Lego, a widely popular toy brand, has been a staple on children's Christmas wish lists for generations.
After Lego, the iconic plastic construction toy, was introduced to the world, Lego customers have recently discovered the true meaning behind the brand name, nearly a century later.
The story traces back to the founder, carpenter Ole Kirk Kristiansen, from Billund, Denmark. In 1932, he began crafting toy bricks from wood and introduced them to his son. Four years later, he coined the name Lego, with no inkling that his small toys would become a household name.
During the late 1940s and early 1950s, Ole Kirk Kristiansen tried to convince his son, Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, to transition from wooden bricks to plastic ones after witnessing the success of plastic bricks in the market.
The father-son duo decided to rename their product from "Automatic Binding Bricks" to Lego, incorporating the name into each brick's branding.
According to a statement from Lego, the name Lego is derived from "combining the two Danish words 'Leg Godt' meaning 'Play Well', Ole Kirk Kristiansen creates the Lego name for his company - unaware that this word in Latin means 'I put together'. He also considers the alternative LEGIO (legions) but in the end, he opts for the name that embodies high-quality play and commitment towards children's development through play."
The patented coupling principle introduced in Lego bricks in 1958 revolutionized construction possibilities for customers. Today, Lego is distributed in over 130 countries, employing approximately 23,000 individuals, with subsidiary operations spanning Europe, America, Africa, Asia, and Australia.
This iconic company has been passed down through generations and is currently owned by Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, a grandchild of the founder.
Many people were surprised upon learning what Lego actually stands for when commenting on the company's name.
One person said: I assumed "Lego" was a Danish folk word meaning "Absurdly Expensive": Live and learn.
A second wrote: "Lego", derived from the Danish phrase leg godt [lɑjˀ ˈkʌt], which means "play well".
A third added: the Danish words "leg godt" meaning "play well." You're welcome.
Someone else said: On the one hand, I’m surprised I never knew that. On the other, Legos are so embedded in our culture that I never thought of it as having a beginning. It’s like it’s just always existed.
