April

♀ Girl

Pronounced AY-pril /ˈeɪ.prɪl/High

Meaning: From Latin Aprilis, the name of the fourth month, possibly derived from aperire ('to open,' referring to the opening of buds in spring) or from Aphrodite (Latin Apru, the Etruscan form); a month-name used as a given name since the 20th centuryHigh

In 30 seconds: April is a fresh, two-syllable month-name evoking spring blossoms and new beginnings. A 20th-century American classic with perennial warmth, it never fully goes out of fashion.

💕 Browse more names

Origin HighLatin

MeaningFrom Latin Aprilis, the name of the fourth month, possibly derived from aperire ('to open,' referring to the opening of buds in spring) or from Aphrodite (Latin Apru, the Etruscan form); a month-name used as a given name since the 20th century

U.S. rank (2025)#542 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births557 girls (0.03% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1980

Total births (all-time)≈ 242,918

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

April comes from Latin Aprilis, the name of the fourth month in the Roman calendar. The etymology is debated: the most popular derivation links it to aperire ('to open'), referring to the opening of spring buds, while another connects it to Apru, the Etruscan form of Aphrodite. As a personal name, April entered English use in the mid-20th century as part of the American fashion for month-names.

April peaked in the United States during the 1970s, when it was a top-50 name, and has been declining gradually since. It remains in the top 300 and has never disappeared entirely, benefiting from its association with spring, renewal, and warmth. Cultural touchstones including April O'Neil from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and April Ludgate from Parks and Recreation have kept it familiar to multiple generations.

Did you know? April is one of only two month-names (alongside May) used regularly as given names for girls in English — June being a distant third — perhaps because April and May are the months most associated with flowering and renewal.

Overall data confidence 89%

Behind the Name — April — etymology and historyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

AprylAvril

Nicknames

ApeAppy

Famous Bearers

★April O'Neil (fictional)
Fictional journalist and ally of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, one of the most recognizable fictional Aprils.

If you like April…

May— fellow classic spring month-name used as a girls' given name with the same gentle charm

June— shares the month-name heritage and the same sweet, timeless femininity

Claire— two-syllable classic girls' name with the same light, fresh springtime quality

Faye— short vintage girls' name with the same airy, nature-touched feel

Frequently Asked

What does the name April mean?

April comes from Latin Aprilis, the fourth month, possibly derived from aperire (to open), referring to spring buds opening. It carries meanings of renewal and blossoming.

How do you pronounce April?

It is said AY-pril — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is April a boy or girl name?

April is used almost exclusively as a girls' name.

How popular is April?

April peaked in the U.S. top 50 in the 1970s and now ranks in the top 300, maintaining steady popularity as a spring-evoking classic.