The logo of MySQL, a database management system, consists of the brand name and an image of a dolphin above the right side of the lettering. In the current color version, “My” and the outline of the dolphin are blue, while “SQL” is orange. A white monochrome version of the logo may be used on dark backgrounds. The dolphin featured in the logo is named “Sakila”. Its name was selected in a contest from among suggestions submitted by MySQL users. The name MySQL itself is formed from My, the name of the daughter of Michael “Monty” Widenius, one of the system’s creators, and the abbreviation SQL, which stands for Structured Query Language. The dolphin and the blue-and-orange color scheme appeared in the MySQL logo in the early 2000s and, despite subsequent design changes, have remained part of the brand’s visual identity to this day.
MySQL is an open-source database management system whose development began in 1995. The project originated in Sweden and is associated with Michael “Monty” Widenius, David Axmark, and Allan Larsson, who later developed the product at MySQL AB. The system became widely used in web development, internet services, and enterprise applications thanks to its ability to store, organize, and process large volumes of structured data. In 2008, MySQL AB was acquired by Sun Microsystems, and in 2010, following Oracle’s acquisition of Sun, MySQL came under Oracle’s management. Today, Oracle continues to develop MySQL, including the free MySQL Community Edition, commercial editions, and cloud solutions.
