How did coldplay get their band name?

Answer 1

Coldplay was actually the name Keane used before they changed it to Cherry Keane, which then became Keane. They rejected the name Coldplay because they thought it was too depressing and the pianist ended up giving it to Chris Martin because he knew him in college.

Answer 2

Lightbody's band used to be known as Polar Bear - hence their 1998 debut album Songs For Polarbears - but were obliged to change it after discovering that this was what the bassist of Jane's Addiction was calling his side project. 'Snow Patrol' had already been chosen for them by a friend who didn't care for the Polar Bear moniker; and so it came to pass that Snow Patrol signed in 1995 to the Jeepster label, home of their Glaswegian indie heroes at the time, Belle and Sebastian.

Answer 3

They claim it does not have any significance. I think a friend mentioned it to them but he thought it was depressing or something like that. It's probably on Wikipedia.