Nike’s name refers to Nike, the Greek goddess of victory.
Nike, Inc. was founded as Blue Ribbon Sports in 1964 by Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman. The company initially distributed Japanese Onitsuka Tiger running shoes before developing and selling its own footwear. It adopted the Nike name in 1971, drawing on the Greek personification of victory.
The company’s famous Swoosh logo was designed by Carolyn Davidson in 1971. Nike became one of the world’s leading athletic-wear companies through performance shoes, athlete endorsements, apparel, and global marketing. Its product lines include running, basketball, football, and training equipment.
Nike is not named after a modern athlete or a Roman goddess. The closest Roman counterpart to the Greek Nike is Victoria. Adidas, Puma, and Reebok are separate sportswear companies with different origins.