February. What are the months in a year named after? Museum stories What's in a name? The Romans had eight days in their week, with a market day instead of a weekend, so they didn't use these names. There is a compelling reason why the English language named months for as it only had ten in a year. Some are. Months of the year We mark time in many different ways. Eventually, the Roman empire became Christian, and the Christians did have a seven day week, with the seventh, Sunday, being a holy day. We use their names all the time, but what do the months' names mean and where do they come from? The Latin poet Ovid claimed that the month may have been named after the Latin word maiores, “elders,” to juxtapose it to the month of June, which was named after iuniores, the Latin word for youth. January is named after Janus (Roman) god of the doorway. The Romans seem to have named the days of the week after the planets, sun and … 2. When King Pompilius named the 12th month of the Roman year, he chose February after that period of celebration. What are the months of the year named after and why? The name comes either from the old-Italian god Februus or else from februa, signifying the festivals of purification celebrated in Rome during this month. March named after Mars (Roman) god of war and agriculture. February is named after the Latin term februum, which means purification. 3. However, there is another suggestion that the month is not named for these intertwined goddesses at all. Named after the Roman god of beginnings and endings Janus (the month Januarius). I would also like to put the disclaimer that I know very little Latin and the Latin I do know is Church Latin. We need you to answer this question! February is not named after a god, but a term relating to purification. January is named after the Roman god Janus, god of the beginning, the end, doors and more. The Roman months were the same as ours, but the weeks were not. Some are, some aren't: January. One unit – the month – has been in use for thousands of years. 1. We need you to answer this question!