Where the month names come from
The Roman roots behind the twelve English month names.
People and gods
January refers to Janus, March to Mars, May probably to Maia and June to Juno. July and August honor Julius Caesar and Augustus.
Numbered names
September through December preserve Latin number roots for seven through ten, reflecting an older arrangement in which March began the year.
Language differences
English inherited names through Latin and later European usage. Other languages and calendar traditions use different names, meanings and month boundaries.
Related month guides
- Why is February the shortest month? — How Roman calendar history shaped February's unusual length.
- How many days are in each month? — A complete guide to 28-, 29-, 30- and 31-day months.
- Lunar month vs calendar month — Compare Moon cycles with Gregorian calendar months.