Get the Month Name From a Date in Excel

To get the month name from a date in Excel, use the TEXT function with the format code "mmmm" for the full name or "mmm" for the short one. =TEXT(A2,"mmmm") turns 14/03/2025 into March. This guide also shows how to keep the date while showing only the month, how to turn month numbers into names, and how to avoid the sorting trap that catches most people.

How to get the month name with TEXT#

Use =TEXT(date,"mmmm"). TEXT takes a value and a format code, and returns the value as text in that format. The number of m's sets the style:

So for a list of invoice dates in column B:

=TEXT(B2,"mmmm")

Fill it down (Windows: Ctrl+D; Mac: ⌘D) and each row shows its month: March, July, November, January.

The five-m code returns just the first letter. It's mainly used for chart labels where space is tight. For the current month, put TODAY inside TEXT: =TEXT(TODAY(),"mmmm") always shows this month's name, which is handy in a report title. The name changes by itself when a new month starts, so you never have to update it by hand. The TEXT function guide lists the other date and number codes.

How to show the month and year together#

Add a year code to the same TEXT format. A month name alone can be ambiguous when your data covers more than one year, because March 2024 and March 2025 both become "March":

The last one, yyyy-mm, is useful as a grouping key. Because the year comes first and the month has two digits, these labels sort correctly even as text. To put a month label inside a sentence, see how to combine a date with text.

How to show the month name but keep the date#

Apply a custom number format instead of using a formula. The cell keeps its real date, so sorting, filtering and calculations still work, but it displays only the month:

1. Select the date cells.
2. Open Format Cells (Windows: Ctrl+1; Mac: ⌘1).
3. Choose Custom, type mmmm in the Type box, and click OK.

The cell now shows March, while the formula bar still shows the full date. This is the better choice when you'll sort or filter by date later. Use TEXT when you need the month name as text, for example to join it to other words or to use it as a lookup value.

How to convert a month number to a month name#

Build a date in that month with DATE, then format it. If B2 holds a month number from 1 to 12:

=TEXT(DATE(2024,B2,1),"mmmm")

When B2 is 7, DATE makes 1 July 2024 and TEXT returns July. The year and day are placeholders; any valid ones work.

Don't use =TEXT(B2,"mmmm") on a month number. Excel treats the number 7 as a date: the 7th day of its calendar, which falls in January 1900. Every number from 1 to 31 returns January, which is a common and confusing result.

You can also use CHOOSE, which picks an item from a list by its position:

=CHOOSE(B2,"Jan","Feb","Mar","Apr","May","Jun","Jul","Aug","Sep","Oct","Nov","Dec")

CHOOSE is longer to type, but you control the exact labels, and it doesn't depend on Excel's language. That helps if you need English month names on a computer set to another language.

Why do month names sort in the wrong order?#

Month names from TEXT are text, so Excel sorts them alphabetically: April, August, December, February and so on. Calendar order needs a number behind the name.

Here are three ways to fix it:

• Sort by the original date column instead of the month name column.
• Add a helper column with =MONTH(B2), which returns 1 to 12, and sort by that.
• Use a custom sort list: in the Sort dialog, choose Order > Custom List and pick the January to December list.

MONTH is also what you need for criteria and maths. For example, to check whether a date falls in a quarter or fiscal period, you compare numbers, not names. See how to get the quarter from a date and how to work out the fiscal year from a date for those.

Common mistakes with month names#

Most month-name problems come from the data, not the formula. Check these:

1. Dates stored as text. If the date is text, such as 14.03.2025, TEXT can't read it and returns it unchanged. Convert it to a real date first.
2. Month numbers instead of dates. As above, use DATE to build a date before formatting.
3. Wrong language. TEXT returns month names in the language of your Excel. A file opened on a computer set to French or German shows French or German names. Use CHOOSE for fixed names.
4. Counting by name. Counting rows with =COUNTIF(C2:C9,"March") works on the text column, but combines every year. Count with date ranges if the year matters.

The same approach works for weekdays. The format code "dddd" gives the day name, which is covered in getting the day name from a date.

Practise it#

Month names are a quick win in reports and job tests, as long as you know the format codes and the sorting trap. Practise EDATE, EOMONTH and WEEKDAY in a live spreadsheet to get comfortable with date functions, and practise TEXT and VALUE to master format codes. Each lesson checks your formula instantly. Or try the exercise on this page first.