The Parisian bar that inspired Old Navy's name was called “Old Navy.” The name was not chosen because the retailer sold nautical clothing or was connected to a national navy; it came from a sign seen in Paris by Gap executive Mickey Drexler.
Before settling on the name, the company considered playful alternatives including “Monorail” and “Forklift.” Drexler rejected those ideas after noticing the words “Old Navy” during a walk in Paris, and the phrase ultimately became the identity of Gap's new value-oriented clothing chain.
Old Navy began in 1994 as a lower-priced concept related to Gap Warehouse. Its stores used a more colorful, warehouse-like environment and offered affordable clothing for the whole family. The unusual name helped distinguish the chain from the more polished Gap brand.
People sometimes assume the name refers to vintage military style, but that is a later association created by the branding. The origin story is specifically tied to a Paris sighting and the bar's name, not to the retailer's merchandise.