Bluetooth is named after the 10th-century Danish King Harald "Bluetooth" Gormsson. The wireless protocol was named after him because of his ability to unite warring Scandinavian factions, just as Bluetooth unites different wireless devices. The Bluetooth logo is a combination of the King's runic initials (ᚼ and ᛒ) merged together.
Why Bluetooth Is Named After a Viking King
Every time you pair your wireless headphones or connect your phone to your car, you're invoking the legacy of a Viking king who died over a thousand years ago. Bluetooth technology is named after Harald "Bluetooth" Gormsson, a 10th-century Danish king whose greatest achievement had nothing to do with technology—but everything to do with connection.
The King Who United Scandinavia
Harald Bluetooth ruled Denmark from around 958 to 986 AD. He's remembered for two major accomplishments: unifying the warring tribes of Denmark and Norway into a single kingdom, and converting the Danes to Christianity.
The "Bluetooth" nickname? Its origin is actually lost to history. Some theories suggest he had a conspicuously bad or dark tooth. Others propose it's a mangled translation of an Old Norse word meaning "dark chieftain." The blueberry-stained teeth story, while colorful, has no historical basis.
Why a Viking for a Tech Standard?
In 1996, tech giants Intel, Ericsson, and Nokia were developing a short-range wireless standard. The problem wasn't just technical—they needed a name that could unite competing companies and technologies, just as Harald had united competing tribes.
Intel engineer Jim Kardach had been reading Frans G. Bengtsson's historical novel The Long Ships, which features Harald Bluetooth. The parallel was perfect:
- Harald united Scandinavian factions under one kingdom
- Bluetooth would unite devices under one wireless protocol
- Both brought peace to warring parties
"Bluetooth" was initially a placeholder codename, but it stuck. The marketing team couldn't find anything better, and the Viking king's legacy lived on in a billion devices.
Hidden Runes in the Logo
Look closely at the Bluetooth logo—that distinctive symbol isn't abstract design. It's a bind rune combining Harald's initials.
The logo merges two symbols from the Younger Futhark runic alphabet: ᚼ (Hagall) for H and ᛒ (Bjarkan) for B. Layered on top of each other, they create the angular symbol now recognized on devices worldwide.
It's a remarkably thoughtful piece of branding—a thousand-year-old writing system embedded in 21st-century technology.
From Longships to Laptops
Harald Bluetooth died around 986 AD, likely killed in a rebellion led by his own son, Sweyn Forkbeard. His body was buried in Roskilde, Denmark, though the exact location of his remains is disputed.
He couldn't have imagined that his nickname would outlive his kingdom, his conquests, and even the memory of most medieval kings. Today, over 5 billion Bluetooth devices ship annually, each carrying the name of a Viking king whose real achievement was bringing people together.
Sometimes the best technology names come from the most unexpected places—like a 10th-century Scandinavian ruler who just wanted everyone to get along.