What Day Is August 9? Nagasaki and World Indigenous Peoples Day
August 9 is the 221st day of the year. At 11:02 AM on August 9, 1945, the United States dropped the 'Fat Man' plutonium bomb on Nagasaki, killing over 40,000 people instantly. The UN also marks August 9 as the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples.
About August 9
August 9 is the 221st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (222nd in a leap year). There are 144 days remaining until the end of the year.
The significance of August 9
At 11:02 AM on August 9, 1945, the United States dropped the “Fat Man” plutonium bomb on Nagasaki. Over 40,000 people were killed in the first moments; radiation deaths raised the total significantly over the following months. Japan surrendered six days later. Nagasaki holds a Peace Memorial Ceremony every year on this date at 11:02 AM.
The UN observes International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples on August 9, established in 1994 to mark the first meeting of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations in Geneva in 1982. The Catholic Church also commemorates Edith Stein on this date: the German-Jewish philosopher who converted to Catholicism and became a Carmelite nun, later murdered at Auschwitz on August 9, 1942.
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On This Day in History
- 1942Edith Stein (Sister Teresa Benedicta of the Cross), a Jewish-born Carmelite nun and philosopher, was murdered at Auschwitz. She was canonized in 1998.
- 1945The 'Fat Man' plutonium bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, Japan, at 11:02 AM, killing over 40,000 people immediately and causing devastation across the city.
Baby Names for This Day
August 9 falls under Leo. Names evoking peace, resilience, and Edith Stein's legacy:
- EdithGirl
Edith Stein, philosopher and martyr, died at Auschwitz on August 9, 1942; canonized as St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross.
- TeresaGirl
Edith Stein's religious name, chosen in honor of Teresa of Ávila; feast day shared with August 9.
- BenedictaGirl
Part of Edith Stein's religious name, meaning 'blessed' in Latin; not widely used but distinctive.
- PeaceGirl
Nagasaki became a global symbol of the call for nuclear abolition; the Peace Memorial is held every August 9.
- RioUnisex
Named for the River of Life; carried by many indigenous communities across the Americas.
- AuroraGirl
'Dawn'; on a day tied to both tragedy and advocacy, it speaks to what comes after darkness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What day is August 9?add
August 9 is the day the atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki in 1945 (at 11:02 AM). It is also the UN International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples and the feast of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein). The 221st day of the year.
What number day of the year is August 9?add
August 9 is the 221st day of the year, or the 222nd in a leap year, with 144 days remaining.
What zodiac sign is August 9?add
August 9 is Leo, which runs from July 23 to August 22.