How are steels named?

[SubDisease]

This question has been bugging me for an answer.

This wiki article explains it for architecture http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel_grades

But how do our beloved knife steels come to be named?

 

[brets-ftw]

Mostly from whatever naming process the company has, CTS-"xyz" CPM-"xyz" etc.

 

[hardheart]

Either proprietary by company or standards that vary by nation. Zvi/gator97 has a great list with filters for these standards.