Why is W called double U and not double V?
The Real Answer
In English, W is called 'double U' because it evolved from a letter that was literally two U's written together (UU). The letter originated in medieval times when scribes needed to represent the /w/ sound, and they simply doubled the U — a common practice for creating new letters. The name stuck even though the letter's shape eventually changed and became more V-like in many fonts.
We named a letter based on what it looked like 800 years ago and never updated it, even though it looks nothing like that anymore. Imagine if we still called your phone a 'brick receiver' because that's what it was shaped like in 1985. The letter is a W. We call it double U. Nobody's happy about it.
Why People Ask This
This question usually hits people mid-explanation when they're trying to spell something out loud and suddenly realize they're saying something that makes no sense. You're holding up a W, saying 'double U,' and your brain gets stuck. Most people never question it until they see the letter and the name exist in completely different visual universes.