The month names originate from Roman gods or Latin words related to the seasons and activities of that time. For example, January comes from Janus the god of doors as it opens the year, March comes from Mars the god of war as fighting began again, and May comes from Maia the goddess of growth as plants really start to grow then. Originally the Roman year began in March, so September through December reflected their position as the 7th through 10th months, even after January and February were added at the start of the year. Julius Caesar and Augustus both had months, July and August, named after themselves.

1. Month Names
Where do the month names come from?
Name Comes from Who or what? Why?
January Janus God of Doors This month opens the year.
This was a Roman month of sacrifices
February februo purify
and purification.
Start of year for soldiers (no fighting
March Mars God of War
during winter)
This is the month when trees open their
April aperire open
leaves.
Goddess of This is the month when plants really
May Maia
Growth start to grow.
Queen of the
June Juno
Gods
Julius
July Ruler of Rome He reorganised the calendar.
Caesar
He thought he was at least as important
August Augustus Ruler of Rome
as Julius Caesar!
September septem seven Seventh month (counting from March)
October octo eight Eighth month (counting from March)
November novem nine Ninth month (counting from March)
December decem ten Tenth month (counting from March)
When you look at September, October, November and December, it seems as if
the Romans couldn't count! But their year used to start in March. When Julius
Caesar reorganised the calendar and made it start in January, he kept the old
names, apart from one month, which he called after himself. Augustus came
after Julius Caesar and changed the name of another month.
The Romans had the same months as us. They had special names for the first
day in the month (the Kalends), the seventh day (the Nones) and the fifteenth
(the Ides). The Kalends belonged to Juno. The Ides belonged to Jupiter. They
did not have weeks like us