When did we name world war two, WWII?

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=world+war

@Zissou Awesome thanks GA!

WWI was the first world war. Also called THE GREAT WAR, it was over-optimistically said to be, at its conclusion the last war. It wasn’t. WW!! was actually born in the ashes of WWI.

That might be what “we” named the war, but in Russia it will probably always be known as the Great Patriotic War.

As for us, it was probably named by some housewife in Des Moines, Iowa, as part of a Reader’s Digest contest to “Name this war!” But that’s just a guess. I don’t know nothin’ ‘bout no war.

The term “World War” originated in 1909.

It was between that or “the Fight for Might”. In the end “World War II (Two)” won out in an online poll as it looked grander and had a catchier abbreviation.