In Madison, Wisconsin, November June Brown is used to double takes when she introduces herself. A writer and content creator with an eye-catching name, she often hears the same questions: “Were you born in November? Or June?” But the answer is neither—she was born in August.
Her name, though, has little to do with the date on her birth certificate and everything to do with family tradition. November explained that her mother, April, named her after the months as a way of continuing a quirky legacy started by her own mother, June. “My mom thought the name was pretty and wanted to carry on the unique tradition started by my grandma,” she said.
This tradition means that no one in the family is actually born in the month they’re named after. April, for instance, was born in January. June arrived in April. November’s sister, Hayley December, celebrates her birthday in November. It’s an unconventional pattern, but one that brings joy and identity to the family.

When November's mother became pregnant, she knew without hesitation that she wanted to carry the tradition on. However, her husband needed some convincing. “My dad was worried that my sister and I would get bullied for our names,” November said, “so it took quite a lot of convincing to get him on board.”
Fortunately, those concerns never materialized in any serious way. November said she and her sister were never bullied for their names, though they were occasionally teased in a lighthearted manner. “We would get teased for our names, but they were mostly jokes,” she recalled. “I got wished happy birthday when it was November 1st—despite me being born in August.”
The uniqueness of her name has sparked countless amusing situations over the years. When meeting new people or showing her ID at a bar, many assume her name is made up. “Sometimes people will think that my ID is fake when I go to the bar,” she said. “It is always fun to prove people wrong in that way.” Even in her professional life, others assume “November June” is a pen name, not realizing it’s the name she’s had since birth.
Yet, for all the raised eyebrows and amused reactions, she’s grateful for the distinctiveness. “My sister and I love our unique names—nobody ever misspells it or mispronounces it as it is a month of the year,” she explained. The novelty never wears off, and for November, it’s become something of a “cool party trick” to show people her ID and watch their disbelief turn into surprise.

Looking ahead, November is considering keeping the tradition alive with the next generation. While she doesn’t have children yet, she said she would love to pass down the naming custom. “I think November is a pretty name for a girl, and October is great for a boy,” she said with a smile. “It would be fun to carry the tradition on—what a cool thing to do. It is going to take some convincing with my partner, put it that way.”
For the Brown family, names are more than labels—they’re symbols of creativity, heritage, and humor. Even if no one was born in their namesake month, each name tells a story. And in November June’s case, that story is one of tradition, individuality, and the joy of being just a little unexpected.
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