What Are the 12 Months of the Year? Names, Order, and Origins
Look, I’ve been teaching my kids about time for years now, and nothing trips them up more than trying to remember all 12 months of the year. As someone who’s helped thousands of students master basic concepts, I can tell you that understanding the months of the year is foundational to everything else.
Most people think they know the months of the year, but ask them why February only has 28 days or which month is the 8th month of the year, and they freeze up. That’s exactly why I created this complete guide – to give you everything you need to master the months of the year once and for all.
The 12 Months of the Year: Names, Order & Calendar
Here’s the thing about the months of the year – they’re not random. Every single name has a story, every number of days has a reason, and once you understand the system, you’ll never forget it again.
The months of the year we use today come from the Gregorian calendar, which Pope Gregory XIII introduced in 1582. Before that, people used different systems, and trust me, it was chaos. The Roman calendar originally had only 10 months, which is why September (the seventh month of the year in our current system) literally means “seven” in Latin.
I remember when my daughter asked me what is the seventh month of the year, and I realized how confusing our naming system really is. July is the 7th month, but September means “seven” – it’s because the Roman year used to start in March!
What Are the 12 Months of the Year?
Let me break this down for you in the simplest way possible.
Definition of a Month
A month is basically a division of the year based on the moon’s cycle around Earth. The word “month” comes from “moon” – that’s not a coincidence. Our ancestors looked up at the sky and used the lunar month (about 29.5 days) as their timekeeper.
But here’s where it gets interesting. The months of the year we use aren’t perfectly aligned with lunar months anymore. We’ve got months with 28, 29, 30, and 31 days because we’re trying to fit the moon’s cycle into a solar year.
Why We Have 12 Months (Gregorian Calendar)
The Gregorian calendar gives us exactly 12 months of the year for a simple reason – it works. Twelve divisions fit nicely into a 365-day year (366 in leap years), and it keeps us synchronized with the seasons.
I’ve seen months of the year charts in classrooms around the world, and they all show the same 12-month system. It’s universal because it’s practical.
Quick List of All Months
Here are the 12 months of the year in order:
- January
- February
- March
- April
- May
- June
- July
- August (8th month of the year)
- September
- October (10th month of the year and tenth month of the year)
- November
- December
How Many Months Are in a Year?
This seems obvious, but let me tell you why it matters.
12 Months in a Year Explained
There are exactly 12 months in a year in our Gregorian system. Not 10 like the original Roman calendar, not 13 like some lunar calendars – exactly 12.
Why 12? Because 12 divides evenly by 2, 3, 4, and 6. It’s mathematically convenient for splitting the year into halves, quarters, or thirds. When you’re running a business or planning your life, having 12 months of the year makes everything easier.
Leap Year Impact (February 29)
Here’s something most people mess up – leap years. Every four years (mostly), February gets an extra day. This means February can have either 28 or 29 days, making it the shortest month of the year.
How many months of the year have 28 days? Technically, all of them have at least 28 days, but only February has exactly 28 days (or 29 in leap years).
Number of Days in a Year
A regular year has 365 days spread across 12 months of the year. A leap year has 366 days. This extra day always goes to February because it was the last month added to the Roman calendar.
Months of the Year in Order (1–12)
Let me walk you through each month with the details that actually matter.
January – December (Full List with Numbers)
January (Month 1): Named after Janus, the Roman god of beginnings. It has 31 days and kicks off the year.
February (Month 2): The shortest month of the year with 28 days (29 in leap years). Named after Februa, a Roman purification festival.
March (Month 3): 31 days. Named after Mars, the Roman god of war. This used to be the first month of the Roman year.
April (Month 4): 30 days. Possibly from the Latin “aperire” meaning “to open,” referring to spring blossoms.
May (Month 5): 31 days. Named after Maia, the Roman goddess of growth.
June (Month 6): 30 days. Named after Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage.
July (Month 7): 31 days. Originally called Quintilis, renamed after Julius Caesar.
August (Month 8): The 8th month of the year with 31 days. Originally Sextilis, renamed after Emperor Augustus.
September (Month 9): 30 days. From Latin “septem” (seven) – it was the 7th month in the original Roman calendar.
October (Month 10): The 10th month of the year with 31 days. From Latin “octo” (eight).
November (Month 11): 30 days. From Latin “novem” (nine).
December (Month 12): 31 days. From Latin “decem” (ten).
