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019 followed by a worldwide grounding, public awareness skyrocketed. Some 737 MAX customers quietly removed the MAX name from advertising and public-facing tools, such as bookings. In the case of Singapore Airlines, the carrier names its examples the Boeing 737-8 rather than the 737 MAX 8.

Other Examples Of Naming Conventions In Commercial Aviation

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Special names for airliners were far more widespread in the mid-20th century (such as the De Havilland Comet, Sud Aviation Caravelle, and Lockheed L-1011 Tristar), but they’re less common today. Boeing named the third-generation 737 the 737NG and retroactively named the second generation 737 the 737 Classic in the 1990s, but the second generation 777 (777-200LR/300ER/777F) were not named.

Airbus had never given its aircraft names until the A350. Initially, Airbus decided to respond to the 787 by refreshing the Airbus A330, but the reception was lukewarm. Instead, Airbus went in a new direction and created a new aircraft from the ground up. The new A350 would be significantly larger than either the A330 or 787, and it would also be wider than both. In an effort to highlight the plane’s wider cabin, Airbus called it the A350 XWB (eXtra Wide Body).

In 2010, Airbus decided to reengine the A320. These aircraft, equipped with the CFM LEAP or Pratt & Whitney PW1100G, were named the A320neo (New Engine Option), while the earlier planes were retroactively named the A320ceo (Current Engine Option). The re-engined A330 subsequently became the A330neo, but the A330 variants were also renumbered (A330-800/900) as opposed to the A320neo family, which kept the variant designations.

Future Aircraft Projects Incoming

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The next Airbus and Boeing airliners will likely be named the A360 and 797, respectively, given that these are the next available model designations. The A320 and 737 are both companies’ oldest jets, so both of these upcoming airliners will be narrowbodies aimed at replacing them. Airbus has already confirmed preliminary development on the A320’s replacement, while Boeing is also reported to be in the early stages of developing the 737’s replacement.

Both aircraft will be clean-sheet designs with carbon-composite construction and new engines, although Airbus is working with CFM to develop the RISE, an open-rotor engine. On the whole, however, these planes are not meant to be a revolutionary change like the 787, but, rather, to carry on the baton of being reliable short-haul workhorses. This doesn’t mean that these aircraft won’t have names, but it’s less likely, as this isn’t the purpose of either aircraft.