Month Name Finder
Convert month numbers to names in multiple languages.
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Month Name Finder: Decoding the Calendar
We use month names every day, yet rarely stop to think about why "August" is the 8th month or why "February" has fewer days. Our Month Name Finder isn't just a simple 1-to-12 converter; it's a gateway to understanding the history and structure of the Julian and Gregorian calendars.
Whether you are a student learning the calendar, a developer needing to map month integers to strings, or a trivia buff exploring Roman history, this tool provides instant answers.
1. The Roman Roots
Most of our month names honor Roman gods or numbers. January is named for Janus, the two-faced god of beginnings and endings. March is for Mars, the god of war.
Fun Fact: The suffix "-ber" in September, October, etc., comes from the Latin bris roughly meaning "month of".
2. International Names
While English uses Latin-derived names, other languages are more descriptive.
- Polish: November is Listopad ("Leaf Fall").
- Finnish: February is Helmikuu ("Pearl Month" - referencing frozen ice).
- Japanese: January is Ichigatsu (literally "Month One").
Reference: Days in Each Month
A quick reference guide for days in the standard Gregorian year.
Remembering the Order
The "Knuckle Mnemonic" is the most popular way to remember lengths.
*Note how July (last knuckle of left hand) and August (first knuckle of right hand) are both 31 days!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is September the 9th month if 'Sept' means 7?
In the original Roman calendar, the year began in March. This made September the 7th month (Septem = 7), October the 8th (Octo = 8), November the 9th (Novem = 9), and December the 10th (Decem = 10). When January and February were added, the names stuck despite the shift.
Which months have 30 days vs 31 days?
30 days: April, June, September, November. 31 days: January, March, May, July, August, October, December. February typically has 28 days (29 in leap years).
Who named the month of July?
July was named in honor of Julius Caesar after his assassination in 44 BC. Previously, it was called 'Quintilis' (the fifth month of the old Roman calendar) because it was his birth month.
Is August named after a person?
Yes. It was named after Rome's first emperor, Augustus Caesar, in 8 BC. Before that, it was known as 'Sextilis' (the sixth month).
Why is February so short?
February was the last month added to the Roman calendar. After the standard 30/31 day months were allocated, February was left with fewer days to fit the lunar year cycle, originally 28 days.
What is the 'Knuckle Trick' for remembering days?
Make a fist. Knuckles represent 31-day months, and the dips between them represent short months. Start with your index knuckle (Jan - 31), dip (Feb - short), middle knuckle (Mar - 31), etc. When you reach the pinky (July), start over at the index knuckle (August), so two 31s are next to each other.
What month is number 12?
Month number 12 is December. It is the final month of the year in the Gregorian calendar.
Are month names capitalized?
Yes. In English grammar, months are proper nouns and must always be capitalized (e.g., 'January', not 'january'). However, in some languages like Spanish or French, they are written in lowercase (e.g., 'enero', 'janvier').
Is this tool free?
Yes, standard for FreeTools Pro, this calculator is completely free to use.
How to convert month name to number in Excel?
You can use the formula =MONTH(1&A1) where A1 contains the month name (e.g., 'August'). Excel interprets '1August' as a date and returns the month number 8.