Interbrand coined the name “Wi-Fi” for the wireless networking industry group in 1999.
The group was originally called the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance, or WECA. It needed a shorter, more memorable public name for products based on the IEEE 802.11 family of wireless networking standards. WECA hired the branding consultancy Interbrand, which proposed “Wi-Fi.”
The name resembles “Hi-Fi,” a familiar term for high-fidelity audio, although “Wi-Fi” is not technically an abbreviation for “wireless fidelity.” The Wi-Fi Alliance later became the organization responsible for the trademark, certification programs, and consumer-facing branding.
A common mix-up is treating Wi-Fi as a single technical standard. In reality, Wi-Fi is a family of certified products and technologies built around IEEE 802.11 specifications. Standards such as 802.11n, 802.11ac, and 802.11ax are marketed under generation names including Wi-Fi 4, Wi-Fi 5, and Wi-Fi 6.