What Does the Name August Mean?
August is a boy's name of Latin origin meaning “great, magnificent, venerable.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | August |
|---|---|
| Gender | male |
| Origin | Latin |
| Meaning | great, magnificent, venerable |
| Variants | Augustus, Auguste, Augustine, Gus |
| Popularity | Common in German and Scandinavian usage and steadily climbing in the US top 200, boosted by its warm, seasonal association. |
The meaning and origin of August
The name August means “great, magnificent, venerable” and has Latin origins. August derives from the Latin Augustus, meaning 'venerable' or 'majestic,' the honorific title taken by the first Roman emperor. It doubles as the name of the eighth month, also named for Augustus Caesar.
Variants and related names
August is related to several other names you may recognize: Augustus, Auguste, Augustine, Gus. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name August?
Common in German and Scandinavian usage and steadily climbing in the US top 200, boosted by its warm, seasonal association.
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name August mean?+
The name August means “great, magnificent, venerable” and is of Latin origin.
What is the origin of the name August?+
August originates from Latin.
Is August a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how August has trended in the US over time.
August by gender
More boy's names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press