August
August is both a given name and surname developed from the Latin, Augustus. Derived from the Latin word augere, meaning "to increase", Augustus had the meaning "esteemed" or "venerable" and was a title given to Roman emperors.
Meaning & Origin of August
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
August is both a given name and surname developed from the Latin, Augustus. Derived from the Latin word augere, meaning "to increase", Augustus had the meaning "esteemed" or "venerable" and was a title given to Roman emperors.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of August
As a girl name
August first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1914, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2021, when 328 Augusts were born — ranking #841 that year. As of 2026, August ranks #929 for girls with 283 births, holding steady (-3%). In total, more than 7K Augusts have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
August first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1880, with 210 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2026, when 4,150 Augusts were born — ranking #80 that year. As of 2026, August ranks #80 for boys with 4,150 births, rising sharply (+53% over the past five years). In total, more than 72K Augusts have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like August
Phonetically similar names — useful when August is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about August
What does the name August mean?
How popular is August in 2026?
When was August most popular?
In which U.S. states is August most popular?
Is August a unisex name?
What names go well with August?
About the name August
August is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1880 and has accumulated 72K births in the dataset. August's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #74. Use the chart and map above to compare August's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2026 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "A" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.