ladbible homepage
ladbible homepage
  • iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK
    • US
    • World
    • Ireland
    • Australia
    • Science
    • Crime
    • Weather
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV
    • Film
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • Netflix
    • Disney
  • Sport
  • Technology
  • Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • Money
  • Originals
    • FFS PRODUCTIONS
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content Here
  • SPORTbible
  • Tyla
  • GAMINGbible
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • FOODbible
  • UNILAD Tech
The story behind Nike's brand which confirms how it should be pronounced

Home> News

Published 21:10 2 Jan 2023 GMT

The story behind Nike's brand which confirms how it should be pronounced

The brand's famous name and logo can both be traced back to ancient times

Callum Jones

Callum Jones

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

It is a debate that goes back decades, one that has divided many friends and households - is it pronounced just 'Nike' or 'Nikey'?

These days, Nike is one of the most popular sportswear brands on the planet, with a net worth of over $183 billion (£161 billion) as of the 30 December 2022.

They sponsor some of the biggest and most popular athletes in the world, as well as kits for an endless number of sport teams worldwide.

Advert

But while it may be a juggernaut now, Nike started off as just another small company with a rather curious ancient Greek-inspired name.

The name 'Nike' has been around for thousands of years, as it was the name of the Greek goddess who personified victory in many fields such as music, war and athletics.

Nike's famous logo was inspired by the Greek goddess.
360b / Alamy Stock Photo

The iconic Nike 'swoop' also dates back to Greek mythology and the history of the Grecian gods.

The Greek goddess Nike was the daughter of the goddess Styx and the titan Pallas.

There is an affiliation with sports over athletic competitions that the goddess apparently presided over.

So, as the popular sports brand was inspired by the Greek goddess - how is it pronounced?

Get ready to say 'I told you so', as the correct way you should be pronouncing it is in fact 'Nikey' - which is how the Greek goddess is pronounced.

When Nike founder Phil Knight was looking at different ideas for a logo, he wanted something that inspired movement and determination.

He ended up paying one of his students, Carolyn Davidson, to help design the logo for Nike.

After several designs were pitched to Knight, the founder settled on the logo that represented the wings of the Greek goddess.

In his 2016 memoir 'Shoe Dog', Knight spoke about his interest in ancient Greece and described how he was in awe while visiting the country.

Nike: The Greek goddess represents victory.
FORRAY Didier/SAGAPHOTO.COM / Alamy Stock Photo

He spoke about walking into the Temple of Athena, and how special that was for him.

As per Black Tomato, Knight said: "I don’t know how long I stood there, absorbing the energy and power of that epochal place. An hour? Three? I don’t know how long after that day I discovered the Aristophanes play, set in the Temple of Nike, in which the warrior gives the king a gift – a pair of new shoes.

"I don’t know when I figured out that the play was called Knights. I do know that as I turned to leave I noticed the temple’s marble façade.

"Greek artisans had decorated it with several haunting carvings, including the most famous, in which the goddess inexplicably leans down… to adjust the strap of her shoe."

Featured Image Credit: frantic / Alamy Stock Photo/Philipp Erdle / Alamy Stock Photo

Topics: Nike, Sport, Fashion

Callum Jones
Callum Jones

Recommended reads

US army 'going hungry' after horrifying images of food emergesentdefender/XCharity cuts ties with Sharon Osbourne as she backs Tommy Robinson rallySteve Granitz/FilmMagicTrump-endorser Caitlyn Jenner can no longer travel internationally because of Trump's passport policy(Photo by Mike Marsland/Mike Marsland/Getty Images for Sky)Bride reveals ongoing trauma after sister-in-law throws black paint over her in brutal act of revenge(Cover Images)

Advert

Choose your content:

3 hours ago
4 hours ago
  • (Photo by Mike Marsland/Mike Marsland/Getty Images for Sky)
    3 hours ago

    Trump-endorser Caitlyn Jenner can no longer travel internationally because of Trump's passport policy

    The US President passed an executive order mandating that passports can only list a person's birth gender

    News
  • (Cover Images)
    3 hours ago

    Bride reveals ongoing trauma after sister-in-law throws black paint over her in brutal act of revenge

    Gemma Monk's mental health suffered after the horrifying attack

    News
  • (Koin Archives)
    3 hours ago

    Proof emerges that solves mystery of family who disappeared more than 60 years ago

    There has been a DNA breakthrough in the case of the missing Martin family, who were last seen in 1958

    News
  • Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for Coachella
    4 hours ago

    Horrific message displayed above Coachella Festival as singer d4vd arrested for murder

    The origin of the message and its meaning are unknown so it may be a coincidence

    News
  • Reality behind not masturbating as 'health benefits' explained after doctor shared how often it should be done
  • Doctor explains how often you should really masturbate to be healthy
  • ‘Normal’ amount of sex people should be having as impact of not having it for a while shared
  • Trump claims Democrats should be named in the Epstein files to 'embarrass them'