August
August Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity
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Meaning of August: The name August descends from the Latin Augustus, a title meaning "venerable" or "majestic" conferred by the Roman Senate on Octavian in 27 BCE. The root augere, "to increase," framed the emperor as one whose presence added dignity to the state.
The title hardened into a personal name across post-Roman Europe, carried by twelve Holy Roman Emperors and the Polish Saxon king Augustus II the Strong. Therefore German, Polish, and Scandinavian parents treated August as a princely Christian name well before it reached English nurseries.
The etymology records notes that August entered English use in the eighteenth century, competing alongside the fuller Augustus and the French Auguste. Saint Augustine of Hippo, the fourth-century theologian, reinforced the roots prestige across Catholic Europe.
What Does August Mean? Origin & Etymology
According to SSA records, August held the US top 150 in 1880 with 3,876 births, then dropped off the top 1000 between 1930 and 1995. The name returned during the Victorian revival and reached rank 88 in 2024, its highest placement since the nineteenth century.
Cultural weight expanded through playwright August Strindberg, photographer August Sander, Mauritian chef August Escoffier, and August, the taciturn patriarch in R.J. Palacios 2012 novel Wonder. Notably actors Mariska Hargitay and Peter Hermann gave the name renewed visibility when they chose it for their son in 2011.
Common variants span Auguste in French, Augusto in Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese, Augustus in English, and Augustin in Polish. Short forms include Gus, Augie, and Austin, the last now treated as an independent name. The feminine counterpart Augusta has itself returned to English parish registers since 2015.
How Popular Is August?
Numerology & Symbolism of August
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
August – Similar Names & Alternatives
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Frequently Asked Questions about August
What does the name August mean?
Is August a boy's or girl's name?
August is traditionally male but is now used for both. In the US, about 80% of births named August are male. It ranks inside the top 400 for girls, making it one of the more genuinely unisex classical names. The traditional feminine form is Augusta.
How popular is August in the United States?
How is August different from Augustus?
What famous people are named August?
August Wilson (1945-2005) was the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright of the Pittsburgh Cycle. Celebrity parents including Dave Matthews and Mandy Moore have chosen August for their children, contributing to its modern revival.