Exploring the Fascinating Origins of Month Names
This summary highlights a compelling video by RobWords, exploring the historical origins and meanings behind the names of our calendar months. Blending Roman mythology, Old English traditions, and linguistic history, the video reveals how each month got its modern name, along with intriguing historical alternatives.
January: The Month of Janus, God of Beginnings and Endings
The month of January is named after the Roman god Janus, the deity of beginnings, endings, and doorways. Originally, January wasn’t even the first month of the year, but the Romans repositioned it around 153 BC, emphasizing Janus’s symbolic ability to look simultaneously at the past year and the one ahead. Janus, depicted with two faces, was uniquely suited to represent transitions and gateways, making him the ideal god to start the year.
In Old English, January was known as Æfterra Gēola, meaning “After Yule.” This name reflected its position following the pre-Christian festival of Yule, celebrated at winter solstice (around December 25). The Anglo-Saxons marked this period as significant because days finally began to lengthen again, bringing hope after the darkest part of winter. The word “month” itself, from Old English monath, originally meant a lunar cycle—further emphasizing the ancient connection between calendar months and natural cycles.
February: The Month of Purification and Mud
February takes its name from the Roman god Februus, who is associated with purification and death. The Romans marked this month with the festival Februalia, which involved rituals of sacrifice intended for purification, reflecting the harsh and grim nature of winter’s end.
Initially, the Romans did not even name February; it was part of a bleak, unnamed period considered too harsh for travel, warfare, or farming. Around 700 BC, Rome’s second king, Numa Pompilius, elevated January and February from their obscure positions as the year’s end to their current positions as the first and second months, reshaping the calendar.
In Old English tradition, February was called Solmōnað, which is widely interpreted as the “Mud Month.” This vividly descriptive name captured the wet, muddy conditions typical of late winter in Northern Europe, despite alternative theories (including one from historian Bede who linked the name to ceremonial cakes). Ultimately, “Mud Month” remains the most evocative and likely explanation, highlighting February’s messy seasonal reality.
March: Honoring Mars, the Month of War and Wind
March gets its name from the Roman god of war, Mars. Initially, March was actually the first month of the Roman calendar, marking the start of military campaigns after winter’s pause. The Romans honored Mars with rituals and offerings, preparing their armies for upcoming battles. It wasn’t until January and February were repositioned at the start of the calendar around 700 BC that March was relegated to third place.
The Anglo-Saxons also had distinctive names for March. One such name was Lide (or Hlyde), meaning “loud,” referencing the stormy, noisy winds typical of this month. Additionally, March was sometimes known as Hreðmōnað, dedicated to the pre-Christian goddess Hreða, who symbolized glory and victory, complementing the Roman association with warfare and conquest.
April: Blossoms, Goddesses, and the Origins of Easter
April comes from the Roman month Aprilis, though its origin is debated. Some link it to Aphrodite (or Venus), pairing it symbolically with March (Mars). Another theory suggests it comes from the Latin aperire, meaning “to open,” reflecting springtime blossoms—though scholars view this as speculative.
The Anglo-Saxon name for April was Ēastermōnað, or “Easter Month,” initially referring to the pagan goddess Eostre. The Christian holiday later adopted the name, showing how older seasonal traditions shaped modern celebrations.
May derives its name from the Roman goddess Maia, a deity associated with fertility, growth, and plant flourishing. This connection aptly symbolizes May as a vibrant period of springtime renewal when nature bursts into abundant life.
However, the Anglo-Saxons had an even more vivid and practical name for May: Þrīmilcemōnað, literally meaning “Three Milk Month.” According to the English historian Bede, during May, the plentiful grasses and extended daylight allowed farmers to milk their cows up to three times a day, a practice celebrated enough to lend its name to the entire month. This delightful agricultural tradition captures the seasonal prosperity of May in medieval Britain, emphasizing the month’s association with fertility and abundance.
June: Honoring Juno, Goddess of Marriage and Midsummer Travels
June is widely believed to be named after the Roman goddess Juno, the protector of women, marriage, and childbirth. Juno, known for her decisive role among Roman deities, famously experienced intense jealousy—most notably when her husband Jupiter gave birth to Minerva from his own head, highlighting complex familial relationships in mythology.
An alternative theory suggests the name June could come from the Latin root associated with youth (“juniors”), reflecting the new life thriving during late spring and early summer. However, the connection to Juno remains the most accepted and compelling explanation.
In Old English, June was called Ǣrra Līða, meaning “early Lithe,” marking the first month of the midsummer season. Lithe, a gentle time for favorable weather and easy traveling, symbolized a crucial period of movement and trade. This descriptive term beautifully captures the seasonal shift into warmer, longer days.
