What the Year of the Dragon Means for Your Baby's Personality

Imagining your baby’s personality can be one of the most exciting things about expecting. While it’s impossible to know for sure until they arrive, one of the places to look for clues is the Chinese zodiac. If your due date is coming up after Lunar New Year on Feb. 10 this year, get ready to welcome a little Dragon!

In Chinese astrology, each year in the lunar calendar is named after an animal: the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Boar. This cycle repeats itself every 12 years, so your zodiac sign is determined by the year you were born. Each of these signs is also associated with one of five elements—Gold (Metal), Wood, Water, Fire or Earth—and 2024 is the year of the Wood Dragon. “The presence of the wood element makes this Dragon more intuitive and community-minded than other Dragons,” Laura Lau, Chinese astrology expert and author of The Handbook of Chinese Horoscopes, explains. Read on for more specifics about what your baby’s personality may be like based on their birth year.

A Born Leader

In Chinese culture, the Dragon is a mythical and extraordinary creature, representing enviable qualities such as talent, power, courage and luck. While this may sound like your baby is destined for a life of easy successes, there are many other layers to these traits you should come to expect as well. “The Dragon is well-known for its bold personality and strong reputation for leadership,“ Lau explains. “But this is a sign that [they] will also know how to build bridges with a diverse group of people, rather than overpower through sheer force. Still fierce and competitive, this Dragon’s energy is the stuff of legend.”

Individualistic

The first few months of your baby’s life don’t necessarily clue you in to their personality, but there are a few key characteristics for the Dragon that you should keep an eye out for as they grow. “Dragon kids are famous for their energy and strength,” Lau says. “They’re unafraid to be individuals!” Whether that means wearing mismatched outfits with confidence or wanting to be independent from the get-go, your Dragon will grow up being fiercely proud to be exactly who they are.

Driven to Succeed

In addition to owning their individuality, your child may also look for specific things in life that drive and fulfill them. “Having a purpose or special mission in life is essential to Dragons,” says Lau. “They love to help others or reach for an ambitious goal.” This could take the form of things like volunteer work or landing a top job when they’re older, but look for more subtle signs when they’re little, like lending a helping hand on the playground or being encouraging to their siblings when trying something new.

2025 Babies and Beyond

Year of the Dragon will last until January 28, 2025. If you’re hoping to welcome a baby with a due date after that in 2025, your baby’s sign will be the Snake. Like the fascinating animal itself, babies with this sign will have very admirable qualities. “Some Snakes may come off as detached or lost in their own world, but this is how they operate,” Lau explains. “Highly intuitive, they like to figure things out on their own. They possess strong leadership skills and attention to detail.”

If your kid is already here—or you want to see your own Lunar New Year sign, check out Lau’s breakdown of the dominant personality traits for the other 10 Chinese zodiac signs below. As Lau mentioned, each year is also differentiated by the five elements, and breaks down as: Wood (years ending in 4 and 5), Metal (years ending in 0 and 1), Water (years ending in 2 and 3), Fire (years ending in 6 and 7), and Earth (years ending in 8 and 9).

(Note: Lunar New Year begins in January or February of the Gregorian calendar, so if you have a January or February birthday, you may need to check and see when the Lunar New Year started in the year of your birth).

Rat (Years: 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020)

The Rat is known for charm and creativity. Straightforward and very inquisitive, this child is a fierce competitor. Rats will be generous only to those they’re especially close to.

Ox (Years: 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021)

The Ox symbolizes good fortune through hard work and pure grit. Patient and diligent, the Ox enjoys their rituals and loves routine. While Oxen are good listeners, it’s difficult to change their minds.

Tiger (1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022)

Rebellious, colorful and unpredictable, the Tiger commands attention. This fearless fighter is the sign of a defender. The Tiger is a bundle of energy and will need to get outside and run it out daily!

Rabbit (1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023)

The Rabbit child is known for learning the rules of the game early. They’ll learn how to get along with children and teachers easily. Observant and approachable, they’ll have a particular affinity for the arts.

Horse (Years: 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026)

People born in the Horse’s year are full of optimism and high energy, although their moods may cause them to have a hot temper. Intuitive and talkative, they can engage even the shyest people to open up about their lives. They love to explore and have a strong appetite for trying new things.

Sheep (Years: 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027)

Sheep are known for their big hearts and commitment to helping others. Often shy, they’re commonly drawn to the arts to express themselves. Kind and compassionate, they have an inner determination that seems at odds with their gentle personality.

Monkey (Years: 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028)

The Monkey is the sign of the inventor—and they love a good challenge. The Monkey can solve puzzles with ease and loves to create new things. A person born under this year is naturally ambitious and will be very self-motivated.

Rooster (Years: 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029)

Fast learners and self-motivated, these children will be their own toughest critics. Roosters are outstanding performers, and they shine when they’re the center of attention. Naturally charismatic, the Rooster will be a gifted storyteller.

Dog (Years: 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030)

Friendly and independent, children born in the year of the Dog find it easy to make friends. They have a deep sense of responsibility and fairness, making them a fiercely loyal sibling and friend. The Dog sign naturally knows how to connect people and how to work together across many personalities.

Boar (Years: 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031)

The Boar sign symbolizes honesty, simplicity and courage. Boars are known for a life of extremes. Love, friendship, generosity, fashion—the Boar never does anything halfway! With such a big personality and passion for expression, the Boar never has a shortage of friends or invitations. This sign’s biggest challenge is saying “no.”