ChatGPT
Claude
Gemini
Perplexity
The short answer
August is, in Behind the Name's words, the "German, Polish, Scandinavian and Catalan form of Augustus", a name borne by three Polish kings. As an English name it can also come from the month of August, which was named for the Roman emperor Augustus. It is pronounced AW-gəst in English, with Augie and Gus as English short forms and Augusta as the feminine. Behind the Name labels the name masculine; in the United States in 2025 it ranked #81 for boys and #962 for girls, so it is overwhelmingly a boys' name in practice. The literal meaning of Augustus is not stated in the material used here.
Meaning and etymology
Behind the Name gives August as the "German, Polish, Scandinavian and Catalan form of Augustus" and adds: "As an English name it can also derive from the month of August, which was named for the Roman emperor Augustus." Either way the name leads back to Augustus, listed under Ancient Roman in the related-names table. The gloss of Augustus itself is not included in the material fetched for this profile, so it is left unverified here. The entry lists Aukusti as a Finnish variant, Augie and Gus as English diminutives, and Augusta and Auguste as feminine forms.
Editorial confidence: established
Linguistic roots
| Language | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Latin | Augustus | Roman name and imperial title; gloss not verified in this pass |
| English | August (month) | the month named for the emperor Augustus |
Competing or overlapping origins
- Two routes to the same source: as a Continental given name it is a direct form of Augustus; as an English name it may instead be taken from the month of August. Behind the Name presents both.
Popularity
August ranked #81 for boys and #962 for girls in the United States in 2025 (Social Security Administration). Behind the Name labels the name masculine and lists no US ranking in the material used here.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States (boys) | 2025 | #81 | ssa-2025 |
| United States (girls) | 2025 | #962 | ssa-2025 |
United States, 2025: #81 (Social Security Administration)
Nicknames, variants, and related names
Nicknames: Augie, Gus
Variants: Aukusti
Related names: Augustus, Augusta, Auguste, Augusto, Augustin
What the name feels like
August has an old-world, stately quality from its imperial root, softened by the fact that English speakers also hear it as a warm late-summer month. That double reading, dignified and seasonal at once, is much of its appeal, and Gus gives it an easy, friendly nickname.
Style tags: vintage, month name, royal, two syllables, nickname-friendly
Editorial interpretation: The style summary is editorial opinion. Augie and Gus are the English diminutives Behind the Name lists; the seasonal reading is the month-name derivation the entry describes, not a documented reason parents choose it.
If you like this name
Other names from the Augustus family, and other month or season names used for children.
Similar by origin
Similar by style
Frequently asked questions
What does the name August mean?
August is the German, Polish, Scandinavian and Catalan form of Augustus. In English it can also come from the month of August, which was named for the Roman emperor Augustus.
Is August a boy's or a girl's name?
Behind the Name labels it masculine. In the United States in 2025 it ranked #81 for boys and #962 for girls, so it is used mostly for boys but does appear on the girls' list.
What are nicknames for August?
Behind the Name lists Augie and Gus as English diminutives. Augusta is the English feminine form.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name August — supports etymology, pronunciation, nicknames, variants, usage.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
