mazda was a trademarked name registered by general electric (ge) in 1909 for incandescent light bulbs. the name was used from 1909 through 1945 in the united states by ge and westinghouse. mazda brand light bulbs were made for decades after 1945 outside the us. the company chose the name due to its association with ahura mazda, the transcendental and universal god of zoroastrianism whose name means light of wisdom in the avestan language.