The wireless technology known as Bluetooth owes its name to King Harald, a Viking ruler who lived more than a millennium ago. Harald was known for his conquests and was also called “Bluetooth,” a name that likely referred to a dead tooth that had turned dark. The nickname was a way of distinguishing between people who had the same or similar names, as was common among the Norse people. Although the origin of the name may seem unsavory, the association between the color blue and weaponry or death may have only added to Harald’s identity as a fearsome warrior-king. The Bluetooth technology that we know today was named in honor of King Harald, who united many regions into one strong kingdom, just as Bluetooth technology unites separate devices with a wireless connection. The Chronicle reveals that the Norse people used patronyms instead of surnames, and nicknames were a creative way of distinguishing individuals.
The origin of the name “Bluetooth” for the wireless technology that has become so ubiquitous today can be traced back to King Harald, a Viking ruler who lived over a millennium ago. Harald, who reigned over Denmark and Norway in the second half of the 10th century, was known for his conquests and was also called “Bluetooth,” a name that likely referred to a dead tooth that had turned dark. In Old Norse, “blár” was used for a spectrum of blue-black colors, as well as the metallic glint of armor and weapons, and even death itself. Although the association with a dead tooth may seem unsavory, the connection between the color blue and weaponry or death may have only added to Harald’s identity as a fearsome warrior-king.
The Norse people used nicknames as a way of distinguishing between people who had the same or similar names, and Harald’s “Bluetooth” epithet likely arose from this practice. Although the nickname first appears in the Roskilde Chronicle, which was written in Latin in c1140 and dates from after Harald’s death, there is no reason to doubt its accuracy. The Chronicle reveals that the Norse people used patronyms instead of surnames, and nicknames were a creative way of distinguishing individuals. For example, Ketil Flatnose and Sweyn Forkbeard were named for their physical features, while Walking Hrolfr was too enormous for any horse to carry him, so he had to walk.
The Bluetooth technology that we know today was named in honor of King Harald, who united many regions into one strong kingdom, just as Bluetooth technology unites separate devices with a wireless connection. This technology has become so pervasive that it is hard to imagine a world without it. King Harald would no doubt be surprised to know that he is remembered not just as a Viking warrior-king, but also as the namesake of a revolutionary wireless technology.
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