Some of the names illustrate the Roman Empire’s legacy on the modern world, while the others were selected by the Anglo-Saxons who invaded Britain from the 5th to the 7th centuries.

The Romans adopted the Babylonian practice of dedicating days to celestial bodies, with Saturday and Sunday honoring the planet Saturn and the sun, while Monday was given to the moon. Similarly, the Anglo-Saxons pledged their weekdays to the pantheon of Teutonic mythology, with Tuesday originating as “Tiu’s day” — Tiu being the Anglo-Saxon moniker for “Tyr,” the the Germanic god of war — and Wednesday titled after “Woden,” king of the gods, who was also known as “Odin.” The god of thunder received his own day with Thursday originally meaning “Thor’s day,” while Friday was bestowed to “Frigga,” Odin’s queen.