SUBREDDIT: r/AskReddit
TITLE: Why is it called the Middle East?
POST: Iran, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Jordan, Israel, Palestine, Egypt, Oman, Yemen, UAE, Qatar, etc. 

All countries above are apart of the Middle East, a part of Asia which is located in the Eastern Hemisphere. Now, why is it called that/is it an oxymoron?

If we apply the ME to the EH, than geographically it would be incorrect. Asia starts at Russia/Turkey, and extends all the way to Japan and Indonesia. The borders of the Middle East are Turkey - Afghanistan. Neither start or end are "middle" of the EH. 'Middle of the EH' would be more suited for India, Nepal, Vietnam, Cambodia, etc. 

And even as words, Middle East sounds like an oxymoron. How can something be middle, but also east? It would be like calling Spain "Eastern West".
TL;DR: 
why is it called the Middle East when not only is it not 'middle of the eastern hemisphere' but also an oxymoron?