In many parts of the world, especially those following the ISO 8601 international standard, Monday is considered the second day of the week—following Sunday as the first.
However, cultural and religious traditions vary. In some countries like the United States, Sunday is often treated as the start of the week, making Monday the second day by default. In contrast, much of Europe and international business standards begin the week on Monday, labeling it as day one.
The name "Monday" comes from the Old English "Mōnandæg," meaning "Moon's day," reflecting ancient associations with celestial bodies. This naming convention is shared across many Indo-European languages.
Despite its position in the weekly cycle, Monday is widely recognized as the start of the workweek in most modern societies—a time for fresh beginnings, planning, and productivity after the weekend rest.