SQL Server: DATENAME Function

In this post explains how to use the DATENAME function in SQL Server (Transact-SQL) with syntax and examples.

Description

In SQL Server (Transact-SQL), the DATENAME function returns a specified part of a given date, as a string value.

Syntax

The syntax for the DATENAME function in SQL Server (Transact-SQL) is:

DATENAME( interval, date )

Parameters or Arguments

interval

The time/date interval that you wish to retrieve from date. It can be one of the following values:

Value (any one of)	Explanation
year, yyyy, yy	Year interval
quarter, qq, q	Quarter interval
month, mm, m	Month interval
dayofyear	Day of year interval
day, dy, y	Day interval
week, ww, wk	Week interval
weekday, dw, w	Weekday interval
hour, hh	Hour interval
minute, mi, n	Minute interval
second, ss, s	Second interval
millisecond, ms	Millisecond interval

date

The date to use to retrieve the interval value.

Note

• The DATENAME function returns the result as a string value.
• The DATEPART function returns the result as an integer value.

Applies To

The DATENAME function can be used in the following versions of SQL Server (Transact-SQL):

• SQL Server 2017, SQL Server 2016, SQL Server 2014, SQL Server 2012, SQL Server 2008 R2, SQL Server 2008, SQL Server 2005

Example

Let's look at some SQL Server DATENAME function examples and explore how to use the DATENAME function in SQL Server (Transact-SQL).

For example:

SELECT DATENAME(year, '2014/04/28');
Output: '2014'

SELECT DATENAME(yyyy, '2014/04/28');
Output: '2014'

SELECT DATENAME(yy, '2014/04/28');
Output: '2014'

SELECT DATENAME(month, '2014/04/28');
Output: 'April'

SELECT DATENAME(day, '2014/04/28');
Output: '28'

SELECT DATENAME(quarter, '2014/04/28');
Output: '2'

SELECT DATENAME(hour, '2014/04/28 09:49');
Output: '9'

SELECT DATENAME(minute, '2014/04/28 09:49');
Output: '49'

SELECT DATENAME(second, '2014/04/28 09:49:12');
Output: '12'

SELECT DATENAME(millisecond, '2014/04/28 09:49:12.726');
Output: '726'