Keds Shoes produced the very first sneakers ever made. In fact, the history of the sneaker, quite literally, begins with Keds. When choosing a name, the initial choice was Peds, from the Latin meaning foot, but that name was already a trademark. The term sneaker was coined as a nickname for Keds because their rubber soles made them so quiet that one could “sneak around” without being heard. Since forming in 1916, Keds sneakers have been known for their simple, minimalist designs.