when did the term "world war ii" originate

[wushu]

At what point in history did the term "world war II" come into being? Did the term "second world war" predate it?

[henneth]

They couldn't use the name World War I as the name had already been taken.

[Quizmonster]

Strangely enough, the earliest use of the phrase "World War Number 2" appeared in 1919, 20 years before it actually started! As "World War II", its earliest appearance was in Time magazine in September 1939, just a few days after it started.

[gary baldy]

Ironically WW1 was called The War To End All Wars.
Got that wrong didnt they?

[bondy]

Yeah you would have expected it to have been used straight after WW1 when the powers were discussing how to stop WW2. Like we talk about stopping WW3

[Stu in USA]

I expect the terms "world war 2" and "second world war" came about at the same time because they are 2 ways of saying the same thing!! Or did I misunderstand the Q? Also I think that WW1 was known as "The Great War" before WW2, if that's any help?

[JonnyP]

yes, the 1st world war was refered to as the great war, until ww2 started, when they started to refer to it as ww1, and ww2 as ww2