Were They Always Called World War I and World War II?-- Part 1

From Ask history.

World War II began 21 years after World War I.  It is hard to pinpoint when the terms World War I and World War II or First World War and Second World War came into large use.

Of course, during World War I, no one knew there would be a second World War.  As such, there was no need for a numerical designation.  U.S. newspapers originally referred to the 1914-1918 war as "The European War."  They adopted the "World War" name after the United States entered it in 1917.

Britons referred to it as "The Great War" into the 1940s.

--CooterFirst