July

What does July mean?

July is a name that comes directly from the calendar month. The month itself honours Julius, so the name carries a simple, timekeeping sense and a faint link to the Roman name Julius. The month evokes warmth, long days and a summery atmosphere.

As a given name, July feels breezy and contemporary while also being substantial enough to suit an adult. It sits alongside other month names such as June in the same family of word names and tends to suggest brightness, openness and an easygoing charm.

Historical Context

The name July comes from the Latin name for the seventh month of the Roman calendar. That month was renamed in honour of Julius Caesar, so July effectively means relating to Julius. The Roman name Julius itself is old and commonly associated with the famous family name Gaius Julius Caesar. Over time the month name moved from Latin into English and many other languages as a simple calendar word.

Using month names as given names has a long history in English speaking countries. Names such as June and May became established many generations ago. July is a more recent adoption in the world of given names. It keeps the straightforward, word name quality while carrying a subtle classical reference through Julius. In some languages the calendar form differs, for example Spanish uses Julio and French uses Juillet, and those forms can also be used as given names in their own cultural contexts.

Popularity of July over time

What do parents think of July?