How did van Halen get its name?

Answer 1

It is drummer Alex Van Halen's and guitarist Eddie Van Halen's last name however the idea to use the two brothers' last name as the band's name was evidently David Lee Roth's; he felt a band name of simply "Van Halen" would be mysterious and vague while also representing half of the members of the band. "What was a 'Van Halen?' he states in Crazy From the Heat (1998). Roth suggests in the book that the brothers were modest enough to object initially, however Roth insisted on the name and the brothers acquiesced.

The band was originally named "Mammoth" in 1972 however the band members learned at some point in 1974 that the name "Mammoth" had already been taken prior to 1972 by a somewhat well-known California-based band.

Roth's account of the origin of the band's name has never been disputed by any other members of the band.

As a side note, at some point during the time of the Gene Simmons-financed demos of Van Halen recored in 1976 in New York, Simmons strongly suggested the band change its name to "Daddy Longlegs." The name "Rat Salade" was also considered by the band around the same time, however they retained the name Van Halen.