The Beatles (originally The Silver Beatles) is a homage to Buddy Holly and The Crickets. John and Paul were HUGE fans of Buddy Holly. George was more of a Carl Perkins guy.
The Rolling Stones were named after a Muddy Waters song.
Nirvana was named by Kurt Cobain, who didn’t want the stereotypical “angry punk band” name.
Duran Duran were named after a character in the movie Barbarella.
R.E.M. picked their name out of a dictionary.
The Smiths picked their name to go against the pretentious names of 80s synthpop bands
Hüsker Dü is named after a Danish board game popular when the band members were kids in Minnesota.
Franz Ferdinand is named after the Serbian Archduke who was assassinated in 1914, the consequences of which was WWI.
When I was little, I thought Ian Anderson was “Jethro Tull”. Then I read an English history book.
I think bands of the 60s had the best names. The Strawberry Alarm Clock! ? and The Mysterians! Cream! I love that stuff. There was a UK band also called Nirvana in the 60s, too, but obviously, they didn’t get very far with the public.