Various Traditions/Religions & Their Names for the Months of the Year

Julian and Gregorian calendars

The Gregorian calendar, like the Julian calendar before it, has twelve months:

Chronology	Alphabetic	Days
1	January	31 days
2	February	28 days, 29 in leap years
3	March	31 days
4	April	30 days
5	May	31 days
6	June	30 days
7	July	31 days
8	August	31 days
9	September	30 days
10	October	31 days
11	November	30 days
12	December	31 days

Hebrew calendar

The Hebrew calendar has 12 or 13 months.

1. Nisan, 30 days ניסן
2. Iyar, 30 days אייר
3. Sivan, 30 days סיון
4. Tammuz, 29 days תמוז
5. Av, 30 days אב
6. Elul, 29 days אלול
7. Tishri, 30 days תשרי
8. Marcheshvan, 29/30 days מַרְחֶשְׁוָן
9. Kislev, 30/29 days כסלו
10. Tevet, 29 days טבת
11. Shevat, 30 days שבט
12. Adar 1, 30 days, intercalary month אדר א
13. Adar 2, 29 days אדר ב

Adar 1 is only added 7 times in 19 years. In ordinary years, Adar 2 is simply called Adar.

Islamic calendar

There are also twelve months in the Islamic calendar. They are named as follows:

1. Muharram (Restricted/sacred) محرّم
2. Safar (Empty/Yellow) صفر
3. Rabī’ al-Awwal/Rabi’ I (First Spring) ربيع الأول
4. Rabī’ ath-Thānī/Rabi` al-Aakhir/Rabi’ II (Second spring or Last spring) ربيع الآخر أو ربيع الثاني
5. Jumada al-Awwal/Jumaada I (First Freeze) جمادى الأول
6. Jumada ath-Thānī or Jumādā al-Thānī/Jumādā II (Second Freeze or Last Freeze) جمادى الآخر أو جمادى الثاني
7. Rajab (To Respect) رجب
8. Sha’bān (To Spread and Distribute) شعبان
9. Ramadān (Parched Thirst) رمضان
10. Shawwāl (To Be Light and Vigorous) شوّال
11. Dhu al-Qi’dah (The Master of Truce) ذو القعدة
12. Dhu al-Hijjah (The Possessor of Hajj) ذو الحجة

Arabic calendar

Gregorian month		Arabic month
January	يناير	كانون الثاني	Kanun Al-Thani
February	فبراير	شباط	Shebat
March	مارس	اذار	Adhar
April	ابريل	نيسان	Nisan
May	مايو	أيّار	Ayyar
June	يونيو	حزيران	Ḩazayran
July	يوليو	تمّوز	Tammuz
August	أغسطس	اَب	ʕAb
September	سبتمبر	أيلول	Aylul
October	أكتوبر	تشرين الأول	Tishrin Al-Awwal
November	نوفمبر	تشرين الثاني	Tishrin Al-Thani
December	ديسمبر	كانون الأول	Kanun Al-Awwal

Hindu calendar

The Hindu calendar has various systems of naming the months. The months in the lunar calendar are:

	Sanskrit name	Tamil name	Telugu name	Nepali name
1	Caitra (चैत्र)	Chitirai (சித்திரை)	Chaithramu (చైత్రము)	Chaitra (चैत्र/चैत)
2	Vaiśākha (वैशाख)	Vaikasi (வைகாசி)	Vaisaakhamu (వైశాఖము)	Baisakh (बैशाख)
3	Jyeṣṭha (ज्येष्ठ)	Aani (ஆனி)	Jyeshttamu (జ్యేష్ఠము)	Jesth (जेष्ठ/जेठ)
4	Ashadha (आषाढ)	Aadi (ஆடி)	Aashaadhamu (ఆషాఢము)	Aasad (आषाढ/असार)
5	Śrāvaṇa (श्रावण)	Aavani (ஆவணி)	Sraavanamu (శ్రావణము)	Srawan (श्रावण/साउन)
6	Bhadrapada (भाद्रपद)	Purratasi (புரட்டாசி)	Bhaadhrapadamu (భాద్రపదము)	Bhadau (भाद्र|भदौ)
7	Āśvina (अश्विन)	Aiypasi (ஐப்பசி)	Aasveeyujamu (ఆశ్వయుజము)	Asoj (आश्विन/असोज)
8	Kārtika (कार्तिक)	Kaarthigai (கார்த்திகை)	Kaarthikamu (కార్తీకము)	Kartik (कार्तिक)
9	Mārgaśīrṣa (मार्गशीर्ष)	Maargazhi (மார்கழி)	Maargaseershamu (మార్గశిరము)	Mangsir (मार्ग/मंसिर)
10	Pauṣa (पौष)	Thai (தை)	Pushyamu (పుష్యము)	Push (पौष/पुष/पूस)
11	Māgha (माघ)	Maasi (மாசி)	Maaghamu (మాఘము)	Magh (माघ)
12	Phālguna (फाल्गुन)	Panguni (பங்குனி)	Phaalgunamu (ఫాల్గుణము)	Falgun (फाल्गुन/फागुन)

These are also the names used in the Indian national calendar for the newly redefined months. Purushottam Maas or Adhik Maas (translit. adhika = ‘extra’, māsa = ‘month’) is an extra month in the Hindu calendar that is inserted to keep the lunar and solar calendars aligned. “Purushottam” is an epithet of Vishnu, to whom the month is dedicated.

