The French insurance group AXA adopted the name AXA in 1985.
The group traces its roots to Ancienne Mutuelle, a mutual insurance company founded in 1816. During the twentieth century, it expanded through mergers and acquisitions, including the purchase of Drouot in 1982. The short AXA name was selected to work across languages and markets.
AXA subsequently became a major international provider of insurance and asset-management services. Its businesses have included life and health insurance, property and casualty insurance, and investment products.
AXA is sometimes confused with Allianz or Generali because all three are large European insurance groups with international operations. The name change in 1985 refers specifically to the French group, not to a product line or a separate reinsurer.