The Most Common and Least Common Birthdays and Zodiac Signs
What Definitive Sources Say
On the average, 11,000 babies are born in the U.S. every day. When a Harvard University study counted U.S. births each day of the year between 1973 and 1999, it found the most common birthday for U.S. residents was September 16, followed by September 9, 23, 17, 22, and 21. Between 2000 and 2014, the Social Security Administration listed the most common birthday as September 9, followed by September 19, 12, 17, and 10 -- and then a surprise: July 7.
July was a trend, and in 2014 and 2015 became the number-one U.S. birth month. Both years August was a close second, and then September. In 2013, the top three months were August, July, and October. From 2015 to 2017 the U.K.'s top three birth months were July, September, and then August. These statistics are the latest available from the United Nations, which compiles birth-month data for every member country.
The least common U.S. birthday month is February. Social Security figures showed that for the entire span of January 1 through May 22, the most popular birth date is February 14: Valentine's Day.
The Rarest Birthdays: Holidays, April 1, and Any 13th
Studies of the most common individual U.S. birth dates show they always cluster from midsummer to early autumn, with minor variations. One study by the now-defunct data site anybirthday.com found the most common birthday to be October 5, and the least common, May 22. The Harvard study gave December 25, Christmas, as the least common birthday, and January 1 and December 24 as the next least common. This reflected a trend during the study years, 1973-1999, to induce or delay childbirth for reasons of convenience.
Newer information from 2000-2014 shows that this pattern--many fewer births on holidays--is unchanged, with the top 10 least common U.S. birthdays all on major holidays or adjacent to them. December 25 is still the rarest birthday, with only about 6500 babies born that day. The next least common birthdays are January 1, December 24, July 4, January 2, December 26, November 27, November 23, November 25, and October 31.
The rarest U.S. birthdays outside of holidays are April 1 and April 13. An infographic analysis of the Social Security data shows that when U.S. parents can schedule a birth, they avoid the 13th of any month.
Birthdays and the Seasons
A study of births in Massachusetts covering 2005 to 2014 said the most common birthday in that state was, surprisingly, June 27, and the second-most-common September 19, then August 1, then July 7. Its much larger source study, originating at Princeton University, compiled 78 years of birth data including all 50 states and 118 mostly Northern Hemisphere countries. Midsummer to autumn was baby season, but results showed that the farther north the birthplace, the earlier in the summer the birthday; thus June 27 in Massachusetts. In equatorial countries birth numbers are higher in mid-spring and late autumn.
In England and Wales the least common birthdays are December 25, December 26 (Boxing Day), and January 1, and the most common, September 26. The prevalence of late summer-early autumn births is natural, according to some sources--tied into the harvest season, when food is especially plentiful.
But in New Zealand, government birth data gathered from 1980 to 2015 shows December 25 is also the least common birthday, and the most common is September 30. Christmas in New Zealand is in the summertime, so December, January and February don't have to be cold to inspire more baby-making.
Most Common and Least Common Zodiac Signs
From available evidence we can figure that the most common zodiac Sun signs for adults older than 30 would be Virgo, governing those born around August 20 until September 21, and Libra, for those born in the last week of September and first three weeks of October. A popular meme ranks Scorpio first, then Virgo, then Gemini, then Pisces, but it gives no source for that information.
The under-30 U.S. population does seem to include a larger percentage of Scorpios. During the last 30 years the February holidays Valentine's Day, Mardi Gras (80 percent of the time it's in February), and football's Super Bowl game day have all been inflated into major U.S. party days. As a result there seem to be more November births, peaking on November 1, 7, 19, 20 and 21.
For a true count, births from the 19th to 23rd of any month, on the Sun sign "cusps," must be counted year by year to pinpoint the placement of the Sun as it leaves one zodiac sign and travels into the next.
The month with the fewest birthdays is February because it's the shortest month, but the full-length month with the fewest birthdays is January, making Aquarius (late January to February 21) the least common zodiac sign. No sources agree on the second-least-common zodiac sign, although some suggest it is Gemini, and some Leo. If we were to count only the youngest Americans, the second-least-likely zodiac sign would be Capricorn.
But We Have the Same Birthday!