Iranian calendar (Persian calendar)

The Iranian / Persian calendar, currently used in Iran and Afghanistan, also has 12 months. The Persian names are included in the parentheses. It begins on the northern Spring equinox.

1. Farvardin (31 days, فروردین)
2. Ordibehesht (31 days, اردیبهشت)
3. Khordad (31 days, خرداد)
4. Tir (31 days, تیر)
5. Mordad (31 days, مرداد)
6. Shahrivar (31 days, شهریور)
7. Mehr (30 days, مهر)
8. Aban (30 days, آبان)
9. Azar (30 days, آذر)
10. Dey (30 days, دی)
11. Bahman (30 days, بهمن)
12. Esfand (29 days- 30 days in leap year, اسفند)

Khmer calendar

Like the Hindu calendar, the Khmer calendar consists of both a lunar calendar and a solar calendar.

The Khmer solar calendar is used more commonly than the lunar calendar. There are 12 months and the numbers of days follow the Julian and Gregorian calendar.

	Khmer name	Transliteration	Julian and Gregorian name
1	មករា	Makara	January
2	កម្ភៈ	Kompeak	February
3	មិនា or មីនា	Mik Nea or Me Na	March
4	មេសា	Mesa	April
5	ឧសភា	Uk Sak Phea	May
6	មិថុនា	Mik Thok Na	June
7	កក្កដា	Kak Ka Da	July
8	សីហា	Seiha	August
9	កញ្ញា	Kagna	September
10	តុលា	Tola	October
11	វិច្ឆិកា	Vicheka	November
12	ធ្នូ	Thnu	December

Thai calendar

English name	Thai name	Abbr.	Transcription	Sanskrit word	Zodiac sign
January	มกราคม	ม.ค.	mokarakhom	mokara “sea-monster”	Capricorn
February	กุมภาพันธ์	ก.พ.	kumphaphan	kumbha “pitcher, water-pot”	Aquarius
March	มีนาคม	มี.ค.	minakhom	mīna “(a specific kind of) fish”	Pisces
April	เมษายน	เม.ย.	mesayon	meṣa “ram”	Aries
May	พฤษภาคม	พ.ค.	phruetsaphakhom	vṛṣabha “bull”	Taurus
June	มิถุนายน	มิ.ย.	mithunayon	mithuna “a pair”	Gemini
July	กรกฎาคม	ก.ค.	karakadakhom	karkaṭa “crab”	Cancer
August	สิงหาคม	ส.ค.	singhakhom	siṃha “lion”	Leo
September	กันยายน	ก.ย.	kanyayon	kanyā “girl”	Virgo
October	ตุลาคม	ต.ค.	tulakhom	tulā “balance”	Libra
November	พฤศจิกายน	พ.ย.	phruetsachikayon	vṛścika “scorpion”	Scorpio
December	ธันวาคม	ธ.ค.	thanwakhom	dhanu “bow, arc”	Sagittarius

Kollam era (Malayalam) calendar

Malayalam name	Transliteration	Concurrent Gregorian months	Sanskrit word and meaning	Zodiac sign
ചിങ്ങം	chi-ngnga-m	August–September	simha “lion”	Leo
കന്നി	ka-nni	September–October	kanyā “girl”	Virgo
തുലാം	thu-lā-m	October–November	tulā “balance”	Libra
വൃശ്ചികം	vRSh-chi-ka-m	November–December	vṛścika “scorpion”	Scorpio
ധനു	dha-nu	December–January	dhanu “bow, arc”	Sagittarius
മകരം	ma-ka-ra-m	January–February	mokara “sea-monster”	Capricorn
കുംഭം	kum-bha-m	February–March	kumbha “pitcher, water-pot”	Aquarius
മീനം	mee-na-m	March–April	mīna “(a specific kind of) fish”	Pisces
മേടം	mE-Da-m	April–May	meṣa “ram”	Aries
ഇടവം	i-Ta-va-m	May – June	vṛṣabha “bull”	Taurus
മിഥുനം	mi-thu-na-m	June–July	mithuna “a pair”	Gemini
കർക്കടകം	kar-kka-Ta-ka-m	July–August	karkaṭa “crab”	Cancer

Germanic calendar

The old Icelandic calendar is not in official use anymore, but some Icelandic holidays and annual feasts are still calculated from it. It has 12 months, broken down into two groups of six often termed “winter months” and “summer months”. The calendar is peculiar in that the months always start on the same weekday rather than on the same date. Hence Þorri always starts on a Friday sometime between January 22 and January 28 (Old style: January 9 to January 15), Góa always starts on a Sunday between February 21 and February 27 (Old style: February 8 to February 14).

