Why are there two names for J.K Rowling's first Harry Potter book?

[Roxy]

The names are:
Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone.

 

[Dreamseller]

Because Philosopher is a British / English term for saying Sorcerer, as where Sorcerer is a American term for Philosopher, the Publishing company felt that it was a good idea to change the title so the American readers would not be confused since JK rowling is English.

 

[zack]

It was initially released in the UK as the Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone as that was its original title. It was then released in the US with the title Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone because Scholastic, the U.S. publisher, "thought that a child would not want to read a book with the word 'philosopher' in the title."

 

[diddy]

philosphers stone coz harry is trying to get the stone and as far as i know the second book is called chamber of secrets.

 

[rogue_windrider]

One was used for the original UK release (The Philosopher's stone) and the other was used for the US release (Sorcerers). I believe the reason was that the US audiences wouldn't "get" the Philosopher part.