Why We Changed Our Helmet's Name

If you’ve been following us closely, you may have spotted a subtle shift recently. Something about our newest helmet looks a little different—can you guess what it is? That’s right—Nyx isn’t Nyx anymore.

But why the change?

After all, we spent a lot of time crafting that name to reflect everything our helmet stands for: sleek design, smart technology, and safety.

So, what happened? Why are we moving away from a name that felt so right?

Well, the story behind it might surprise you… It all comes down to trademarks, something we didn’t anticipate becoming a roadblock when we first launched Nyx.

Trademarks can be a brand’s nightmare, especially when you’re a small business trying to carve out your space in a crowded market. You can spend months—sometimes even years—crafting what feels like the perfect name, only to find that someone else got there first, or worse, has something just similar enough to cause trouble.

When we first came up with the name Nyx two years ago, we felt confident. It was unique, bold, and aligned perfectly with the helmet’s sleek design and advanced technology. Also, we did our homework - it wasn't taken.

So, we (foolishly) carried on, blissfully focused on designing the helmet, without securing the name. That is, until we got the call from our lawyer. Turns out, another product had claimed a name that was just a little too close for comfort. And in the world of trademarks, 'a little too close' is all it takes to stir up confusion—and potentially open a can of legal hurdles.

Securing a trademark isn’t just about having a good idea.

It’s about making sure that no one else in your industry can claim something similar.

The trademark system can be complex and unpredictable, with overlapping claims and regional restrictions. For small businesses like ours, it’s a delicate balancing act. Do we keep pushing forward with a name we love, or do we take a step back and reconsider for the long-term health of the brand?

After much deliberation, we chose the latter. Changing a name isn’t easy, but protecting our brand—and ensuring it’s something we can confidently grow with—is worth it.

When we realized we had to let go of Nyx, the first step was to explore completely new options. So, we put our heads together and brainstormed a bunch of different names.

Some of the ideas that came up included Lunarbeam, Protego, Amory, and even MetroLite. But as great as some of these sounded, none of them quite captured the essence of what we were looking for. They just didn’t feel right.

We knew we wanted to keep the spirit of Nyx, but how could we do that while still avoiding potential trademark conflicts?

After thinking it through, we found a clever solution: Why not add to the name? By tweaking it slightly, we could retain the core meaning of Nyx while staying clear of any legal issues. And that’s when the idea for Nyxel was born.

Nyxel turned out to be an even better name. It combines the power and mystery of Nyx—the Greek goddess of the night—with the tech-savvy edge of modern innovations like Pixel and Intel.

The "el" not only links Nyxel to the world of technology but also gives a nod to art, as a pixel is a core element in digital art. This connection is important because Nyxel helmets offer the ability to create custom, unique designs—a feature that allows you to express your individuality in ways no other helmet can.

Thanks for sticking with us through this post! We'd love to hear what you think about the name Nyxel—drop a comment below and let us know. And if you’re excited about what’s to come, don’t forget to sign up for updates here or take the survey to put yourself in the running for a free Nyxel helmet.