Sony was founded in 1946 in the aftermath of World War II by Masaru Ibuka and Akio Morita. Originally named Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo K.K. (Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Corporation), the company's first major product was Japan's first magnetic tape recorder.

In 1958, the company changed its name to "Sony." The name was a blend of "sonus," the Latin word for sound, and "sonny," a term often used to refer to young boys in America at the time. This change was a strategic move to create a short, easy-to-remember brand name that would be recognized globally.

Sony's early success in consumer electronics was driven by products like the TR-55 transistor radio and the first transistorized TV.