How to convert a month number to a month name in Excel
Formula (Excel and Google Sheets)
=TEXT(DATE(2026,A2,1),"mmmm")Build any date in that month and format it: =TEXT(DATE(2026,A2,1),"mmmm").
- Result on the example
- one result per row in
B2, filled down toB6 - Works in
- Every current version
- Google Sheets
- Same formula
See it work
The formula is already in B2, filled down to B6. Change any input and the result updates, or edit the formula to experiment.
How it works
DATE(2026,A2,1) builds the first day of that month, and TEXT with "mmmm" returns its full name. The year doesn't matter; it only has to make a valid date.
In Google Sheets
The same formula works in Google Sheets: =TEXT(DATE(2026,A2,1),"mmmm"). We ran it in Google Sheets mode on the same data and it returns the same results.
Other ways to do it
Each one was run on the same example sheet.
| Formula | Result | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| =CHOOSE(A2,"January","February","March","April","May","June","July","August","September","October","November","December") | March, November, July… | Lists the names in order; handy for custom labels or another language. |
| =TEXT(DATE(2026,A2,1),"mmm") | Mar, Nov, Jul…Different result | Three-letter names. Short names: Mar, Nov. |
Common mistakes
TEXT(A2,"mmmm")treats 3 as a date in January 1900, not as March, and returns "January" for every number from 1 to 31.- Numbers outside 1 to 12 roll into other years: 13 returns January.
Try it yourself
Same data, empty answer cell. Your formula is graded instantly, then re-checked on changed data, so a typed-in number won't pass.
Convert a month number to a month name
B2, return the full month name for the month number in A2, and fill down to B6.Questions
How do I get the short name, like Mar?
Use "mmm": =TEXT(DATE(2026,A2,1),"mmm").
How do I get the month name from a full date?
=TEXT(date,"mmmm").
Checked by running on 2026-10-30: every formula and result on this page was calculated by the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine, in both Excel and Google Sheets modes.