The story behind August
Early Middle English August(us), re-Latinized from Old English Agustus, from Late Latin Agustus, from Latin augustus (“month of August”), from the agnomen Augustus (“venerable”) of Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus, possibly from either Old Latin *augos (“increase”), from Proto-Italic *augos, from Proto-Indo-European base *h₂ewg- (“to increase”); or Latin avis (“bird”), referring to divination by observing bird flights, singing, feeding or entrails + garrīre (“to chatter”). Doublet of august and Augustus.
Other language forms and explanations (4)
English entry
In some cases a month name from English. In other cases inspired by the common German given name August, from Latin Augustus.
Finnish entry
From Swedish August, from Latin Augustus.
German entry
Learned borrowing from Latin Augustus.
Polish entry
Learned borrowing from Latin Augustus.
Pronunciation
General-American: /ˈɔ.ɡəst/
Regional pronunciation variants
- Received-Pronunciation: /ˈɔː.ɡəst/
- General-American: /ˈɔ.ɡɪst/
- cot-caught-merger: /ˈɑ.ɡəst/
- Finnish: /ˈɑu̯ɡust/
- Finnish: [ˈɑ̝u̯ɡus̠t]
- German: /aʊ̯ˈɡʊst/
- German: /ˈaʊ̯ɡʊst/
- Polish: /ˈaw.ɡust/
Popularity
August ranked #962 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to August
Albert
From Old English Æþelbeorht, from Proto-West Germanic *Aþalaberht, a compound of *aþalaz (“noble”) + *berhtaz (“bright, famous”), or from Old French Albert, from Latin…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends T
- same syllable count
- similar length
Bennet
From Benedict. See French Benoît, Norman Beneît. Doublet of Benoit and Benito.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends T
- same syllable count
- similar length
Clement
From Late Latin Clēmens (genitive Clēmentis), name of early saints and popes, from clēmens (“merciful”). Doublet of Clemens and San Clemente.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends T
- same syllable count
- similar length
Eedit
Phonetic rendering of Swedish Edit, Edith, from English Edith, Old English Ēadġȳþ.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends T
- same syllable count
- similar length
Eevert
From Swedish Evert, from Old High German Eberhard. Cognate with English Everett.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends T
- same syllable count
- similar length
Éliot
Borrowed from English Elliott.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends T
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for August
Abigail
From Hebrew אֲבִיגַיִל (avigáyil, “Abigail”, literally “my Father's joy” or “fountain of joy”). a female given name from Hebrew, equivalent to English Abigail Borrowed from…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Abraham
Middle English Abraham English Abraham From Middle English Abraham, from Old English Abraham, from Late Latin Ābrahām, from Ancient Greek Ἀβρᾱᾱ́μ (Abrāā́m), from Hebrew…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends M
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Absalom
From Hebrew אַבְשָׁלוֹם (avshalóm, literally “father of peace”), from אָב (av, “father”) + שָׁלוֹם (shalom, “peace”). Learned borrowing from Latin Absālōm, from Hebrew…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends M
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for August
Æmile
From Latin Aemilius. See also French Émile.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Balbina
Learned borrowing from Latin Balbina.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Balbino
Borrowed from Latin Balbīnus.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length