# Name and Logo The Roc programming language is named after [a mythical bird](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roc_(mythology)). That’s why the logo is a bird. It’s specifically an [*origami* bird](https://youtu.be/9gni1t1k1uY) as an homage to [Elm](https://elm-lang.org/)’s tangram logo. Roc is a direct descendant of Elm. The languages are similar, but not the same. [Origami](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origami) likewise has similarities to [tangrams](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tangram), although they are not the same. Both involve making a surprising variety of things from simple primitives. [*Folds*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fold_(higher-order_function)) are also common in functional programming. The logo was made by tracing triangles onto a photo of a physical origami bird. It’s made of triangles because triangles are a foundational primitive in computer graphics. The name was chosen because it makes for a three-letter file extension, it means something fantastical, and it has incredible potential for puns. # Different Ways to Spell Roc * **Roc** - traditional * **roc** - low-key * **ROC** - [YELLING](https://package.elm-lang.org/packages/elm/core/latest/String#toUpper) * **Röc** - [metal 🤘](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal_umlaut) # Fun Facts Roc translates to 鹏 in Chinese, [which means](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdrst=0&wdqb=%E9%B9%8F) "a large fabulous bird."