December
December: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /dɪˈsɛmbə/ · /dɪˈsɛm.bɚ/
Meaning and origin of December
Root meaning: “tenth month”
- A female given name transferred from the month name [in turn from English].
Etymology
From Middle English December, Decembre, from Old French decembre, from Latin december (“tenth month”), from Latin decem (“ten”); + Latin -ber, from -bris, an adjectival suffix; December was the tenth month in the Roman calendar.
How popular is December?
Since 1880, 1,608 girls and 11 boys in the U.S. have been named December (99% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #2736 in 1979. Its highest rank for boys was #11049 in 2016. In 2025, 21 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
More English girl names
Sibling name ideas for December
Sister and brother names that share December's English roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
December FAQ
What does the name December mean?
December traces back to a root meaning "tenth month". A female given name transferred from the month name [in turn from English]. From Middle English December, Decembre, from Old French decembre, from Latin december (“tenth month”), from Latin decem (“ten”); + Latin -ber, from -bris, an adjectival suffix; December was the tenth month in the Roman calendar.
What is the origin of the name December?
December is listed as a name of English origin.
How popular is the name December?
Since 1880, 1,608 girls and 11 boys in the U.S. have been named December (99% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #2736 in 1979. Its highest rank for boys was #11049 in 2016. In 2025, 21 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Is December a boy or girl name?
December is mostly a girl name in the U.S.: 1,608 girls and 11 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.