Ever wonder how the handy Bluetooth acquired its odd name? Not surprisingly, it had nothing to do with teeth or being blue. Rather, the name harkens back to Swedish telecommunication company Ericsson’s Viking heritage.

Bluetooth creates a secure means of exchanging wireless data amongst several different devices. Pondering this service, its predominantly Scandinavian creators recalled the legend of Danish viking king Harald Blåtand. According to lore, Blåtand had an uncanny ability to bring people together in non-violent negotiations. His way with words and communication went so far as uniting Denmark and Norway as a single territory. The English translation of Blåtand - you guessed it – is blue-tooth.