Month names

groovylocks

So my kid is born, 2 months old already, tubes are fit to be tied, thanks. I'm posting this more as a philosophical discussion.

There are three months out of the year that are considered "appropriate" for girl names. April. May and June. August is the only boy's name that i'm aware of.

January has made its shakey debut but falls under a more trendy umbrella and doesn't have the classic vibe of the spring months. 

Would you name your child January? For that matter, would you name your child November, July or March?

I would. And here's why. While I am the first person to speak out against the ghastly trend of naming your child, i dunno, whatever because hipster! I stand behind naming your daughter October on principle. There is a reason, a very gross and creepy reason, that girls can be named April, May or June but not December (even though December is an arguably more beautiful sounding word). The reason is that if you're going to name a girl after a time of year, name her after a spring month because it's important for women to be beautiful, blossoming and young. Naming her december is offensive because December reminds us of old people. And women aren't supposed to get old. If we do, it's sort of a character flaw. A guy can be August. But a girl? Disgusting. Women are put on earth to entertain men and once we fail to do that, we are hated for aging. 

I find something inherently wrong with that system. I dedicate myself to changing it. So girl or boy, if you want to name a kid after a calendar month, there are 12 legitimate names to choose from or there are zero. They are all ok or none of them are. 

Except February. February is a crappy word to say and spell. Forget February. ELEVEN. There are eleven legitimate names to choose from if there aren't zero.

ashleyandely

I know a female December, I always thought it was pretty cool. But I see your point. I never really thought about it like this. 

paytonpedro

I don't think March is terrible, probably because it reminds me of the character in American horror story this most recent season. I'd only do November if the middle name was Rain. Lol I'm serious about that, but would still never use either because they are not my style. But if I did see a child named November, their middle name would have to be Rain or I'd side eye the crap out of it.   Mostly just because my dad is a huge G&R fan and that's instantly what I think of. Haha. 

More seriously, I get where you're coming from. I do actually like the names August and June, for male and female respectively. But, mostly for reasons other than the fact that they are month names. August is a timeless name, imo, and was a relatives name that I've always loved. June would be mearly to reflect my absolute admiration for June Carter and Johnny Cash. So, the other months don't relate to the reason I would use those names. 

libby+nate

I actually really like January!

mb0112

I see what you're saying but lots of non-month girl names also have meanings like "fair" "maiden" etc to favor youth and beauty. Are you against those too?

I personally like June for a girl but not because I'd want my daughter to stay young-- it just sounds nice to me and reminds me of the best time of year, early summer when you have the whole summer to look forward to.  It comes around every year whether you're young or old!

You also pointed out that girls are never named fall months like October or even late summer like August, but think about the season names.  There have been plenty of girls named both Summer and Autumn.  I think Winter is even becoming more known.  Not Spring, though.   

SmrBrd2012

Eh. I don't really buy it. August is a boy's name bc I'm pretty sure it's named after Augusus Caesar. You know, a male. July was after Julius caesar and june was after Juno a FEMALE god. The months that end in "er" or "ary" just don't sound like names to me anyway. Neither male nor female. Like PP said, Winter is a common enough girl's name. March just isn't a name in general for me either. I think you are making an issue out of nothing.

bbiutmcph

Random note my cousin is November Rain. It's embarrassing for her. Not some much the fact it's November but then people joke OMG is your middle name Rain hahahaha and then she has to reply yes. Cue awkward moments 

ShallowSeas

I know two ladies named September, and I've known a December but as a middle name. January is okay for a name.

Bringmemylongswordho

I used to read a webcomic called "No Rest for the Wicked" the main character was named November,  and all her sisters had month names as well  (September and October ).

Anyway,  I think the popularity of April,  May, June for girls is that they are short and don't end in ary or ber.

SmrBrd2012

To add onto my previous post b/c this post bugs me:
https://www.design.caltech.edu/erik/Misc/month_names.html

• January: Janus, Roman god of doors, beginnings, sunset and sunrise, had one face looking forward and one backward,(MALE)
• February: On February 15 the Romans celebrated the festival of forgiveness for sins; (februare, Latin to purify),(NEITHER)
• March: Mars, the Roman god of war,(MALE)
• April: Roman month Aprilis, perhaps derived from aperire, (Latin to open, as in opening buds and blossoms) or perhaps from Aphrodite, original Greek name of Venus, (FEMALE)
  
• May: Maia, Roman goddess, mother of Mercury by Jupiter and daughter of Atlas,(FEMALE)
• June: Juno, chief Roman goddess, (FEMALE)
  
• July: Renamed for Julius Caesar in 44 BC, who was born this month; Quintilis, Latin for fifth month, was the former name (the Roman year began in March rather than January),(MALE)
• August: Formerly Sextilis (sixth month in the Roman calendar); re-named in 8 BC for Augustus Caesar,(MALE)
• September: September, (septem, Latin for 7) the seventh month in the Julian or Roman calendar, established in the reign of Julius Caesar,(NEITHER)
• October: Eighth month (octo, Latin for 8) in the Julian (Roman) calendar. The Gregorian calendar instituted by Pope Gregory XIII established January as the first month of the year, (NEITHER)
  
• November: Ninth Roman month (novem, Latin for 9). Catholic countries adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1582, skipping 10 days that October, correcting for too many leap years,(NEITHER)
• December: Julian (Roman) year's tenth month (decem, Latin for 10).(NEITHER)

groovylocks

SmrBrd2012 said:

Eh. I don't really buy it. August is a boy's name bc I'm pretty sure it's named after Augusus Caesar. You know, a male. July was after Julius caesar and june was after Juno a FEMALE god. The months that end in "er" or "ary" just don't sound like names to me anyway. Neither male nor female. Like PP said, Winter is a common enough girl's name. March just isn't a name in general for me either. I think you are making an issue out of nothing.

