If you’ve ever wondered about the history behind LEGO’s name, get ready for a fascinating tidbit that might just blow your mind. Despite the countless hours spent assembling and playing with those iconic plastic blocks, have you ever paused to ponder what LEGO actually stands for?
According to LEGO’s own website, the company’s journey didn’t start with the colourful bricks we’re familiar with. Instead, it began with a line of wooden toys like cars, airplanes, and yoyos. Back in 1929, when the Wall Street Crash plunged the world into economic turmoil, carpenter Ole Kirk Kristiansen's business took a hit.
Kristiansen had to get creative to survive. He shifted his focus to producing more practical items such as ladders and ironing boards. But in 1932, he decided to dive into toy production. By late 1935, Kristiansen was ready to rebrand his business and held a competition among his employees to find a new name. The winner? Kristiansen himself!
He chose the Danish words “LEG GODT,” which means “Play Well.” This new name was officially adopted in January 1936. The goal was to represent quality and the joy of play for children.
Reflecting on this pivotal decision, Kristiansen 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."
The revelation about LEGO’s name has sparked a flurry of reactions on social media. Twitter users have been quick to share their thoughts. One user commented, “That is interesting,” while another mused, “Fun with linguistics.” Some even made jokes, with one person saying, “I thought it meant foot killer,” and another adding, “I thought it meant ‘painful at 2am.’”
And let’s not forget the humorous take: “Synonym: floor weapon. Painful when stepped on.”
