SpongeBob's original name was SpongeBoy

In 1989, Stephen Hillenburg wrote and illustrated an educational comic book called "The Intertidal Zone" to teach his marine biology students about tide pool animals. Bob The Sponge made his first appearance here, and he looked just like a real sea sponge.

Fast forward about a decade later, when Hillenburg created a cartoon show for Nickelodeon and named his character SpongeBoy (with no last name). Nickelodeon legal department found out that the name was already in use so Hillenburg decided to change it to SpongeBob.

Myth has it that SpongeBoy was a mop and that became Internet legend. But in actuality, there was never a SpongeBoy mop although there was a cartoon character with the same name.

SpongeBob's last name of SquarePants came about when Tom Kenny (who voiced our little hero), said "Boy, look at this sponge in square pants, thinking he can get a job in a fast food place" upon first seeing the sketch.

Hillenburg immediately loved it, and the name SpongeBob SquarePants was born.