Who Invented the Jeep and What Does the Name “Jeep” Mean?

In 1937, the Army introduced a general purpose four-wheel drive vehicle which, when abbreviated, became G.P.

At the same time the very popular Popeye cartoon had introduced Eugene the Jeep as a weird little pet for Olive Oil.

It communicated by calling “jeep.”

The young men in the service put the little G.P. and the cartoon character together and called the vehicle a Jeep.