Short Description for Each Month
I tell my students to think of each month’s personality:
- January: New beginnings
- February: Short and sweet
- March: Spring awakening
- April: Bloom time
- May: Full spring
- June: Wedding season
- July: Summer heat
- August: Peak summer
- September: Back to school
- October: Fall colors
- November: Thanksgiving prep
- December: Holiday season
Seasons Associated with Months
The seasons of the year in months work like this in the Northern Hemisphere:
- Spring: March, April, May
- Summer: June, July, August
- Fall/Autumn: September, October, November
- Winter: December, January, February
Days in Each Month (Chart)
Here’s your months of the year chart with exact day counts:
| Month | Days | Season |
| January | 31 | Winter |
| February | 28/29 | Winter |
| March | 31 | Spring |
| April | 30 | Spring |
| May | 31 | Spring |
| June | 30 | Summer |
| July | 31 | Summer |
| August | 31 | Summer |
| September | 30 | Fall |
| October | 31 | Fall |
| November | 30 | Fall |
| December | 31 | Winter |
Poem or Rhyme (“30 Days Hath September…”)
Every teacher knows this classic months of the year rhyme:
Thirty days hath September,
April, June, and November.
All the rest have thirty-one,
Except February alone,
Which has twenty-eight days clear,
And twenty-nine in each leap year.
I’ve used this rhyme with hundreds of students, and it works every time. It’s better than any months of the year poster or months of the year worksheet because it sticks in your head.
How many months of the year have 5 weeks? Any month with 31 days that starts on a Saturday will have 5 complete weeks.
Abbreviations and Initials of Months
Understanding abbreviations for months of the year is crucial for forms, calendars, and digital systems.
3-Letter Forms (Jan, Feb, etc.)
The standard abbreviation of months of the year:
- Jan (January)
- Feb (February)
- Mar (March)
- Apr (April)
- May (May – no abbreviation needed)
- Jun (June)
- Jul (July)
- Aug (August)
- Sep (September)
- Oct (October)
- Nov (November)
- Dec (December)
2-Letter Forms (Used in Digital Formats)
For tight spaces, you’ll see: JA, FE, MR, AP, MY, JN, JL, AG, SE, OC, NO, DE
Month Initials (J, F, M, etc.)
Single letters get tricky because January, June, and July all start with J. That’s why we stick with 3-letter abbreviations for months of the year in most cases.
Origins and Meanings of Month Names
The stories behind month names are fascinating and help you remember them.
Months Named After Gods (Janus, Mars)
January comes from Janus, the two-faced Roman god who looked both backward and forward – perfect for the transition between years.
March honors Mars, the god of war, because Romans traditionally started military campaigns in spring.
May celebrates Maia, goddess of growth and nurturing.
June honors Juno, queen of the gods and protector of women.
Numeric Months (Sept = 7, Oct = 8, etc.)
This is where it gets confusing. In the original 10-month Roman calendar:
- September was month 7 (septem = seven)
- October was month 8 (octo = eight)
- November was month 9 (novem = nine)
- December was month 10 (decem = ten)
When January and February were added, these months kept their names but shifted positions. That’s why September is now the 9th month instead of the 7th.
Cultural Origins
February comes from Februa, a Roman purification ritual held at month’s end.
April might come from “aperire” (to open), referring to spring blossoms opening.
July was originally Quintilis (fifth month) but was renamed for Julius Caesar.
August was originally Sextilis (sixth month) but was renamed for Augustus Caesar.
Learning Resources and International Variations
Teaching the months of the year becomes easier when you have the right tools and understand different cultural approaches.
Educational Tools and Songs
I’ve found that months of the year songs work incredibly well for retention. Jack Hartman months of the year videos are popular in classrooms, and Greg and Steve months of the year songs have been helping kids learn for decades.
Dr Jean months of the year songs add movement and rhythm that make learning stick. The months of the year syllable song breaks down each name into manageable chunks.
For visual learners, months of the year flashcards and months of the year images create strong memory associations. Months of the year with pictures help connect each month to seasonal activities.
Starfall months of the year and Storybots months of the year provide interactive digital learning that kids love.
International Variations
Learning months of the year in other languages expands cultural understanding.
French months of the year (months of the year in french):
- Janvier, Février, Mars, Avril, Mai, Juin, Juillet, Août, Septembre, Octobre, Novembre, Décembre
German months of the year (months of the year in german language):
- Januar, Februar, März, April, Mai, Juni, Juli, August, September, Oktober, November, Dezember
Italian months of the year (months of the year italian):
- Gennaio, Febbraio, Marzo, Aprile, Maggio, Giugno, Luglio, Agosto, Settembre, Ottobre, Novembre, Dicembre
Spanish months of the year follow patterns similar to other Romance languages, making them easier to learn if you know French or Italian.
Arabic months of the year (months of the year in arabic) use a completely different calendar system for religious purposes, though the Gregorian calendar is used for civil purposes.
