Month Abbreviations

12 abbreviations · part of Units of Measurement Abbreviations

Standard abbreviations for the months of the Gregorian calendar, as used in calendars, tables, document dates and data formats. The three-letter forms (Jan, Feb, Mar and so on) appear on calendars and in software, while AP style abbreviates only Jan., Feb., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov. and Dec., and only with a specific date; March, April, May, June and July are always spelled out. May has no abbreviation because its name is already three letters long.

AbbreviationStands forDescription
AprAprilThe fourth month, with 30 days.
AugAugustRenamed in 8 BC from Sextilis ("sixth month") in honor of Augustus, the first Roman emperor, who reportedly chose it because several of his greatest successes happened…
DecDecemberClosing out the year with 31 days, December is named from Latin decem, ten.
FebFebruaryShortest month of the year, with 28 days in common years and 29 in leap years.
JanJanuaryThe first month of the Gregorian calendar, with 31 days.
JulJulyThe seventh month, with 31 days, renamed in 44 BC from Quintilis ("fifth month") to honor Julius Caesar, who was born in that month.
JunJuneTraditionally linked to Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage and childbirth, June has 30 days and has long been a favorite month for weddings.
MarMarchNamed for Mars, the Roman god of war, March has 31 days and was the first month of the earliest Roman calendar.
NovNovemberThe eleventh month, with 30 days, named from Latin novem, nine, its position in the early Roman calendar.
OctOctoberDespite having 31 days as the tenth month, October takes its name from Latin octo, eight, a reminder that the Roman year once began in March.
SepSeptemberNinth month of the year, with 30 days, named from Latin septem, seven, because it was the seventh month of the early Roman calendar that began in March.
SeptSeptemberThe four-letter abbreviation for September preferred by AP style and many American publications, written with a period (Sept. 11).

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