how do the names of certain battles in wars come about?

Question

how do you get the name of a famous or even nonfamous battle in a war? is it due to the location, reason for the battle, what happens during the battle (battle of the bulge in WWII, for example) or is it just a name?

i'm all ears...

Answer 1

Most all of what you say is the answer.
Battle of Shiloh, at Shiloh
Bannockburn in Bannocburn Scotland
Coral Sea
Spanish Main
Argonne Forest, all were places
Most were that way. Wars were named for the cause, War of Norhern Agression, War of the Roses(Yes, the English fought a war to determine the color of favorite roses)

Answer 2

Yes Most battles are named for the nearest place on the map. Or if as in the War between the States you may have two or more names for the same battle Shiloh was named by the Confederates for the Meeting house on the site but called Pittsburgh Landing by the Union for the steamboat landing that was there. The Battle of the Bulge was named because of the shape if the front lines on the map. Coral Sea because it was fought in the Coral Sea.

So there is method to the madness.

Answer 3

Battles names are often picked by the victor, like the French and Indian War. The British won so they named the war from their point of view.


The Battle of the Bugle during World War II was named that because of the bulge the Germans made as they split the Allies line in 2, making a bulge.

Answer 4

battles are normally named after the closest town or body of water
take the us civil war it had both the south named theirs after the closet river or creek while the north named it after the nearest town during ww2 they used code names like d-day the bulge among others

Answer 5

Mainly, it is the location of the battle that gives it its name. I am excepting, of course, WWI and WWII. However, these concerned a few nations, so perhaps it does apply.

Answer 6

some of them come from the location of the battle.

Answer 7

the winner decides