Perhaps that's why June isn't a winter month then. 

In any event, I still think almost all month names should be open for consideration. I mean myself personally I'm not a fan of calendar months (any) as given names. so it's easy for me to suggest other people weigh them equally.

mb0112

I wonder if month naming is similar in the other hemisphere?  Do Australians also choose May/June/April for girls?

breezypip

bbiutmcph said:

Random note my cousin is November Rain. It's embarrassing for her. Not some much the fact it's November but then people joke OMG is your middle name Rain hahahaha and then she has to reply yes. Cue awkward moments 

Are her parents big Guns N Roses fans?

satuttle1014

Typically you see April, May or June. January I have seen on an actress, I kind of like it. For other months such as March, July or October you can use the birthstone to make it feminine. Aquamarine, Ruby or Opal are all female names, not common but definitely names. I wouldn't name my child after a month, maybe a middle name but that's just cause it's nms. I like seasons more as names, our dd that will be born any day now has the middle name Wynter so Winter. And I like the names Summer and Autumn as first and middle names.

lm45678

I wouldn't use a month name as a first name for a boy or a girl.

If we have 2 girls I might use May as a middle name because it's the month I was born. First daughter will have mn Jane after my mom.

bbiutmcph

breezypip said:

bbiutmcph said:

Random note my cousin is November Rain. It's embarrassing for her. Not some much the fact it's November but then people joke OMG is your middle name Rain hahahaha and then she has to reply yes. Cue awkward moments 

Are her parents big Guns N Roses fans?

They are BUT always claim it's because she was born on a cold November rainy night cue major eye roll 

eta it's like they assume people are ignorant or are clueless

BlueJuice

I wanted to throw in that August as a girl's name seems to be gaining steam. 

As far as the main thrust of your argument, you're not totally wrong, but I'm not sure I totally agree, either.

On the other hand, you're dead on about February. Ugh.

Everycol0r

This is bizarre. I don't agree. Feel free to name your kid whatever you want but I'll side eye someone named July every day and six ways Sunday.

ladyofsummer

I personally can't stand month names when that child was not born in that month. I guess the female version of August would be Augusta, maybe? I went to school with a girl named December - total sweetheart and sharp as a tack but her birthday was actually in January... 

Bringmemylongswordho

BlueJuice said:

I wanted to throw in that August as a girl's name seems to be gaining steam. 

As far as the main thrust of your argument, you're not totally wrong, but I'm not sure I totally agree, either.

On the other hand, you're dead on about February. Ugh.

UGH. WHY

That's what Augustine/Augustina is for you uncultured plebs.

daystardreams

I'm not sure I agree that some of month names are used over others because spring=beauty. I certainly wouldn't be up in arms about it. I actually prefer longer names but I think April, May and June are nice names. I also like January for girls. February is a big no, also March because you know marching...July is a GP for me because of the Lonesome Dove character. I'm in love with the name August though we're considering Augustus instead (ironically also a Lonesome Dove character!) I wouldn't side eye September, October, November or December but they just don't sound like a name to me. 

SisterMaryNapalm

mb0112 said:

I wonder if month naming is similar in the other hemisphere?  Do Australians also choose May/June/April for girls?

Yes we do. That being said, the argument could be that the tradition comes from England/Ireland/Scotland which are in the northern hemisphere. I have to say I think that OP is overthinking it and that it's more to do with the etymology of the months as @SmrBrd2012 pointed out

MamaCoffin

I think you're getting your panties in a bunch over nothing... 

With that said I know a girl named October and would name my child January long before I'd use April or June. 

And as stated before Autumn and Winter are just as widely used as Summer... And you never hear Spring.... Which seems to be the basis of your whole argument. 

ETA: Autumn is actually top 100.

tdart14

Can't say I agree with you. Your argument seem way over thought to the point I snorted reading it. Globally, weather by months is not consistent. Some places stay warm year round. 

I really think this is a matter of making something out of nothing. 

groovylocks

mb0112 said:

I wonder if month naming is similar in the other hemisphere?  Do Australians also choose May/June/April for girls?

Yeah i was musing on this question myself. I think they do. I mean I know an Australian "April" so it's certainly something that has happened there. I think the meaning of the name has been lost to history and they're just names that are popular now.

groovylocks

jenmlangtake2 said:

I think you're getting your panties in a bunch over nothing... 

With that said I know a girl named October and would name my child January long before I'd use April or June. 

And as stated before Autumn and Winter are just as widely used as Summer... And you never hear Spring.... Which seems to be the basis of your whole argument. 

ETA: Autumn is actually top 100.

I actually agree more or less with what you're saying. I'm more posting it for debate and saying that because it really DOESN'T matter, then shouldn't all months at least be on the table?

groovylocks

BlueJuice said:

I wanted to throw in that August as a girl's name seems to be gaining steam. 

As far as the main thrust of your argument, you're not totally wrong, but I'm not sure I totally agree, either.

On the other hand, you're dead on about February. Ugh.

Yes. This. I feel the same. I'm not totally wrong. I'm also not really right. I posted it more for the debate on the question. I started thinking about it when I heard of a little girl named January and i liked it. I liked it better than May or June. Maybe as much as April. And it got me thinking that actually, December isnt the worst thing to happen to the name pool either. 

That being said, I'm not a fan of ANY calendar month as a name. I just wanted to open the floor for discussion which it seems I've done successfully! 

Thanks everybody for your replies!