c.1050, Iulius, from Anglo-French julie, Old French Jule, from Latin Iulius "fifth month of the Roman calendar" (which began its year in March), renamed after his death and deification in honor of Gaius Julius Caesar, who was born in this month, which formerly in republican Rome was named Quintilis "fifth." Accented on first syllable in English until 18c. Replaced Old English liða se æfterra "later mildness," from liðe "mild."