Evel Knievel, Not "Evil Knievel": The Real Story Behind the Name

The correct spelling is Evel Knievel, not Evil Knievel. Evel Knievel chose that spelling himself in 1966, on purpose, so his motorcycle-jumping show wouldn't sound like a biker gang act. Nearly 4,800 people a month still type it wrong, searching for his gear, his Experience, or his brand. If that's you, welcome. You found the right site.

Here's a fact that surprises most people: the man never spelled his own name "correctly" by accident. He built an entire brand around the fact that you might get it wrong.

Robert Craig Knievel was born October 17, 1938, in Butte, Montana. Nobody called him "Evel" until a 1956 police chase ended with him in a jail cell, and even then, it wasn't the spelling that stuck first. It was a joke that turned into a legend.

How a Jailhouse Nickname Became a Global Brand

According to Evel Knievel's own biography page, the name started as a joke inside a Butte jail. Knievel had been picked up after a police chase and a motorcycle crash, charged with reckless riding. The night jailer had a habit of nicknaming inmates. Another prisoner that night, William Knofel, got tagged "Awful Knofel," because "awful" rhymed with his last name. Rolling with the same logic, the jailer pinned "Evil Knievel" on Robert Knievel, since "Evil" rhymed with "Knievel."

That's where most tellings of the story stop. But the spelling most people search for today, "Evil," isn't the name that made it onto a marquee. What happened next is the part that explains why so many people still get it wrong.

Why He Changed "Evil" to "Evel"

By 1966, Knievel wanted to turn the jailhouse nickname into a paying stunt show. He needed a sponsor, and he found one in Bob Blair, owner of ZDS Motors, the West Coast distributor for Norton motorcycles. Blair agreed to supply the bikes, on one condition: he wanted the act billed as "Evil Knievel and His Motorcycle Daredevils."

Knievel said no. He didn't want audiences picturing a Hells Angels rider, and "Evil" carried exactly that kind of weight in 1966. He talked Blair into swapping one letter, "Evil" became "Evel," and the deal held. The show debuted January 23, 1966, at the National Date Festival in Indio, California. Knievel did wheelies, crashed through firewalls, and jumped two pickup trucks. It was a hit, and the spelling never changed again.

That single-letter decision is arguably the first branding call Knievel ever made, years before he was famous enough to need one. He picked a word that sounded dangerous without sounding villainous, and he built a career, a movie, a Guinness World Record for 35 broken bones, and eventually a licensed global brand on top of it.

Evel Knievel didn't misspell his own name by accident. He changed "Evil" to "Evel" on purpose in 1966, and the typo people make today is the exact word he refused to use.

How Often Do People Type It Wrong?

More often than you'd think. Recent search data shows "Evel Knievel," the correct spelling, gets roughly 74,000 U.S. searches a month. But a meaningful slice of people looking for the same man, the same brand, and the same store never get there, because they never spell it the way he intended.

Add those up and you're looking at close to 4,000+ searches a month from people who wanted Evel Knievel merchandise, tickets, or brand information, but landed somewhere else first because of one transposed or swapped letter. That's a crowd the size of a sold-out arena show, every single month, typing "evil" instead of "evel" or flipping the "ie" in Knievel.

It makes sense once you think about how the name sounds. "Evel" isn't a normal English word, so your brain autocorrects it to one that is: "evil." And "Knievel" has two vowel pairs stacked right next to each other, which is a known trap for typos even for people who've seen the name a hundred times.

The Legal Name and the Trademark

The spelling isn't just a branding choice anymore. It's a registered trademark. Evel Knievel's name, image, voice, signature, and likeness are owned and protected by K&K Promotions, Inc., doing business as Evel Knievel. That protection covers merchandise, advertising, film, and any commercial use of the Evel Knievel® name or image, and it's the reason unauthorized "Evil Knievel" merchandise you might find elsewhere isn't the real thing.

If you're trying to find genuine, licensed Evel Knievel® products, or you're a business exploring a licensing partnership, the spelling matters for a practical reason: it's how you find the people who hold the rights.

You're in the Right Place. Here's Where to Go Next

If You're Here for Evel Knievel Merch

The official store carries apparel, drinkware, and collectibles built around the man's actual history, not knockoff "evil" imagery. Shop official Evel Knievel gear here. Every product carries the licensed Evel Knievel® mark.

If You're Here for the Evel Knievel Experience

The Evel Knievel Experience is a permanent attraction in Downtown Las Vegas, built around his motorcycles, jumpsuits, and jump history. Tickets are available directly through the official Experience site, not third-party resellers.

If You're Here About Licensing or Brand Partnerships

Evel Knievel is one of the most recognized names in American pop culture, and K&K Promotions handles licensing for advertising, product lines, and media use. Explore Evel Knievel licensing to see what's involved and how to start a conversation.

Whichever one brought you here, you didn't misspell your way into the wrong place. You found it. The letter was just off.

Ready to Explore the Official Evel Knievel Brand?

Now that you know why it's "Evel" and not "Evil," take a look at what the name built: a full catalog of official merchandise, an in-person Experience, and a story that's still being told sixty years after that first jump in Indio. Explore EvelKnievel.com.

For the full account of his career, from the Caesars Palace crash to the Wembley Stadium jump, read the complete Evel Knievel story.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it "Evel Knievel" or "Evil Knievel"?

It's Evel Knievel. Evel deliberately changed the spelling from "Evil" to "Evel" in 1966 when he launched his stunt show, and it has been spelled that way in every official capacity since, including his registered trademark.

Why did Evel Knievel spell his name "Evel" instead of "Evil"?

A jailer nicknamed him "Evil Knievel" after a 1956 arrest, but when Knievel launched his motorcycle show in 1966, his sponsor wanted to bill it under that original spelling. Knievel refused because he didn't want to be associated with an outlaw biker image, and changed it to "Evel" instead.

What was Evel Knievel's real name?

His birth name was Robert Craig Knievel. He was born October 17, 1938, in Butte, Montana, and legally became known as Evel Knievel as his stunt career grew.

Where can I buy official Evel Knievel merchandise?

Official, licensed Evel Knievel® merchandise, including apparel, drinkware, and collectibles, is available directly through the official store at EvelKnievel.com. Buying through the official site is the only way to guarantee the product is licensed by K&K Promotions, Inc.

What is the Evel Knievel Experience?

The Evel Knievel Experience is a permanent, in-person attraction located in the Downtown Las Vegas Arts District. It features his motorcycles, jumpsuits, and memorabilia from his career. Tickets are sold through the official Experience website.

How do I get licensing rights to use the Evel Knievel name or image?

Evel Knievel's name, image, and likeness are protected by trademark and copyright and are owned by K&K Promotions, Inc. Businesses interested in licensing the Evel Knievel brand for advertising or products can inquire directly through the official licensing page or by contacting info@evelknievel.com.