# What does abbreviation YouGov stand for? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 26, 2019, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-abbreviation-yougov-stand-for/842509 "2019-10-26T18:39:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ToughLife](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8797f3/32.png) [@ToughLife](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToughLife)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2019, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-abbreviation-yougov-stand-for/842509/1 "2019-10-26T18:39:30Z")
Is it even an abbreviation/acronym? Gov? … something to do with government/governing Googling didn’t help. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2019, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-abbreviation-yougov-stand-for/842509/2 "2019-10-26T18:45:49Z")
“YouGov is a global public opinion and data company” > **[YouGov | What the world thinks](https://today.yougov.com/)** > > YouGov is a global public opinion and data company. Explore what the world thinks, discover our solutions, and join our community to share your opinion. ---
**Author:** ![ToughLife](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8797f3/32.png) [@ToughLife](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToughLife)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2019, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-abbreviation-yougov-stand-for/842509/3 "2019-10-27T14:28:19Z")
514 views and still no answer… ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2019, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-abbreviation-yougov-stand-for/842509/4 "2019-10-27T14:32:07Z")
> [@ToughLife](#): > > 514 views and still no answer… Look up, and the answer will come to you. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2019, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-abbreviation-yougov-stand-for/842509/5 "2019-10-27T14:34:18Z")
> [@ToughLife](#): > > 514 views and still no answer… It’s just the name of the company. I’m not sure there’s anything more complicated that that. ---
**Author:** ![ToughLife](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8797f3/32.png) [@ToughLife](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToughLife)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2019, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-abbreviation-yougov-stand-for/842509/6 "2019-10-27T14:42:42Z")
> [@](#): > > It’s just the name of the company wow, who could’ve thought … What is the etymology of the name? What does it mean? It’s not like I’m asking about McDonald’s ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2019, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-abbreviation-yougov-stand-for/842509/7 "2019-10-27T14:45:41Z")
> [@ToughLife](#): > > Is it even an abbreviation/acronym? No. But it is most likely short for Youth Government. > [@](#): > > Gov? … something to do with government/governing Yes. Many of their surveys are focused on politics, government and politically charged topics. > [@](#): > > Googling didn’t help. That’s understandable. Some people really need answers spoon fed to them > [@](#): > > Thanks. You’re quite welcome. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2019, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-abbreviation-yougov-stand-for/842509/8 "2019-10-27T14:53:02Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > Yes. Many of their surveys are focused on politics, government and politically charged topics. This site refers to them as a “youth-government-education” organization. [https://www.itworld.com/article/2739444/remind-everyone-you-know--malware-kills-computers--smartphones-are-computers.html](https://www.itworld.com/article/2739444/remind-everyone-you-know--malware-kills-computers--smartphones-are-computers.html) ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2019, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-abbreviation-yougov-stand-for/842509/9 "2019-10-27T14:53:38Z")
I know this is GQ but you seem antsy for an answer so I’ll throw out a guess: the site was started in the UK by people involved in politics as a way to poll the public on political issues - which makes the name YouGov (what are your opinions on matters of government?) pretty obvious. But once they had the polling system in place they realized they could make more money polling on every matter, not just government. They pivoted into a general market research company. But having already established the name, and wanting to keep their political polls sounding more legit (“results from a YouGov poll” sounds more professional than “results from QSmash” or something) they stuck with the name YouGov. Most polling sites have crazy names or nonsense names, or some official sounding words with “Research” tacked on. YouGov actually makes some sense. ---
**Author:** ![ToughLife](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8797f3/32.png) [@ToughLife](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToughLife)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2019, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-abbreviation-yougov-stand-for/842509/10 "2019-10-27T14:57:35Z")
> [@](#): > > is most likely short for Youth Government Why? Should I just take your word for it? > [@](#): > > That’s understandable. Some people really need answers spoon fed to them sure, as opposed to those who have reading comprehension difficulties. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2019, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-abbreviation-yougov-stand-for/842509/11 "2019-10-27T15:04:08Z")
Well this is escalating quickly. ---
**Author:** ![ToughLife](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8797f3/32.png) [@ToughLife](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToughLife)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2019, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-abbreviation-yougov-stand-for/842509/12 "2019-10-27T15:06:43Z")
well, now we 're talking. still, was that \*spoon fed \*comment really necessary? ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2019, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-abbreviation-yougov-stand-for/842509/13 "2019-10-27T15:24:28Z")
