What does the name LEGO derive from in Danish?

The name LEGO derives from the Danish phrase “leg godt,” meaning “play well.”

Ole Kirk Christiansen’s company adopted LEGO as its name in 1934. The short name suited a toy business and expressed the company’s intended connection with children’s play. In Danish, “leg godt” consists of words meaning “play” and “well.”

LEGO is often associated with the Latin word “lego,” which can mean “I put together” or “I assemble.” That resemblance is real, but it was discovered after the company selected its Danish name. It was not the source of the brand name.

The name stayed in use as the company moved from wooden toys to plastic construction bricks. LEGO’s modern identity includes bricks, minifigures, video games, films, theme parks, and educational products, but the original phrase remains a concise statement of the brand’s purpose. The company’s official name is The LEGO Group, while LEGO is the name used by its products and public brand.