In a group of 70 random people the chance is 99.9 percent that two of them share a birthday. Among 200 people, the chance is 100 percent. Among only 23 people, the chance is an amazing 50 percent.
How this can be so when there are 365 different birthdays? (February 29 is excluded.) This is a brain teaser for probability theorists, who call this "The Birthday Paradox" or "The Birthday Problem."
Which Sign is Most Common?
Which Sign Do You Think is Most Common?
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
© 2011 Sylvia Sky
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Comments
AUTHORThat is true!
I was born may 18 and my zodiac sign is taurus
Honestly, I think Cancer's, Leo's and Gemini's are really common in the UK. There are so many people born on end May, whole of June & July. I have NEVER ever met a Sagittarius other than myself. I feel like the rarest month is December/January because Capricorns and Sagittarius are uncommon
This is such an interesting article and thank you for the time you took to research and write it. It seems to me that we all gravitate to the signs that we’re most compatible with, obviously, but in some cases it’s like the universe conspires to bring people into our lives who can help us evolve. I am absolutely inundated with Scorpio sun people in my family and amongst my in-laws. The love of my life for almost 19 years is also a Scorpio. So I would definitely pick that sign as the most prevalent. I’d totally agree with that Aquarius is likely the least common. I almost never bump into that sign.
It seems like a huge proportion of my clients are Scorpios. Both my Mom and I were born on July 4th
I'm born on april 1st so im an aries
I choose Scorpio has most common and it turns out to be correct. My birthday is October towards the end dough but I have ways come across people born into October including my dates.
From my experience the most common to least common signs i know are (1 being most common and 12 least, and im a scorpio):
1. Sagittarius
2. Libra
3. Leo
4. Virgo
5. Capricorn
6. Taurus
7. Gemini
8. Cancer
9. Aquarius
10. Aries
11. Pisces
12. Scorpio
My birthday is the 13th of June so I guess that's something special about me.. Well, I wasn't born on friday luckily. It was a monday. I am a gemini. I have known a lot of people with similar birthdays or on the 13th a month apart though.. a lot even shared the same day as me.
My sister's birthday is on December 25th, the least common birthday!
- AUTHOR
Hi, Jo, and happy birthday! For free you can input your birth information at the website alabe.com and you will receive a printable chart and a very basic but genuine reading of the features of your birth chart. If you want to learn more about the present or future, consult a professional astrologer.
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I was born September 16, 1949 at 11:43 Am. How can I get an accurate reading? Where do I go to find it? Thank you Jo Jo Davidson
The most common zodiac signs are Libra and Scorpio, most people acoount for sag, cap, aqu, and pisceans. Libra is the most common zodiac sign found among social crowds and bystander people, you can walk up to most strangers and ask them their birthdate, and you will get from 4 of 5 people who say scorpio or a malevolent left sided sign, a Libran birthday, to get an Aries would have to be a little more intelligently or ingenuatively pinpointed, they are a more randomized social zodiac sign among births.
The rarest zodiac signs confirmed are Gemini and Leo.
Leos are found very scarcely among databases of people revolving around subjects or personell, and they all sway in secondary thinking, antiheroism, arrogance, popularity, or personal safety are some examples, studies by astrology analysts, scientists, have shown Gemini to be the other rare sign, they are usually scarce among extremely popular celebrities of mainstream entertainment and music arts.
- AUTHOR
The Sun enters each sign at a slightly different time each year. These are the dates the Sun entered (or will enter) Libra:
2009: Sept. 22
2010: Sept. 24
2011: Sept. 23
2012: Sept. 22
2013: Sept. 22
I know 6 people born on March 8th and in the month of March as a whole. That's so weird! Also Libra's astrological sign doesn't start until the 23rd of September to October 22nd.https://exemplore.com/astrology/The-Most-Common-an...
For me, the most common to least common ranking for the signs goes like this (1 being most common, 12 least common):
1. Cancer
2. Gemini
3. Leo
4. Aquarius
5. Aries
6. Scorpio
7. Capricorn
8. Virgo
9. Taurus
10. Libra
11. Pisces
12. Sagittarius
(Taurus and Libra IMO are pretty tied though -- I don't see very many of either.)
