The Stanford dorm-room project that became Snapchat was called Picaboo. Evan Spiegel, Bobby Murphy, and Reggie Brown launched the disappearing-photo application in 2011 while they were students at Stanford University.
The service was initially designed around photos that disappeared after viewing. That idea differed from the permanent, profile-centered model associated with many established social networks and helped Snapchat develop a distinctive culture of temporary, informal communication.
The founders renamed the application Snapchat in September 2011. The new name better emphasized the combination of photography and rapid messaging, and the service gradually expanded with video, stories, lenses, and other features.
Some accounts describe disputes over the founders’ roles and contributions, particularly involving Reggie Brown. Those disputes are separate from the factual point that the early product was called Picaboo before becoming Snapchat.