As with the month January, what we know as "February" too also comes from the Roman calendar month Februarius, named for Februa, the feast of purification held on the 15th.

Februarius (February) was the month for purification. The word is thought to derive from the Latin "februum" (purification); from "februa" (instruments of purification); or from "Febuus" (an obscure deity). It was believed that being struck by the februa (strips of goatskin) would ensure fertility for women and virility for men, so huge crowds would gather along the festival route in hopes of being struck.