LEGO, which produces the “Toy of the Century”, a title won twice, has a long history behind its name.
The classic brick toy compant has been a staple in many homes for years, playing a crucial role in most people’s childhoods.
Yet, the name has become so common that people haven’t stopped to think about what it could really stand for.
Unknown to many, LEGO is actually a blend of two Danish words: ‘LEG GODT’. This translates to ‘Play Well’.
LEGO’s site explains: “The intention of the name is to reflect quality and children’s right to enjoyable play.” However, the process of choosing the brand’s name has a deep-rooted history.
Originally, the Danish company was not focused on selling toys. It all dates back to the Great Depression in 1929, credited to the global financial crisis, where Ole Kirk Christiansen needed to conjure up fresh, new ideas in order to keep his business afloat.
The founder decided to expand into products that would easily sell, such as ladders, ironing boards and other key household items.
To increase his profits and item range, Christiansen ventured into wooden toys which he began to produce in 1932.
Three years later, the toys branch of his growing business became so profitable that the entrepreneur decided it needed a new name.
According to LEGO’s website, “Christiansen allegedly holds a competition among his employees to find a good name for the business. The competition winner (who can claim the prize of a bottle of Ole Kirk Christiansen’s homemade wine) is … Ole Kirk Christiansen himself.”
LEGO was then used as the company’s official name in January 1936. Reflecting on his decision to focus on toy production, Christiansen reportedly wrote in a letter: “It wasn’t until the day I told myself, ‘You’ll either have to drop your old craft or put toys out of your head’ that I began to see the long-term consequences.
“And the decision turned out to be the right one.”
In response to the history behind the LEGO company’s name, a user on X said: “That is interesting,” while another added: “Fun with linguistics.”
A third person jokingly posted: “I thought it meant foot killer,” as another X user echoed this saying: “I thought it meant ‘painful at 2am.”
“Synonym: floor weapon. Painful when stepped on,” a fifth person added.
