The fact that the name was "given by Verhulst" does not explain why it was given. Usually people pick names for a reason, but maybe Verhulst was an exception. Ok, I looked at the French wikipedia, which states "Le nom de courbe logistique leur a été donné par Verhulst sans que l'on sache exactement pourquoi." - "The name "logistic curve" was given to it by Verhulst, but no one knows exactly why". The reference rasch.org gives the following commentary:
"Verhulst writes "We will give the name logistic [logistique] to the curve" (1845%20p.8).%20Though%20he%20does%20not%20explain%20this%20choice%2C%20there%20is%20a%20connection%20with%20the%20logarithmic%20basis%20of%20the%20function.%20Logarithm%20was%20coined%20by%20John%20Napier%20(1550-1617)%20from%20Greek%20logos%20(ratio%2C%20proportion%2C%20reckoning)%20and%20arithmos%20(number).%20Logistic%20comes%20from%20the%20Greek%20logistikos%20(computational).%20In%20the%201700%27s%2C%20logarithmic%20and%20logistic%20were%20synonymous.%20Since%20computation%20is%20needed%20to%20predict%20the%20supplies%20an%20army%20requires%2C%20logistics%20has%20come%20to%20be%20also%20used%20for%20the%20movement%20and%20supply%20of%20troops.%20So%20it%20appears%20the%20other%20meaning%20of%20%22logistics%22%20comes%20from%20the%20same%20logic%20as%20Verhulst%20terminology%2C%20but%20is%20independent%20(%3F).%20Verhulst%20paper%20is%20accessible%3B%20the%20definition%20is%20on%20page%208%20(page%2021%20in%20the%20volume)%2C%20and%20the%20picture%20is%20after%20the%20article%20(page%2054%20in%20the%20volume).%20%22
The fact that the name was "given by Verhulst" does not explain why it was given. Usually people pick names for a reason, but maybe Verhulst was an exception. Ok, I looked at the French wikipedia, which states "Le nom de courbe logistique leur a été donné par Verhulst sans que l'on sache exactement pourquoi." - "The name "logistic curve" was given to it by Verhulst, but no one knows exactly why". The reference rasch.org gives the following commentary:
"Verhulst writes "We will give the name logistic [logistique] to the curve" (1845%20p.8).%20Though%20he%20does%20not%20explain%20this%20choice%2C%20there%20is%20a%20connection%20with%20the%20logarithmic%20basis%20of%20the%20function.%20Logarithm%20was%20coined%20by%20John%20Napier%20(1550-1617)%20from%20Greek%20logos%20(ratio%2C%20proportion%2C%20reckoning)%20and%20arithmos%20(number).%20Logistic%20comes%20from%20the%20Greek%20logistikos%20(computational).%20In%20the%201700%27s%2C%20logarithmic%20and%20logistic%20were%20synonymous.%20Since%20computation%20is%20needed%20to%20predict%20the%20supplies%20an%20army%20requires%2C%20logistics%20has%20come%20to%20be%20also%20used%20for%20the%20movement%20and%20supply%20of%20troops.%20So%20it%20appears%20the%20other%20meaning%20of%20%22logistics%22%20comes%20from%20the%20same%20logic%20as%20Verhulst%20terminology%2C%20but%20is%20independent%20(%3F).%20Verhulst%20paper%20is%20accessible%3B%20the%20definition%20is%20on%20page%208%20(page%2021%20in%20the%20volume)%2C%20and%20the%20picture%20is%20after%20the%20article%20(page%2054%20in%20the%20volume).%20%22