The band 10cc got its name from a mix of myth and a more mundane “official” story, and both versions still circulate in music lore today.

The “semen” myth (the infamous version)

One of the most repeated explanations is that 10cc refers to a (supposedly) above-average volume of male semen – 10 cubic centimetres – used as a cheeky symbol of potency and virility.

  • Legend says the name was chosen to suggest sexual power and confidence.
  • Founding member Lol Creme later confirmed this story in an interview, which helped the myth stick.
  • It fits the early‑70s rock climate, where provocative, risqué band lore helped a group stand out.

This version is colourful, easy to remember, and very on‑brand for how people like to tell rock history stories.

The “dream” story (the official version)

Their early champion and label boss Jonathan King gives a very different origin.

  • King said he had a dream where he was standing outside London’s Hammersmith Odeon, seeing the venue board read: “10cc – The Best Band in the World.”
  • He liked how the name looked and sounded – short, punchy, and mysterious – and decided that would be the band’s name when he signed them.
  • In some later accounts, he explicitly rejected the semen myth as nonsense and insisted the dream anecdote is the real story.

From a business perspective, this explanation feels very “A&R guy”: find a distinctive, marketable name that looks strong on a poster.

So which explanation is true?

There’s no single, totally uncontested version, and that’s part of why this stays a fun forum and fan topic.

  • The band’s orbit:
    • Lol Creme has, at times, backed the semen explanation.
* Jonathan King has consistently pushed the dream origin and denied the semen story.
  • Many reference sources now list both explanations and note that the origin is disputed.

In practice, most music fans treat it like this:

The “real” story is probably the dream + a later, jokey sexual explanation that became canon in rock mythology.

Quick timeline context

Understanding when 10cc emerged helps explain why such a quirky name stuck so well.

  • Early 1970s: The four members (Graham Gouldman, Eric Stewart, Kevin Godley, Lol Creme) were already working together at Strawberry Studios near Manchester.
  • 1972: They recorded “Donna,” caught Jonathan King’s attention, and needed a band name right as he signed them.
  • Same moment: The glam rock era was full of striking names and images, so a short, numerical band name helped them look modern and distinctive.

Their clever, often experimental pop – “I’m Not in Love,” “Rubber Bullets,” “Dreadlock Holiday” – later made 10cc feel like a name you just accept, even if you don’t know what it means.

Mini FAQ for forums and discussions

Q: Is “10cc” scientifically accurate as a semen volume?
No, medical sources usually give lower average volumes; the 10cc figure is clearly more of a joke than a lab‑grade metric.

Q: Did the band themselves agree on one story?
Not really. Different members and their ex‑producer have told different versions over the years, which is why fans still debate it.

Q: Which answer should I use in a casual thread?
For a fun, forum‑style line: “There are two stories – their producer dreamt the name on a theatre marquee, and later the band leaned into a rude ‘10 cubic centimetres of semen’ joke – the truth is probably somewhere in between.”

TL;DR: The band is called 10cc either because their producer dreamt of a marquee reading “10cc – The Best Band in the World,” or because of a tongue‑in‑cheek claim that 10cc is an “above‑average” semen volume; over time, both stories have blended into one piece of rock‑myth branding.

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