The twelve months of the year are so familiar to us that we rarely think about why they have the names they do. These names are the product of a fascinating blend of history, language, culture, and astronomy.
Most of them trace their origins back to the Roman calendar, reflecting the influence of Roman gods, leaders, numbers, and festivals.
Understanding the origins of the month names gives us insight into ancient societies and how they organized time. This article explores where each month’s name comes from and the historical context behind these choices.
Origins of the Calendar System
The modern calendar we use today, known as the Gregorian calendar, is a refinement of the Julian calendar introduced by Julius Caesar in 45 BCE. However, the roots of the month names come from the earlier Roman calendar, which originally had only ten months.
The original Roman calendar began in March and ended in December, with the winter period left unnamed and not assigned to any month. Later, January and February were added to fill the gap.
The months’ names reflect this history, with some months still named after their original position in the calendar.
“The calendar is a system of organizing days for social, religious, commercial, or administrative purposes. The month names are a mirror reflecting the culture and power structures of ancient Rome.”
– Historian of Timekeeping
The Twelve Months and Their Name Origins
| Month | Origin of Name | Meaning or Historical Reference |
|---|---|---|
| January | From Latin Ianuarius | Named after Janus, the Roman god of doors, gates, and transitions, symbolizing beginnings and endings. |
| February | From Latin Februarius | Derived from Februa, an early Roman festival of purification held on February 15. |
| March | From Latin Martius | Named after Mars, the Roman god of war and agriculture; March marked the start of the military campaign season. |
| April | Possibly from Latin aperire | Meaning “to open,” referring to the opening or blossoming of flowers and trees in spring. |
| May | From Latin Maius | Named after Maia, an earth goddess of growth and fertility. |
| June | From Latin Iunius | Named after Juno, queen of the gods and goddess of marriage and childbirth. |
| July | Originally Quintilis, renamed Julius | Renamed to honor Julius Caesar, who was born in this month. |
| August | Originally Sextilis, renamed Augustus | Renamed in honor of Emperor Augustus, reflecting his many military victories. |
| September | From Latin septem (seven) | Means “seventh month” in the original 10-month Roman calendar. |
| October | From Latin octo (eight) | Means “eighth month” in the early calendar system. |
| November | From Latin novem (nine) | Means “ninth month” in the original Roman calendar. |
| December | From Latin decem (ten) | Means “tenth month” in the ancient calendar. |
January: The Doorway to the Year
January is named after Janus, a uniquely Roman god who had two faces — one looking into the past and the other to the future. This symbolism made him an ideal deity to represent beginnings and transitions.
Janus governed gates, doors, and passages, which metaphorically linked to the start of the new year. The Romans placed January at the start of the calendar to honor this god and the idea of moving forward into a new cycle.
February: The Month of Purification
February derives its name from Februa, an ancient Roman festival dedicated to purification and atonement. This festival was important for cleansing rituals before the arrival of spring and the agricultural season.
It is the shortest month, reflecting the Roman calendar’s adjustments and the practical need to align the lunar and solar cycles. February’s position as a time for renewal and purification has spiritual and practical roots.
March: War and Agriculture
March was originally the first month of the Roman calendar, marking the start of both the war season and the agricultural year. Its name honors Mars, the Roman god of war, who was also associated with fertility of the land.
Romans believed that Mars helped prepare the earth for planting, making March a time of both military and agricultural activity. Many festivals in March celebrated Mars and the renewal of life.
April: The Month of Opening
The origin of April’s name is less certain than others but is often linked to the Latin verb aperire, meaning “to open.” This is thought to reflect the blossoming of flowers and trees in springtime.
Some scholars also connect April to the Greek goddess Aphrodite, whose Roman counterpart was Venus, further emphasizing themes of fertility and growth.
May and June: The Fertile Months
May is named for Maia, an earth goddess associated with growth and fertility. This month was seen as a time when nature flourished and crops began to grow abundantly.
June honors Juno, the queen of the gods and protector of marriage and childbirth. June was considered an auspicious month for weddings in Roman culture.
July and August: Honors to Leaders
The months of July and August were originally named Quintilis and Sextilis, meaning the fifth and sixth months of the Roman calendar. These names reflected their position in the ten-month system.
They were renamed to honor two of Rome’s most influential leaders: Julius Caesar and Augustus Caesar. Julius Caesar reformed the calendar, and August was named to celebrate Augustus’s reign and military success.
These renamings were political statements as much as commemorations.
September to December: Numbered Months
The final four months bear names derived from Latin numbers. September means the seventh month, October the eighth, November the ninth, and December the tenth.
These names reflect the original Roman calendar before January and February were added at the beginning of the year. Despite shifting positions in the modern calendar, these names have remained unchanged, a testament to their ancient origins.
The Evolution of the Calendar and Month Names
The Roman calendar underwent several changes before becoming the Julian calendar. Early Roman calendars were lunar-based, leading to inconsistencies and the need for periodic adjustments.
Julius Caesar’s reform introduced the solar-based Julian calendar with a fixed number of days per month. This reform helped stabilize the calendar but kept the month names rooted in their earlier origins, preserving the cultural and religious significance embedded in each.
“The calendar is more than a tool for marking time. It is an artifact of human civilization, carrying forward echoes of gods, emperors, and nature’s cycles.”
– Cultural Anthropologist
Summary Table: Month Name Origins and Meanings
| Month | Name Origin | Meaning or Significance |
|---|---|---|
| January | Janus (Roman god) | Doors, beginnings, transitions |
| February | Februa (Purification festival) | Purification, renewal |
| March | Mars (god of war) | War, agriculture, fertility |
| April | Aperire (to open) | Spring blossoms, growth |
| May | Maia (goddess) | Growth, fertility |
| June | Juno (goddess) | Marriage, childbirth |
| July | Julius Caesar | Honoring Julius Caesar |
| August | Emperor Augustus | Honoring Augustus Caesar |
| September | Septem (seven) | Seventh month |
| October | Octo (eight) | Eighth month |
| November | Novem (nine) | Ninth month |
| December | Decem (ten) | Tenth month |
Final Thoughts
Every time we say a month’s name, we are indirectly referencing ancient gods, festivals, and leaders who shaped history. The layers of meaning behind these names reveal the ways humans have long sought to connect timekeeping with culture and identity.
While the calendar has evolved, the names of the months remain a powerful reminder of our shared past, linking us to the rhythms of nature and the legacies of civilizations long gone.
Exploring the origins of the months’ names enriches our understanding of history and highlights the fascinating intersection of language, culture, and time.