Words beginning with “gov”: > [@](#): > > govern > governable > governance > governed > governess > governesses > governing > government > governmental > governmentalise > governmentalised > governmentalises > governmentalising > governmentalism > governmentalisms > governmentalist > governmentalists > governmentalize > governmentalized > governmentalizes > governmentalizing > governmentally > governments > governor > governorate > governorates > governors > governorship > governorships > governs So all related to the word “govern”. Alternatively, it could relate to the Indian name “Govinda”, but that seems less likely. YouGov is a British company, and the official website for the UK government is [GOV.UK](http://GOV.UK). The “Gov” of YouGov may be a reference to this. So the “Gov” of YouGov looks like it is most likely derived from a shortening of the word “govern”, or a word related to it. Words beginning with “You”: > [@](#): > > you > young > youngberries > youngberry > younger > youngers > youngest > youngish > youngling > younglings > youngs > youngster > youngsters > younker > younkers > youpon > youpons > your > yourn > yours > yourself > yourselves > youse > youth > youthen > youthened > youthening > youthens > youthful > youthfully > youthfulness > youthless > youthlike So there are a few possibilities for the “you” of YouGov, if the Gov is “govern”, such as: “you govern” “young govern” “youngberrys govern” “younglings govern” “youse governs” “youth governs” While it’s not conclusive, my best guess is that YouGov is meant to be a contraction of “you govern”, which would seem to fit with the platform’s aim of being a way for the general public to have their say in matters of governance and so on. It may also be an allusion to the name of popular video-sharing website YouTube. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2019, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-abbreviation-yougov-stand-for/842509/14 "2019-10-27T15:40:34Z")
I would have thought the name was a reference to YouTube as well, except YouGov was founded in 2000 and YouTube in 2005. (Unless there was a change in name, perhaps.) ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2019, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-abbreviation-yougov-stand-for/842509/15 "2019-10-27T15:46:39Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I would have thought the name was a reference to YouTube as well, except YouGov was founded in 2000 and YouTube in 2005. (Unless there was a change in name, perhaps.) Yeah, but in the future, Google - who own YouTube - invent a Google time machine. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2019, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-abbreviation-yougov-stand-for/842509/16 "2019-10-27T15:52:27Z")
Most of their polls are consumer/brand ones rather than political - the ones I get are roughly 10 to 1 non-political to political. Of course the consumer stuff helps when they need a big sample for other purposes If you answer enough of their polls they send £50 into your bank account. ---
**Author:** ![ToughLife](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8797f3/32.png) [@ToughLife](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToughLife)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2019, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-abbreviation-yougov-stand-for/842509/17 "2019-10-27T15:54:32Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2019, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-abbreviation-yougov-stand-for/842509/18 "2019-10-27T16:04:43Z")
> [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](#): > > While it’s not conclusive, my best guess is that YouGov is meant to be a contraction of “you govern”, which would seem to fit with the platform’s aim of being a way for the general public to have their say in matters of governance and so on. It may also be an allusion to the name of popular video-sharing website YouTube. Yes, to me, it’s clearly just one of those fanciful names that is supposed to elicit a general “feeling” and not necessarily specifically stand as an abbreviation of two words. “You” engages that audience as being part of the process. “Gov” obviously sounds like “government” or “govern” so “YouGov” as a pithy name sounds like something where it’s a website about where the people (you) voice their votes on a number of issues (govern) or something like that. I don’t think it explicitly necessarily stands for those things, but that’s what the name sounds like to me. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2019, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-abbreviation-yougov-stand-for/842509/19 "2019-10-27T16:11:11Z")
Anyway, if you _really_ want to know about the name, there’s several ways to contact the people who set the company up: via twitter @nadhimzahawi @StephanShaxper via email [nadhim.zahawi.mp@parliament.uk](mailto:nadhim.zahawi.mp@parliament.uk) [nadhim@zahawi.com](mailto:nadhim@zahawi.com) [stephan.shakespeare@yougov.com](mailto:stephan.shakespeare@yougov.com) ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2019, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-abbreviation-yougov-stand-for/842509/20 "2019-10-27T16:55:56Z")
> [@ToughLife](#): > > Why? Should I just take your word for it? > > sure, as opposed to those who have reading comprehension difficulties. Because if you browse their website, two of their major research topics are [youth](https://today.yougov.com/solutions/research/realtime/youth) and [government](https://yougov.co.uk/topics/political-trackers/survey-results). So, either the correct answer is that “No”, like I said, and the “you” really just means “you” as in, “the everyday person who is invited to participate in our surveys” or–if it is an abbreviation–it’s most likely short for Youth / Government. Is there something else you had in mind? If you’re that curious, you could always email them and ask. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-abbreviation-yougov-stand-for/842509.md?page=2)