Venerable, majestic glosses

August comes from Latin augustus, meaning venerable, exalted, or majestic—the title that gave the month of August its name via Emperor Augustus. Softened etymology highlights dignity rather than imperial politics. As a given name it sits with other month and virtue-adjacent choices while sounding softer than Augustus in everyday English.

Gus and Augie are affectionate short forms.

Seasonal chart rise

August ranked 81 for U.S. boys in 2025. Its growth tracks vintage revival tastes and the fashion for warm, wordlike names that still feel like traditional given names.

It shares oxygen with June’s sibling energy in month naming, though August charts more strongly for boys.

How it wears

Pronunciation is AW-gust. Spelling is stable. Sibling sets often include Hazel, Otto, or Ivy for a cohesive vintage-nature mood.

Choose August if you want Latin grandeur in a friendly seasonal package; compare Augustus if you prefer the fuller imperial form.

Month names with backbone

August avoids the ultra-sweet trap that sometimes catches seasonal names. Latin augustus gives it spine; Gus and Augie keep nursery days playful.

It looks distinguished in winter as well as summer—the month link is a bonus, not a costume. For parents chasing vintage warmth with a clear eighty-first-place 2025 signal, August is radiant without shouting.

Taken together, August offers a clear everyday sound, a meaning story you can share at the level you prefer, and a documented place in the 2025 United States boys’ popularity list. Those three traits—sound, story, and statistical company—are what most NameForUs readers weigh when a portrait moves from interesting to chosen.