Get the month name from the date in Google Sheets

Are you struggling to get your dates formatted just right in Google Sheets? Whether you’re a spreadsheet novice or a seasoned pro, mastering date formatting can make your data more readable and visually appealing. Luckily, the TEXT formula in Google Sheets provides a powerful tool to customize date formats to suit your needs.

Check out the YouTube Shorts tutorial about this trick.

Formula looks like this:

=TEXT(A2, “M”)

In this formula, “A1” represents the cell containing your date value. Replace it with the appropriate cell reference in your sheet. The second argument, “M”, indicates the desired format. You can replace “M” with any of the formats discussed earlier (“MM”, “MMM”, “MMMM”) to achieve your preferred display.

Date formats

Google Sheets offers several options for formatting dates, including month abbreviations and full month names. Let’s delve into four common formats using the TEXT formula:

1. M: Single Digit Month

Using “M” in the TEXT formula will display the month as a single digit, without leading zeros. For example, January would appear as “1” and December as “12”. This format is useful when space is limited or when you prefer a minimalist look.

2. MM: Double Digit Month

If you need to display the month with a leading zero for single-digit months, the “MM” format is your friend. This format ensures that each month is represented by two digits, making it ideal for consistent alignment and readability in your spreadsheet.

3. MMM: Month Abbreviation

The “MMM” format displays the abbreviated form of the month name. For instance, January appears as “Jan”, February as “Feb”, and so on. This format strikes a balance between brevity and clarity, making it suitable for concise presentations of data.

4. MMMM: Full Month Name

When you want to showcase the complete month name in all its glory, “MMMM” is the way to go. With this format, January becomes “January”, February becomes “February”, and so forth. It’s perfect for detailed reports or when you need to emphasize the full context of the month.

Hope you liked this article bout TEXT formula in Google Sheets that is perfect for changing the date format.