boy's name
August
AW-gust
- Origin Latin
- Gender Boy
- Syllables 2
- Letters 6
- Popularity Top 100 (US)
- Births on record 78,023
the United States
#81
2025 births
August is a boy's name of Latin origin meaning "venerable" or "majestic," from augustus. The title was granted to Octavian by the Roman Senate in 27 BC, and the month of August was renamed in his honor — the name came before the month.
- August is a name of Latin origin.
- Peaked in 2025, when 4,226 babies were given the name.
- It has been rising over the past decade.
- Today about 1 in 785 babies in the United States is given this name.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
August over time
Births per decade in the United States, 1880s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, still in progress — it covers 2020 to 2025, not a full ten years.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 2,012 |
| 1890s | 1,703 |
| 1900s | 1,245 |
| 1910s | 4,890 |
| 1920s | 5,326 |
| 1930s | 3,213 |
| 1940s | 2,434 |
| 1950s | 1,847 |
| 1960s | 1,320 |
| 1970s | 1,333 |
| 1980s | 1,468 |
| 1990s | 2,826 |
| 2000s | 4,792 |
| 2010s | 17,905 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 22,138 |
What August means
August means venerable, majestic or consecrated, from the Latin augustus, related to augere, to increase. It began as an honorific title rather than a personal name, awarded for standing rather than given at birth.
Where August comes from
August comes from the Latin augustus, meaning venerable or worthy of honor, connected to augere, to increase, and to the augurs who read omens. In 27 BC the Senate conferred the title Augustus on Octavian, and it became the standard designation of Roman emperors thereafter. The month formerly called Sextilis was renamed Augustus in his honor, which means the month is named after the title and not the reverse. The name passed into Christian Europe through Saint Augustine and remained common in German-speaking lands as August. Its use as an English given name is recent and has risen sharply alongside other vintage revivals.
August in use
The month is named after the emperor's title, not the other way round — Sextilis was renamed for Augustus in 8 BC.
How popular is August?
In 2025, August was given to 4,226 babies in the United States, ranking #81 that year. It is one of the most popular names in the United States.
Where August is used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
Names that peaked alongside August
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents who like August also like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with August over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
2 nicknames for August
Each one is a name in its own right — the figure underneath is how it is doing today, so you can see which short forms are rising and which have faded.
August in other languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling names for August
Names from the same era that won't rhyme or share an initial with August — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common questions about August
What does the name August mean?
August means "venerable" or "majestic," from the Latin augustus.
Is August named after the month?
The other way round — the month was renamed for the emperor Augustus in 8 BC.
What are nicknames for August?
Gus and Augie are the most common short forms.
How popular is the name August?
In 2025, August was given to 4,226 babies in the United States, ranking #81 that year. It is one of the most popular names in the United States.
Is August a girl's or a boy's name?
August is given almost entirely to boys in birth records.
How many syllables are in August?
August has 2 syllables.
When was August most popular?
August peaked in 2025, when 4,226 babies were given the name. It has been rising over the past decade.
Is August a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. August currently ranks #81 in the United States. It has been rising over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.