# How to convert a month number to a month name in Excel

Build any date in that month and format it: `=TEXT(DATE(2026,A2,1),"mmmm")`.

**Excel:** `=TEXT(DATE(2026,A2,1),"mmmm")` (Every current version)

**Google Sheets:** the same formula works.

## Example

Sample data (row 1 is the header):

| A | B |
| --- | --- |
| Month number | Name |
| 3 |  |
| 11 |  |
| 7 |  |
| 1 |  |
| 12 |  |

Formula in B2, filled to B6: `=TEXT(DATE(2026,A2,1),"mmmm")`

Result: March; November; July; January; December

## 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.

## Other ways

- `=CHOOSE(A2,"January","February","March","April","May","June","July","August","September","October","November","December")`: Lists the names in order; handy for custom labels or another language.
- `=TEXT(DATE(2026,A2,1),"mmm")`: 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.

## 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")`.

Every formula and result on this page was checked by running it in the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine on 2026-10-30.

Source: https://spreadsheetpractice.com/formulas/convert-a-month-number-to-a-name