The days of the week are named after ancient gods, planets, and celestial bodies, with each day’s name rooted in either Latin or Old Germanic traditions.
These names come from a mix of Roman mythology, Norse mythology, and astronomical references, forming the seven-day week we use today.
What Are the Days of the Week Named After?
Sunday
Named after the Sun.
Derived from Old English Sunnandæg, meaning “Sun’s day.”
Monday
Named after the Moon.
Comes from Old English Monandæg, or “Moon’s day.”
Tuesday
Named after Týr, the Norse god of war.
Linked to the Roman god Mars.
Wednesday
Named after Odin (Woden), chief Norse god.
Roman equivalent: Mercury.
Thursday
Named after Thor, god of thunder.
Roman equivalent: Jupiter.
Friday
Named after Frigg/Freya, associated with love and beauty.
Roman equivalent: Venus.
Saturday
The only English weekday that still keeps its Roman origin: Saturn, god of agriculture.
Days of the Week and Their Original Names
| Modern Day | Old English Name | Root Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday | Sunnandæg | Sun |
| Monday | Monandæg | Moon |
| Tuesday | Tiwesdæg | Týr/Mars |
| Wednesday | Wodnesdæg | Odin/Mercury |
| Thursday | Þunresdæg | Thor/Jupiter |
| Friday | Frīgedæg | Frigg/Venus |
| Saturday | Sæternesdæg | Saturn |
What is the origin of the names of the days of the week?
The names come from a blend of Roman gods, Norse gods, and astronomical bodies.
The Romans named days after planets tied to gods.
Germanic cultures later replaced the Roman gods with their equivalent Norse gods, creating the weekday names we use in English today.
How many names of the week are there?
There are seven names of the week, matching the seven-day cycle used internationally: Sunday through Saturday.
Also see: Days to Weeks Calculator