January (English)

Where does "January" come from?

The name January originates from the Latin Iānuārius, which was named in honor of Janus, the Roman god of beginnings and transitions. This Latin term traces back to an ancient Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to go,' a fitting association for the deity of thresholds and doorways. Over centuries, the word evolved through Anglo-Norman and Middle English before settling into its modern form as the first month of the year.

Full etymology tree

• January (English), 'The first month of the Gregorian calendar, following the December of the previous year and preceding February.'
  • inherited Januarie (Middle English)
    • inherited Iānuārius (Latin), 'of January'
      • derived Iānus (Latin), 'The god Janus.'
        • inherited *jānos (Proto-Italic)
          • inherited *yeh₂- (Proto-Indo-European), 'to go'
      • suffix -ārius (Latin), 'Used to form adjectives from nouns or numerals.'
  • influence Janevere (Middle English)
    • inherited genever (Anglo-Norman)
      • inherited Iānuārius (Latin), 'of January'
        • derived Iānus (Latin), 'The god Janus.'
          • inherited *jānos (Proto-Italic)
            • inherited *yeh₂- (Proto-Indo-European), 'to go'
        • suffix -ārius (Latin), 'Used to form adjectives from nouns or numerals.'

Direct ancestors

• Ianuarius (Latin)
• Ianus (Latin)
• -arius (Latin)
• Gennaro (English)

Updated July 2026

Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris