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At a Glance: Name: April – Meaning: possibly 'of Venus' (via an Etruscan link to Greek Aphrodite) rather than literally 'opening' – Origin: Latin (via Old French/Middle English) – Gender: Girl – Pronunciation: AY-prul
April (pronounced AY-prul, /ˈeɪprəl/) is a Latin-rooted name that came into English by way of Old French and Middle English, and it fits comfortably in the timeless, classic category. You may have heard that it comes from the Latin ‘aperire,’ ‘to open,’ as a nod to flowers or buds opening in spring — but that’s a popular explanation rather than a settled one; the sourced etymology instead points to an Etruscan-mediated link to Aphrodite (Venus), suggesting a meaning closer to ‘of Venus,’ though even that theory remains uncertain.
Meaning & Origin of April
Meaning: Possibly 'of venus' (via an etruscan link to greek aphrodite) rather than literally 'opening'.
Origin: Latin (via Old French/Middle English).
A common claim: Widely said to derive from Latin 'aperire,' 'to open' — referencing flowers or buds opening in spring. Actually: This is a popular folk etymology; the source etymology instead favors an Etruscan-mediated link to Aphrodite (Venus), though that theory itself remains uncertain rather than settled fact.
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce April
Phonetic: AY-prul IPA: /ˈeɪprəl/
Popularity of April
April ranked #502 in 2024 with 607 babies given the name, well down from its peak of #23 in 1979, when 10,902 babies were named April.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1917–2024.
Make April Name Art
Free printable nursery art for April, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name April mean?
Possibly ‘of venus’ (via an etruscan link to greek aphrodite) rather than literally ‘opening’. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/April)
How do you pronounce April?
April is pronounced AY-prul (IPA: /ˈeɪprəl/).
Is April a popular name right now?
April peaked at #23 in 1979 and is ranked #502 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1917–2024.)
📊 How popular is April? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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