Which character inspired the name of the Wimpy hamburger restaurant chain?

The Wimpy hamburger restaurant chain was named after J. Wellington Wimpy.

J. Wellington Wimpy is a hamburger-loving character from the Popeye comic strip. The character’s name provided the branding for Wimpy restaurants, which began in the United States and later became especially associated with a substantial international chain.

The first Wimpy restaurant was opened by Edward Gold in Bloomington, Indiana, in 1934. The business expanded through franchising, and Wimpy restaurants became prominent in the United Kingdom and other countries during the 20th century.

The chain’s name can cause confusion because Wimpy is also an English adjective meaning weak or timid. In the restaurant context, however, the direct reference is to the Popeye character. Popeye himself is not the name source, even though the two characters appear in the same comic universe.