name of today php

date("l",time()) // LOWER CASE L 

$dayofweek = date('w', strtotime($date));
$result    = date('Y-m-d', strtotime(($day - $dayofweek).' day', strtotime($date)));

$datetime = DateTime::createFromFormat('YmdHi', '201308131830');
echo $datetime->format('D');

// or 

$date = new \DateTime();
echo $date->format("D");