If you'd lived in ancient Rome, October would have been the eighth month of the year (but it still had 31 days). It gets its name from this ancient placement — oct meaning eight. October begins in the birth sign of Libra, the Scales, which belonged to the Roman goddess of justice. Romans believed that the city of Rome was founded when the moon was in this sign, symbolizing the balance it would bring to the civilized world. The month ends in the sign of Scorpio, the Scorpion.