Victoria’s Secret is named after which British monarch?

Victoria’s Secret is named after Queen Victoria, the British monarch who reigned from 1837 to 1901.

Founder Roy Raymond chose the name to suggest the refinement and elegance associated with the Victorian era. The word “secret” referred to lingerie being worn beneath clothing, creating a hidden or private element behind the formal name.

The company was founded in California in 1977, but its name deliberately evoked nineteenth-century British culture rather than the company’s American origins. This naming choice became an important part of the retailer’s early identity.

The brand is sometimes assumed to be named after a person directly connected with its founder. In fact, Queen Victoria was a historical namesake, not a founder, owner, or employee of the company.