Japanese months of the year literally mean “first month,” “second month,” etc., making them straightforward once you know the numbers.
Russian months of the year (months of the year in russian) have Slavic roots that differ significantly from Latin-based names.
Hebrew months of the year (jewish months of the year) follow a lunar calendar with names like Tishrei, Cheshvan, and Kislev.
For ASL months of the year (months of the year asl), each month has a specific sign that often incorporates the first letter of the month’s name.
Creative Learning Methods
The months of the year macarena puts month names to the popular dance tune – kids love the movement and rhythm combination.
Mooseclumps months of the year uses silly characters to make month names memorable.
Days of the week and months of the year are often taught together since they’re both time concepts.
Some teachers create months of the year poems or use months of the year learning station activities for hands-on practice.
Classroom Applications
Teachers love classroom months of the year displays and months of the year for classroom activities. TPT months of the year (Teachers Pay Teachers) offers countless worksheet and activity options.
Free printable months of the year resources help budget-conscious educators. Months of the year print materials work well for homework and review.
A good months of the year poster stays visible all year, reinforcing learning through constant exposure.
Fun Facts and Trivia
Here are some interesting facts about the months of the year that most people don’t know.
Which Month is Best?
What is the best month of the year? That’s subjective, but surveys often show September and October ranking highest due to comfortable weather and beautiful autumn colors.
Best month of the year to lease a car? October and November typically offer the best deals as dealers clear inventory for new model years.
Worst month of the year? February often gets this designation due to its short length, cold weather in the Northern Hemisphere, and association with seasonal depression.
Record-Breaking Months
What is the longest month of the year? July and August both have 31 days, but July is often considered the longest month of the year because summer days feel longer due to extended daylight hours.
Special Month Characteristics
Flowers for months of the year create beautiful seasonal associations – January has carnations, February has violets, March has daffodils, and so on.
What is the closing month of accounting year? This varies by organization, but many businesses use December as their fiscal year-end.
Last month of the japanese school year is March, since Japanese schools run from April to March.
Password Security Note
Here’s a cybersecurity tip: Your password must include a month of the year is a common password requirement, but using predictable patterns makes accounts vulnerable. Mix it up with numbers and symbols.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 12 Months
Let me answer the most common questions I get about the months of the year.
What are the 12 months of the year in order?
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December. That’s your complete list of 12 months of the year in chronological order.
How many days are in each month?
Use the knuckle method: Make fists with both hands, knuckles up. Starting with January on your left pinky knuckle, count across. Knuckles = 31 days, valleys between knuckles = 30 days (except February with 28/29).
Where do the month names come from?
Most month names come from Roman gods, emperors, or numbers. January (Janus), March (Mars), July (Julius Caesar), August (Augustus), while September through December were originally numbers 7-10 in the old Roman calendar.
Why does February have 28 days?
February was the last month added to the Roman calendar. When they needed to adjust the total days to match the solar year, February got shortchanged. Leap years add a day to February every four years to keep us aligned with Earth’s orbit.
What is a leap year?
A leap year occurs every four years (with some exceptions) to account for the fact that Earth’s orbit takes about 365.25 days. The extra quarter-day accumulates over four years, requiring an extra day (February 29) to stay synchronized with seasons.
How did the months get their names?
The months of the year got their names from a mix of Roman gods, emperors, and numbers. The process happened over centuries as the Roman calendar evolved from 10 months to 12 months.
What’s the first month of the year? January has been the official first month since 153 BCE, when Romans moved New Year from March to January.
Month that was the first of the year nyt – this refers to March, which was the original first month in the Roman calendar before January took over.
Final Take: Mastering the Months
Look, understanding the months of the year isn’t just about memorizing a list. It’s about connecting with history, culture, and the natural rhythms that have guided human civilization for thousands of years.
Whether you’re teaching kids with months of the year songs, creating months of the year worksheets, or just trying to remember how many months of the year have 28 days (answer: all of them have at least 28, but only February has exactly 28), the key is understanding the system behind the names.
The 12 months of the year we use today represent thousands of years of calendar evolution. From the original Roman 10-month system to our current Gregorian calendar, each month carries stories of gods, emperors, seasons, and human attempts to measure time.
Next time someone asks you what is the seventh month of the year or what is the tenth month of the year, you’ll not only know the answer (July and October), but you’ll understand why the numbering seems off and how our calendar evolved.
Remember: January through December, 12 months total, with a system that’s served us well for over 400 years. Master these basics, and you’ve got a foundation that will serve you for life.
Want to dive deeper into calendar systems, seasonal patterns, or time management? Check out our related guides on leap years, seasonal planning, and historical calendars.
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