Today, when people hear the word “Jeep,” they think of a sporty four-wheel-drive offroading machine. However, do people stop to think about how Jeep got its name? Like most legacy brands with storied histories, The story of how Jeep got its name is a tale that has different versions, depending on which historian you consult. 

There are two prevailing theories on how Jeep got its name. Here they are:

A "newbie" term

Before the introduction of the Jeep Willy MB in 1941, the term jeep was already a part of America’s vocabulary.  Well, at least the lexicon of America’s soldiers. As the story goes, GIs referred to anything that was untested as a jeep. Untested vehicles were called jeeps, and even untested soldiers (e.g. new recruits) were called jeeps. 

So, as a new Army recruit in the 1940s, you weren’t just a private, you were a private and a jeep?

Back-engineering an Acronym

There’s another theory as to how Jeep got its name, which I gravitate towards. Some say the word “Jeep” is derived from the original military term for the vehicle, which was “GP.” Say “GP” ten times fast, and suddenly, you’ve arrived at the term “Jeep.”   If you’re having a hard time swallowing that concept, look no further than the HumVee which experienced a similar etymological breakthrough. Initially, the Humvee was referred to as the acronym HMMWV (High-mobility multi-purpose wheeled vehicle).  Say the acronym HMMWV ten times fast, and you might arrive at Humvee 😉

When reading up on the topic, most researchers seem to agree that the origination of the word “Jeep,” when referring to the 4x4 GP vehicle, isn’t one or the other, but some combination of the two theories just presented.

So there you have it

So there you have it! You now know how Jeep got its name.  Now say this phrase ten times fast: “Red Rubber Boots.”