• Skammdegi (“Short days”)

1. Gormánuður (mid October – mid November, “slaughter month” or “Gór’s month”)
2. Ýlir (mid November – mid December, “Yule month”)
3. Mörsugur (mid December – mid January, “fat sucking month”)
4. Þorri (mid January – mid February, “frozen snow month”)
5. Góa (mid February – mid March, “Góa’s month, see Nór”)
6. Einmánuður (mid March – mid April, “lone” or “single month”)

• Náttleysi (“Nightless days”)

1. Harpa (mid April – mid May, Harpa is a female name, probably a forgotten goddess, first day of Harpa is celebrated as Sumardagurinn fyrsti – first day of summer)
2. Skerpla (mid May – mid June, another forgotten goddess)
3. Sólmánuður (mid June – mid July, “sun month”)
4. Heyannir (mid July – mid August, “hay business month”)
5. Tvímánuður (mid August – mid September, “two” or “second month”)
6. Haustmánuður (mid September – mid October, “autumn month”)

Old Georgian calendar

Month	Georgian Month Name	Transliteration	Georgian Other Names	Transliteration
January	აპნისი, აპანი	Apnisi, Apani
February	სურწყუნისი	Surtskunisi	განცხადებისთვე	Gantskhadebistve
March	მირკანი	Mirkani
April	იგრიკა	Igrika
May	ვარდობისა	Vardobisa	ვარდობისთვე	Vardobistve
June	მარიალისა	Marialisa	თიბათვე, ივანობისთვე	Tibatve, Ivanobistve
July	თიბისა	Tibisa	მკათათვე, კვირიკობისთვე	Mkatatve, Kvirikobistve
August	ქველთობისა	Kveltobisa	მარიამობისთვე	Mariamobistve
September	ახალწლისა	Akhaltslisa	ენკენისთვე	Enkenistve
October	სთვლისა	Stvlisa	ღვინობისთვე	Gvinobistve
November	ტირისკონი	Tiriskoni	გიორგობისთვე, ჭინკობისთვე	Giorgobistve, Chinkobistve
December	ტირისდენი	Tirisdeni	ქრისტეშობისთვე	Kristeshobistve

*NOTE: New Year in ancient Georgia started from September.

Old Swedish calendar

1. Torsmånad (January, ‘Torre’s month’ (ancient god))
2. Göjemånad (February, ‘Goe’s month’ (ancient goddess))
3. Vårmånad (March, ‘Spring month’)
4. Gräsmånad (April, ‘Grass month’)
5. Blomstermånad (May, ‘Bloom month’)
6. Sommarmånad (June, ‘Summer month’)
7. Hömånad (July, ‘Hay month’)
8. Skördemånad, Rötmånad (August, ‘Harvest month’ or ‘Rotten month’)
9. Höstmånad (September, ‘Autumn month’)
10. Slaktmånad (October, ‘Slaughter month’)
11. Vintermånad (November, ‘Winter month’)
12. Julmånad (December, ‘Christmas month’)

Old English calendar

Like the Old Norse calendar, the Anglo-Saxons had their own calendar before they were Christianized which reflected native traditions and deities. These months were attested by Bede in his works On Chronology and The Reckoning of Time written in the 8th century.^[9] His months are probably those as written in the Northumbrian dialect of Old English which he was familiar with. The months were so named after the moon; the new moon marking the end of an old month and start of a new month; the full moonoccurring in the middle of the month, after which the month was named.

1. Æfterra-ġēola mōnaþ (January, ‘After-Yule month’)
2. Sol-mōnaþ (February, ‘Sol month’)
3. Hrēð-mōnaþ (March, ‘Hreth month’)
4. Ēostur-mōnaþ (April, ‘Ēostur month’)
5. Ðrimilce-mōnaþ (May, ‘Three-milkings month’)
6. Ærra-Liþa (June, ‘Ere-Litha’)
7. Æftera-Liþa (July, ‘After-Litha’)
8. Weōd-mōnaþ (August, ‘Weed month’)
9. Hāliġ-mōnaþ or Hærfest-mōnaþ (September, ‘Holy month’ or ‘Harvest month’)
10. Winter-fylleþ (October, ‘Winter-filleth’)
11. Blōt-mōnaþ (November, ‘Blót month’)
12. Ærra-ġēola mōnaþ (December, ‘Ere-Yule’)

Old Egyptian calendar

The ancient civil Egyptian calendar had a year that was 365 days long and was divided into 12 months of 30 days each, plus 5 extra days (epagomenes) at the end of the year. The months were divided into 3 “weeks” of ten days each. Because the ancient Egyptian year was almost a quarter of a day shorter than the solar year and stellar events “wandered” through the calendar, it is referred to as Annus Vagus or “Wandering Year”.

1. Thout
2. Paopi
3. Hathor
4. Koiak
5. Tooba
6. Emshir
7. Paremhat
8. Paremoude
9. Pashons
10. Paoni
11. Epip
12. Mesori

 

Source

Wikipedia