Since 2009, iterations of Android’s OS platform have been named after sweet treats, starting with Cupcake for Android 1.5. This trend continued for over a decade, becoming the norm for Android users. The most recent version is Android 13, Tiramisu, though the next two versions are already planned with the internal names Upside Down Cake and Vanilla Ice Cream. In 2019, Google stopped using these sweet names publicly – see why below.
Why They Were Named After Candy
So, why did Google decide on candy and other baked goods when naming their Android versions? This started under project manager Ryan Gibson, who thought of using unofficial codenames when releasing their OS publicly.
Whether it was carefully planned or an inside joke that got out of hand, the naming convention has proved memorable for Android’s products. It’s not the first time that candy and candy-related imagery has been used by non-edible products – using tasty colors and connotations is a well-known marketing tactic. Other tech industries like iGaming, which field online casino games themed after many different aesthetics, use candy to make their slots more engaging. Take for example, that visitors to iGaming sites can play Sugar Rush at Paddy Power Bingo, where the brightly colored slot game appeals to both the eyes and the tastebuds. The tech hardware space also tends to choose sweet names for micro-computers – think single-board computers like Raspberry Pi or Cotton Candy.
Once this naming convention took hold, Google was inevitably asked why they named software after candy. The answer isn’t something out of a marketing masterclass – there is no answer at all. Google refuses to elaborate on how or why they settled on sweet treats when naming their new OS iterations. Over a decade ago, a spokesperson for the company said: “It’s kind of like an internal team thing, and we prefer to be a little bit — how should I say — a bit inscrutable in the matter, I’ll say.”
They Are In Alphabetical Order
While Google is in no hurry to give concrete answers, there is a clear method to its madness. Android 1.5 was its third iteration, so it was named Cupcake. Following the alphabetical naming trend, every sweet nickname for Android releases comes with a new letter of the alphabet. Here are all known versions as of writing:
- Android 1.5 – Cupcake
- Android 1.6 – Donut
- Android 2.0 – Éclair
- Android 2.2 – Froyo
- Android 2.3 – Gingerbread
- Android 3.0 – Honeycomb
- Android 4.0 – Ice Cream Sandwich
- Android 4.1-4.3 – Jelly Bean
- Android 4.4 – KitKat
- Android 5.0 – Lollipop
- Android 6.0 – Marshmallow
- Android 7.0 – Nougat
- Android 8.0 – Oreo
- Android 9 – Pie
- Android 10 – Quince Tart
- Android 11 – Red Velvet Cake
- Android 12 – Snow Cone
- Android 13 – Tiramisu
- Android 14 – Upside Down Cake
- Android 15 – Vanilla Ice Cream.
This full list shows that it’s not just about being sweet – each version is a dessert, favoring baked goods over other, more obvious sweet names that could have been used. That’s why there are so many cakes and ice creams where they aren’t necessary to stay sweet and on-brand.
Over the years, it became a rite of passage for Google to commission a statue of the food after a new Android release. Then they’d unveil it from Google HQ, to let the world know. That’s a lot of dedication for a tradition that Google refuses to explain. Even today, the best answer we have for why Android chose sweet names is that it worked. Their names were memorable, gathered media attention, and made us a little hungry.
Why They Dropped Sweet Names
Around 2019, the time of Android 10, it was widely reported that Google would stop using dessert names for further iterations of the software. CNBC explained that Android 10 would be different, ditching the sweet monikers of the past and settling on Android Q instead. As per our list above, Quince Tart was an internal codename that was never released on official public relations. Similarly, every name after Quince Tart was only used internally and never publicly tied to new Android releases.
As for what prompted this change, Google’s blog post announced that simplifying the naming convention is more fitting for an international brand. Not every country knows what a quince tart is, after all. They also highlighted that longer names reinforce language and pronunciation barriers, creating confusion that could be solved by a single-letter solution. Their logic makes sense, though it put an end to a decade-long tradition that had accompanied Android throughout its formative years.
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