SQL Server DATENAME() Function

The DATENAME() function in SQL Server extracts a specific part (year, month, day, hour, minute, etc.) from a date or datetime value and returns it as a string. This is very useful for formatting dates and times or for creating more human-readable outputs.

DATENAME(): Definition and Usage

Unlike DATEPART(), which returns the date part as an integer, DATENAME() returns it as a string. This makes it especially convenient for generating reports or displaying dates in a user-friendly format. For example, you might use it to display the month name instead of the month number.

Syntax

Syntax

DATENAME(interval, date)

Parameter Values

Parameter Description
interval The part of the date to extract. Options:
  • year, yyyy, yy: Year
  • quarter, qq, q: Quarter
  • month, mm, m: Month
  • dayofyear: Day of the year
  • day, dy, y: Day
  • week, ww, wk: Week
  • weekday, dw, w: Weekday
  • hour, hh: Hour
  • minute, mi, n: Minute
  • second, ss, s: Second
  • millisecond, ms: Millisecond
  • microsecond, mcs: Microsecond
  • nanosecond, ns: Nanosecond
  • tzoffset, tz: Timezone offset
  • iso_week, isowk, isoww: ISO week
This is required.
date The date or datetime value. This is required.

Examples

Extracting the Year

This extracts the year as a string from the date '2017/08/25'.

Syntax

SELECT DATENAME(year, '2017/08/25') AS DatePartString;
Output

2017

Extracting the Year (alternative syntax)

Another way to get the year as a string.

Syntax

SELECT DATENAME(yy, '2017/08/25') AS DatePartString;
Output

17

Extracting the Month

Getting the month name as a string.

Syntax

SELECT DATENAME(month, '2017/08/25') AS DatePartString;
Output

August

Extracting the Hour

Getting the hour from a datetime value.

Syntax

SELECT DATENAME(hour, '2017/08/25 08:36') AS DatePartString;
Output

08

Extracting the Minute

Getting the minute from a datetime value.

Syntax

SELECT DATENAME(minute, '2017/08/25 08:36') AS DatePartString;
Output

36