Most people know Durex as one of the biggest and most recognizable condom brands in the world, but what many are just now discovering is what the name actually stands for—and it’s not what you’d think. While plenty of folks have guessed it might be some kind of cheeky abbreviation like “During Sex” or even a play on words related to an ex, the truth is far more practical and, in some ways, more impressive.

The name Durex is actually derived from three qualities the company prides itself on: Durability, Reliability, and Excellence. According to the BBC, this clever acronym was chosen to reflect the brand’s core values, and once you hear it, it makes perfect sense. Still, the revelation has taken the internet by surprise, with many people admitting they had never questioned the meaning behind the brand’s name or just assumed it had something to do with intimacy or relationships.

The origins of Durex go back over a century, beginning in 1915 with the formation of the London Rubber Company. It wasn’t until 1929 that the name Durex came into play, and the brand officially shifted toward manufacturing condoms in 1932. It truly took off in the 1950s when it began focusing more heavily on the sexual health market. Over the decades, Durex has been behind a number of firsts in the condom industry. It was the first brand to use electronic testing on its products, ensuring higher standards of quality and safety. It also pioneered the creation of anatomically shaped condoms and led the way in launching flavored, colorful, and latex-free options. In the 1970s, Durex became the first condom brand to advertise in multiple countries, helping to normalize conversations about sexual health.

By the late 1990s and early 2000s, the brand was offering a full range of products, including ribbed and dotted condoms as well as a variety of personal lubricants, and had earned a reputation for consistently meeting or exceeding international quality standards. As social media users have reacted to the true meaning behind the name, many have expressed amusement, surprise, and even admiration. One user joked, “Who knew that Durex stood for Durability, Reliability, and Excellence? Call me a Durex beast in bed then!” Others admitted they thought the name had something to do with a former partner or assumed it was simply about being “durable.” Still, others shared that they discovered the acronym while studying branding strategies, noting how some names, like “Google,” become verbs, while others hold hidden meanings that strengthen their identity in the market.

The company itself proudly embraces its history and quality on its website, stating, “We’ve been making condoms with the finest raw materials since 1929, so we know a thing or two about performance. And we don’t just mean in the bedroom—or wherever you’re doing it.” They go on to explain that all of their condoms undergo electronic testing for holes and are dermatologically tested to ensure comfort. They also highlight that their products consistently perform above global standards, which helps ensure everyone, everywhere, can enjoy safe and pleasurable sex. Durex emphasizes that it works closely with health professionals, scientists, and academics to create and improve its products, stating its mission is to help people around the world have sex that feels good and is safe, inclusive, and enjoyable. Interestingly, according to British Heritage, the brand’s name was the brainchild of Lucian Landau, a Polish student studying rubber technology whose intellectual insight helped shape what would become one of the world’s leading sexual health brands. So, whether you’ve been using the product for years or never gave its name a second thought, you now know the surprisingly practical meaning behind one of the most well-known names in the industry. The next time you’re looking to impress someone with a random bit of trivia or need an icebreaker at a party, you can drop this fun fact: Durex isn’t just a name—it’s a promise of Durability, Reliability, and Excellence.