Also, the least common birthday is definitely February 29th... Don't even need to question it.
Sept 26- so that makes me libra. Voted up interesting hub.
Funny pretty much all of my family is Aquarius, while me and my cousin are both considered outsiders because we are Libras. Interesting hub to read!
i know lots of people born in february and 2 people born on 22 may. although almost everyone in my life is a scorpio or libra. i know of 5 people with my birthday july 5 and 13 people around my birthday!
My question has always been "WHY are there more/less birthdays at one time of a year than another?" My mom is an obstetrician so I definitely notice when some months are busier for her in the delivery room than others! All I can think of for the September business (ironically, my dad's birthday is in August and my mom's is in September) is that couples may be 'busy' around the Christmas/New Year holidays. Wonder why February is infrequent though!
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My ascendant is in Scorpio too. My moon is in Libra. =]
Sylvia, do you know where can i read/learn about:
"How does our Sun/Moon/Rising combination affect us?"
Thanks.
- AUTHOR
My ascendant is Scorpio. My moon is Scorpio also.
Sylvia,
I've never met another January 23 in my life.
And hey, you're the 1st one!! ='3
May i ask wads your ascendant sign?
@Sylvia;
Mine Is January 22nd.So close DL
- AUTHOR
That is interesting; I have never met another January 23 either!
I agree that Feb 7th (& all Aquarian birthdays) are the least common..I have never met anyone born on my birthday (7th Feb). Alas, if only there WERE more Aquarians in the world - it might be a better place because we care so much for the good of humanity.. :D
That sounds a bit big-headed but not meant to be..
WOW! MY BIRTHDAY IS JULY 9, 2002. BUT I CANT BEILEVE OCTOBER AND JULY ARE IN NECK-NECK
I though saggitarius was the least common sign.
For birthday.. I'd have to agree around feb.
then again i bet all the signs and birthdays are evene'd out.
most common sign to me, is Capricorn.
i Think feb 7 least common brithday date.......
Who CARES what your sun or star sign is?
Wow, my birthday is on May 22nd, and I know someone who was born on the same day in the same hospital! I had no idea it was one of the least common birthdays, I would have never guessed!
- AUTHOR
I agree Pisces gets the short end of the stick, the most neglected and poorly understood of all Sun signs. Probably because it is the most complex.
I've been looking through a few articles on 'least common' and 'most common' astrological signs...and not ONE mentions Pisces.
'Most ignored astrological sign'? Sniffle. End of February, for me.
Hi Sylvia--Never have I paid attention to who has the most common birthdays all throughout the year, but when I read your article, then- oh! It must be the season why births happen around September...and to think that the least date of birthday celebrants is May 22nd is somewhat an irony on my end...I am a Gemini, and my fellow Geminians in my work-group were born on 5/22nd...and they know each other- though they were born 16 years apart, and from 2 continents. Very informative!
Hi Sylvia,
I've come back to this hub again! My son has attended a martial arts school for 13 years. I can't tell the percentage, but out of the main 25 higher ranks, at least 12 of them are Scorpios! He is included, having a Scorpio sun and moon. Thankfully he has Virgo rising, and a stellium in Sag, so he's downright sunny for a double Scorp! Take care, Jean
Wow September 16th is the most common birthday. That's my birthday
- AUTHOR
Thank you for the compliment! Birth times are hard to get. If only people knew how astrologers need those! People aren't looking at the clock while a baby is being born. Mothers' memories aren't always reliable. There is daylight savings time which can differ from state to state and, for WWII-era births, War Time to contend with and correct for. And I am not convinced that astrological "rectification" of birth times gives accurate results.
Hi Sylvia,
I have gone nuts trying to get birth certificates for people in my parent's generation. It used to be easier before 9/11, at least in NJ. All I had to do was write to the Clerk of Whatever Township the hospital was in. It's so frustrating. I have good guesses about some of their ascendants, but verification would be nice. My Mom was born on July 4th, and so was I. She says her Dad always spoke of the fireworks going off. But when I got her Cert, she was born around dawn that morn, an odd time for fireworks. Interesting B-day info though, I thought people were probably mostly born earlier in the summer! Nice hub!
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