Does a brand name used as common noun like Hoover respond to change in market share made by Dyson? [closed]

In the UK, electric vacuum cleaners used to be called Hoover, a product name, but Dyson is now the top brand on the UK market. Is the vacuum cleaner still called Hoover? Or is it now called Dyson?

Solution 1:

Language changes slowly. Over time it is possible but once a name takes hold as a generic term it is not very likely to be dislodged easily. One example is "Magic Marker". It pioneered the felt-tip marker and was very successful and widespread. It went bankrupt in 1980 but, in the U.S., is still used as a generic name. The term "sharpie" is starting to take over after 50+ years.

So vacuums might become "dysons" in a few decades especially if Hover goes out of the market.