What is our countries proper name, and why don't we use it?
On my passport it's called the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, but in most sports we're called Great Britain, on the name sticker on my car when we go abroad we're GB. Why not the UK?
The official name is the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland'.
Great Britain is the island comprising England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland is obviously not part of Great Britain, but part of Ireland.
I guess it's a bit confusing, yes. But must be even more confusing for Northern Ireland. For example, sometimes they are seen as part of the UK, sometimes they are independent like in football, sometimes they are seen as 'Ireland' along with their southern neighbours the Republic of Ireland, like with rugby.