January

jan-yuh-ree; jan-yoo-eh-ree

English word name

"month name"

January Origin and Meaning

The name January is a boy's name meaning "month name".

Cooler than the older month names like April and May, and a highly unusual and eye-catching choice. The most famous real-life January is female – January Jones – but the month is named for the Roman god Janus, who presided over doors and new beginnings.

For those after a literary reference in their child's name, January (or sometimes Januarie) was used by Chaucer in The Canterbury Tales for one of the main knights in "The Merchant's Tale." More recently, January was used for a male character in the 2024 novel The Mars House by Natasha Pulley.

Popularity of the name January

• 1631 Nameberry 2022

20 Names Similar to January

These 20 names were selected by our users that were looking for other names like January.

• Sincere
• Free
• Koi
• Mesa
• Bravery
• Maize
• Cross
• Eagle
• Rhythm
• Blues
• Legend
• Arizona
• Indica
• Golden
• Rainy
• Peace
• Explorer
• Sir
• Suede
• Flame

Famous People Named January

• January Suchodolski Polish painter and Army officer

The name January in Pop Culture

• January character from the game "OFF"

International Variations of the name January

• Januarius Polish
• Janiusz Polish
• Gennaro Italian
• Jarek Polish
• Janvier French
• Jenaro Spanish
• Janiuszek Polish
• Januario Portuguese