July: Renamed for Julius Caesar, Once the Fifth Month
July received its current name in honor of the famous Roman emperor Julius Caesar, following his death in 44 BC. Originally, the Romans called this month Quintilis, meaning \”fifth,\” reflecting its former position as the fifth month of the Roman calendar—back when March was the year’s starting month.
The Anglo-Saxons referred to July as Æfterra Līða, meaning \”After Lithe\” or \”Second Lithe.\” This term marked the conclusion of midsummer, contrasting it with June, known as \”Early Lithe.\” Notably, J.R.R. Tolkien admired these traditional Old English names, incorporating \”Afterlithe\” into the fictional Shire calendar featured in The Lord of the Rings.
August: Named After Augustus Caesar and Known as the Month of Weeds
The month of August was originally called Sextilis—Latin for “sixth month”—reflecting its position in the early Roman calendar, which began in March. However, in 8 BC, it was renamed in honor of Emperor Augustus Caesar, marking his military and political triumphs, including the significant conquest of Alexandria.
The Anglo-Saxons, embracing a practical perspective, called August Wēodmōnað, meaning \”Weed Month.\” This vividly descriptive name highlighted the seasonal reality: fields and gardens would become densely overrun with weeds due to favorable summer conditions. Though humorously mundane, \”Weed Month\” aptly captured the agricultural challenges of late summer in medieval Britain.
September: The Seventh Month Turned Ninth and the Time of Harvest
September gets its name from the Latin word septem, meaning “seven.” In the original Roman calendar, which began in March, September was the seventh month. Despite the calendar shift that pushed it to the ninth position, the name was never updated—making it a linguistic relic of an older timekeeping system.
The Anglo-Saxons had more seasonal and descriptive names for September. One was Hærfestmōnað, or \”Harvest Month,\” marking the key agricultural period when crops were gathered. Another name was Hāligmōnað, meaning \”Holy Month.\” According to the Venerable Bede, this was a time of religious offerings to pagan gods, hoping to secure a successful harvest. These names reflect how central the agricultural cycle was to early English life—and how deeply spiritual that cycle was perceived to be.
October: The Eighth Month by Name, the Start of Winter by Moon
October comes from the Latin word octo, meaning \”eight.\” Like September, its name reflects its original place in the Roman calendar, when the year began in March. Although it’s now the tenth month, the name was never changed—part of a trend that affected the year’s final four months.
The Anglo-Saxon name for October was Winterfylleð, a compound of \”winter\” and \”full moon.\” According to Bede, this name marked the full moon that signaled the beginning of winter. This poetic and practical naming method shows how early societies tied timekeeping to the sun, agriculture, and the lunar cycle. October wasn’t just the tenth month—it was the moment when cold weather was expected to begin truly.
November: The Ninth Month Named, the Month of Sacrifice and Blood
November retains its name from the Latin novem, meaning \”nine,\” indicating its position in the original Roman calendar before January and February were added to the start of the year. Despite being our eleventh month, the name was never updated—like the rest of the final four months.
In Old English, November had a far more vivid identity. It was known as Blōtmōnað, which translates to \”Sacrifice Month.\” According to the Venerable Bede, this was the time when Anglo-Saxons would slaughter cattle—partly as offerings to the gods, and partly to ensure meat stores for winter. Some sources even referred to it as Blōdmōnað, or \”Blood Month,\” highlighting the grisly but practical necessity of preparing for the harsh months ahead. It was a time of both spiritual significance and survival strategy.
December: The Tenth Month Named, the Time of Yule and Year’s End
December comes from the Latin word decem, meaning \”ten.\” It was the tenth month in the old Roman calendar, before January and February were introduced at the beginning of the year. Like its predecessors, September, October, and November, its name was never updated to reflect its new numerical position as the twelfth month.
The Anglo-Saxons had deeply seasonal names for this time of year. December was called Ǣrra Gēola, meaning “Before Yule”—a reference to the pre-Christian midwinter festival of Yule, celebrated around the winter solstice.
It was also sometimes simply called Gēolmōnað, or “Yule Month.” These names underscore the cultural importance of Yule as a time of celebration, marking both the darkest point of the year and the anticipation of returning light. In contrast to the grim practicality of November’s Blood Month, December was about observance, festivity, and spiritual significance.
Historical Context and Literary Legacy
Originally, January and February were unnamed due to harsh winter conditions, but they became significant after Roman King Numa Pompilius repositioned them around 700 BC. These evocative Old English names notably inspired J.R.R. Tolkien’s fictional calendars, underscoring their enduring linguistic and cultural appeal.
I highly recommend viewing RobWords‘ full video on YouTube for an in-depth look at this fascinating linguistic journey.
Hey fellow Linguaholics! It’s me, Marcel. I am the proud owner of linguaholic.com. Languages have always been my passion and I have studied Linguistics, Computational Linguistics and Sinology at the University of Zurich. It is my utmost pleasure to share with all of you guys what I know about languages and linguistics in general.