Understanding the order of the months is fundamental to grasping how we organize time throughout the year. When we talk about July, we’re referring to a specific point in this annual cycle. So, what number does July hold in the sequence of months?
July is the seventh month of the year in the Gregorian calendar, which is the calendar system most widely used around the world today. It falls squarely in the middle of the year, marking the transition from the first half to the second half.
To visualize this, let’s look at the months in order:
| Month Number | Month | Abbreviation | Days in Month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | January | Jan | 31 |
| 2 | February | Feb | 28 (29 in leap years) |
| 3 | March | Mar | 31 |
| 4 | April | Apr | 30 |
| 5 | May | May | 31 |
| 6 | June | Jun | 30 |
| 7 | July | Jul | 31 |
| 8 | August | Aug | 31 |
| 9 | September | Sep | 30 |
| 10 | October | Oct | 31 |
| 11 | November | Nov | 30 |
| 12 | December | Dec | 31 |
As you can see from the table, July is clearly positioned as the 7th month. This numbering system has historical roots that trace back to ancient Rome.
The History Behind July’s Name and Position
Interestingly, the names and positions of months have evolved over time. The early Roman calendar originally had only ten months, starting with March. In this system, July didn’t exist as we know it. The fifth month was called “Quintilis,” derived from the Latin word “quinque” meaning five.
Around 710 BC, January and February were added to the calendar, shifting the positions of the existing months. Quintilis became the seventh month. Later, in 44 BC, Quintilis was renamed July in honor of Julius Caesar, a significant figure in Roman history. This renaming cemented July’s place in the calendar and its association with the number seven.
Remembering the Number of Days in July and Other Months
July, like several other months, has 31 days. There are a couple of handy methods to remember the number of days in each month, including July:
One popular method is the rhyme:
Thirty days hath September,
April, June, and November;
All the rest have thirty-one,
Excepting February alone,
Which hath but twenty-eight days clear,
And twenty-nine in each leap year.
While this rhyme is helpful for many months, another visual and tactile method is the “knuckle method”:
Using your knuckles and the spaces between them, you can count the months. Each knuckle represents a month with 31 days, and the spaces in between represent months with 30 days (or 28/29 for February). When you reach the knuckles of your index and middle fingers, these represent July and August respectively, both having 31 days.
So, when you need to recall What Number Is July, remember it’s the seventh month, positioned right in the heart of the year and known for its 31 days. It’s a month with a rich history and a clear place in our modern calendar system.
