In a move of either inspired branding or someone having taken too many drugs, the companies formerly known as Yahoo and AOL will cease to exist and will collectively be known instead as Oath following the completion of Verizon Communications Inc.’s acquisition of Yahoo.

The name, first reported by Business Insider but since confirmed by AOL Chief Executive and soon-to-be Oath CEO Tim Armstrong (pictured, right) on Twitter, is traditionally known as “a solemn appeal to a deity” according to Dictionary.com. That may seem somewhat fitting given the level of divine intervention is required to make the new combined company work, but is better known in some countries as a word used in conjunction with a swear word to make an exclamation of agreement — for example “f—ing oath” — which could rightly be used in context of the new name as well depending on how the company performs.

Ars Technica has some suggestions as to the origin of the name:

Perhaps the name comes from what Verizon executives swore after they heard about Yahoo’s multiple data breaches. Or maybe it came from what many Yahoo employees have been uttering over the last year, as the companies wound their way through the acquisition process and accompanying layoffs. Or perhaps “Oath” came to mind when those same employees heard about Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer’s proposed severance package.

SiliconBeat is more forgiving, suggesting a different meaning:

What kind of a moniker for a tech company is “Oath?” Well, perhaps it’s the perfect name for a firm that’s going to have to do some very heavy lifting to earn the trust of consumers.

The logo doesn’t seem to be any more inspired than the name, with Oath simply appearing next to two blue balls, perhaps meant to be a colon (as in the punctuation mark). Or maybe it’s just two blue balls that someone on Verizon’s marketing team thought looked interesting, although no one has any idea as to why.

Oath will come into existence once the Yahoo deal is completed. That is currently expected to take place sometime in the current quarter. Mayer reportedly, if not surprisingly, is leaving the company.

Photo: skewgee/Flickr