why are they called 10cc

They’re called 10cc because of a mix of legend and a more down‑to‑earth story, and both have stuck to the band’s mythos over time.

The two main origin stories

1. The “semen” / virility myth

A long‑running, cheeky explanation is that “10cc” refers to 10 cubic centimetres of semen , supposedly more than the average male ejaculation, implying extra “potency” for the band.

• This version plays on the medical unit “cc” (cubic centimetre).

• It fits the band’s playful, slightly naughty sense of humour, which is why it spread so widely among fans and in pop‑culture trivia.

Many sources repeat this, and Lol Creme has at times backed it up in interviews, which helped keep the legend alive.

2. The “dream at the Hammersmith Odeon” story

Their early champion and label boss Jonathan King has said something quite different:

• He claimed he dreamed he saw the Hammersmith Odeon marquee reading: “10cc – The Best Band in the World.”

• On waking, he liked how short and striking “10cc” looked and gave that name to the band when signing them.

This “I saw it on a sign in a dream” version is often presented as the more literal business origin of the name.

So which one is true?

Even within the band’s circle, there’s some disagreement:

• The dream / marquee explanation is the one associated with Jonathan King and is often treated as the practical naming moment.

• The “10cc of semen” story has been repeated enough by band members and media that it’s become an unofficial, tongue‑in‑cheek “official myth.”

In practice, both stories coexist: one is the catchy, slightly dirty legend, the other is the mundane “our label boss dreamed it” explanation. Fans and writers still debate which they prefer, but most modern write‑ups mention both when answering “why are they called 10cc.”

TL;DR:
They’re called 10cc either because Jonathan King saw the name in a dream on a concert marquee, or because of a risqué in‑joke about “10 cubic centimetres” of semen – and the band’s history has embraced both stories.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.