A date written in Roman numerals is a popular choice for tattoos, engraved wedding bands, anniversary gifts, memorial plaques and building cornerstones. It looks classic, but it is easy to get a symbol wrong, and a misplaced I in a tattoo is permanent. This converter turns any date into Roman numerals, lets you choose the order and separator, and shows the same date in every common layout so you can compare designs before committing.
How to use the Roman numeral date converter
- Pick the Date with the date picker.
- Choose the Order: month-day-year (US), day-month-year (most other countries) or year-month-day.
- Choose a Separator: dot, middle dot, dash, slash, space or vertical bar.
- Choose Full year or Two digits.
- The tape shows the finished date with the digits underneath for checking, plus each part separately. The table shows the date in several other popular formats.
How a date is converted
Each part of the date is converted on its own, using standard Roman numerals, and then the parts are joined:
Months run from I (January) to XII (December) and days from I to XXXI, so they are always short. The year carries most of the symbols; every year up to 3999 can be written with the seven standard letters.
Worked example: a wedding date
A couple married on June 15, 2024 and wants the date on their rings in US order:
Month: 6 → VI
Day: 15 → XV
Year: 2024 → 2,000 + 20 + 4 → MM + XX + IV → MMXXIV
Result: VI.XV.MMXXIV (day-first: XV.VI.MMXXIV)
Another classic: July 4, 1776 is VII.IV.MDCCLXXVI. With a two-digit year, December 31, 1999 becomes XII · XXXI · XCIX.
Months and days in Roman numerals
| Month | Numeral | Day | Numeral | Day | Numeral |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | I | 1 | I | 17 | XVII |
| February | II | 4 | IV | 19 | XIX |
| March | III | 8 | VIII | 21 | XXI |
| April | IV | 9 | IX | 24 | XXIV |
| May | V | 11 | XI | 27 | XXVII |
| June | VI | 13 | XIII | 28 | XXVIII |
| July | VII | 14 | XIV | 29 | XXIX |
| August | VIII | 15 | XV | 30 | XXX |
| September | IX | 16 | XVI | 31 | XXXI |
| October | X | ||||
| November | XI | ||||
| December | XII |
Years in Roman numerals
| Year | Numeral | Year | Numeral |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | MCML | 2000 | MM |
| 1975 | MCMLXXV | 2010 | MMX |
| 1988 | MCMLXXXVIII | 2020 | MMXX |
| 1990 | MCMXC | 2025 | MMXXV |
| 1999 | MCMXCIX | 2026 | MMXXVI |
Notice how long some years are: 1988 needs 11 letters, while 2000 needs two. That length matters when you plan the size of a tattoo or engraving.
Before you engrave or tattoo
- Check the order. Decide whether the date reads month-first or day-first, and make sure the artist knows. VI.XII could mean June 12 or December 6.
- Verify every symbol. Compare the result with the digits shown under it. Common mistakes are IIII instead of IV, VIIII instead of IX, and MCMLXXXIIX instead of MCMLXXXVIII.
- Mind the spacing. Dots between parts make a long year easier to read; a middle dot (·) is slimmer than a period in many fonts.
- Leading zeros don’t exist. The 5th of a month is simply V, not “0V.”
For individual numbers or to check a numeral someone else wrote, use the Roman numeral converter. To find the weekday a date fell on, try the day of the week calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How do I write a date in Roman numerals?
Convert the month, day and year separately, then join them with dots or another separator. June 15, 2024 becomes VI.XV.MMXXIV in US order (month first) or XV.VI.MMXXIV in day-first order.
Should a Roman numeral tattoo date be month-day-year or day-month-year?
Either is correct; follow the order that is normal where you live, because that is how you and others will read it. Americans usually use month first, most other countries day first. Since both month and day can be small numbers, an unclear order can be read as a different date.
Can I use a two-digit year?
Yes. 1999 can be shortened to XCIX (99). The only exception is a year ending in 00, such as 2000, because Roman numerals have no zero; use the full year (MM) instead.
What separators are used in Roman numeral dates?
Dots (VI.XV.MMXXIV) are the most common, followed by middle dots, dashes, slashes, spaces and vertical bars. The separator is purely a design choice; just keep it consistent.