The origins of the Pink Floyd name lie in the typically idiosyncratic thoughts and tastes of their original guitarist and songwriter Roger Keith (Syd) Barrett. Syd thought it would be a good idea to name the left-field embryonic art-school psychedelic band he had joined after the Christian names of two veteran blues singers, Pink Anderson and Floyd Council. Syd is no longer with the band, but the name he chose for them lives on.

From combining the first names of two lesser-known blues artists: Pink Anderson + Floyd Counil = Pink Floyd