The Surprising Influence Birth Order Has on Your Zodiac Sign
Genetics, family dynamics, temperament — there’s so much that goes into making you the person you are, and much of it is happenstance. But understanding what factors are at play can get you on your way to living your best life. Both your zodiac sign and birth order have an affect on your personality, but what if the effects seem to counteract? Because your sign underplays a major part in your personality, it can also affect what traits resulting from your birth order are amplified over others. We’ve broken down how each horoscope sign deals with being the eldest, youngest and everything in between.
According to psychologist Dr. Kevin Leman, cauthor of The Birth Order Book: Why You Are The Way You Are, your birth order shapes your personality. Furthermore, each spot in the birth order has its own unique challenges, according to child and family therapist Mari Wallace.
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Firstborn
Typically, the firstborn is a natural leader, and as firstborn, you are reliable, conscientious, and structured. Your parents gave you a ton of rules that you not only followed but instilled in your younger siblings, leaving you with some control issues. You are more cautious than your siblings, and also more success-driven. You want to be the best at everything. After all, you were born in first place after all!
Over-achiever, competitive, and substitute parent for your younger siblings. You tend to be confident in yourself.
Cautious, dependable, very determined to reach your goal, and a textbook example of a firstborn. You will do anything for your loved ones.
Charming leader, able to talk your way out of anything, can get very nervous when things don’t go right, and a jack of all trades.
Protective and supportive. You will do anything for your loved ones. Cautious in new situations, you’re usually watching out for your siblings. You get the “feels” a lot.
You to be in charge and to take care of others but sometimes feel bossy. Warmhearted and caring to the core.
A chronic worrier, you look before you leap and plan everything in advance. Very intelligent. As a child, you acted as a “mini-adult” to your siblings. People can rely on you.
Idealistic and charming, you want to help everyone you meet. You are a major flirt and have big dreams of travel and adventure but are always changing your mind.
Incredibly driven and determined to succeed at whatever cost. You want to be the best at everything and you have a powerful vibe that draws people in. The term “work hard, play hard” fits you like a glove.
Smart and well read. You are straightforward with others, which can lead to hurt feelings. Resentful of rules, preferring to follow your own paths.
You are both practical and ambitious. You are a very careful and hesitant person, but that doesn’t dampen your humor.
You are an independent person who is loyal and open with everyone. You have a humanitarian streak in you and want to help others whenever you can. You can be a bit contrary with your need to be in charge and your need to go with the flow.
The compassionate personality, you are sensitive to other people’s emotions, offering empathy unselfishly. While you are kind and intuitive to others’ needs, you keep things close to the vest when others try to get close to you.
Stuck in the Middle
Middle children tend to try to stand out from the crowd because, as the middle child, you are often looked over in favor of your oldest or younger siblings. Being stuck in the middle has made you tough and able to stick up for yourself, but also extremely social (you were always surrounded by people). You are a people-pleaser with a somewhat rebellious streak. You have a lot of friendships that you love and tend to be the peacemaker in real life since you were the bridge between your eldest and younger siblings.
Rebellious, and always wanting to stand out from the crowd. Wanting to be the star, you don’t back down or get pushed around.
The peacemaker, a listening ear for anyone who needs to vent, easily jealous, and you tend to whole grudges.
You have a large circle of friends, and you’re always in everyone’s business. Great social and communication skills.
Moody, sensitive to others’ feelings, loving and understanding. You always have a close-knit friend group.
Rebellious nature, often fighting for attention. Very strong personality and extroverted. You hate being bossed around by anyone, so you follow your own rules.
You are painfully shy and try to stay out of the way. You want to please everyone and become overly critical of yourself when that does not happen. You watch and analyze everyone around you.
Classic Libra. Peacemaker, diplomatic, and your social calendar is always full. It’s very hard for you to decide because you can see so many possibilities.
The black sheep of the family. You are passionate and will do whatever it takes to get what you want. Prone to jealousy and are stubborn to the bitter end.
A restless soul, you never want to stay in one place. You have a large circle of people you know, but only a few close friends. You use humor as both a way to make yourself stand out, and to cope with life.
As the middle child, you learned the fine art of patience. You act shy and reserved and hold grudges easily.
You are outgoing and have no trouble making friends. You stand out from the crowd by always reinventing yourself and showing off your uniqueness, even if that makes you a little unpredictable.
You are a people pleaser who just wants everyone to be happy. You are sensitive to teasing but also kind to others who are suffering. You seem to know when something is wrong and how you can make it right.
The Baby
The baby is the family’s free spirit. As the baby of the family, there was always someone watching over you, making you more fun loving but less responsible. You always seem to get your way. Mostly, you’re outgoing and uncomplicated, unless you are the youngest in a large family. Then you might have more attention-seeking traits. When your siblings are freaking out, you know things will work themselves out.
Fun loving, carefree, adventurous, and a little self-centered.
Loving and outgoing, persistent in getting what you want, and uncomplicated.
Young at heart, outgoing, and lively. You always want to be the center of attention, and are a little flighty at times.
Free spirit, kind to others. Shy, but not afraid to ask for help. You develop deep and intimate relationships.
Fun-loving, outgoing, and craves being the center of attention. You either resent being the youngest because everyone bosses you around or love it because you will always be spoiled. Your motto is “everything will work out.”
Quiet and reserved around new people. You try to live simplistically and don’t welcome drama by any means.
Dreamy, easygoing and romantic. Because you are the youngest, you were easily tricked by your older siblings, making it hard for you to trust others.
Emotional and exciting, you live for adventure and can be a little reckless. You love to have a good time and live to be the center of attention, and often are because your magnetic energy excites all who come near you.
Blindly optimistic that everything will work. Can be careless. Happy-go-lucky and with an easy sense of humor, you value freedom above all else.
You have a great sense of humor and ambitious in getting what you want though you have a hard time staying disciplined.
Fun-loving and uncomplicated, every day is an adventure for you. You tend to wing things and seek to stand out. You are deeply loyal and creative.
Taken care of by your parents and siblings, you have a childlike quality about you. While that makes you imaginative and kind, it also makes you unworldly and easily led.
The One and Only
As the only child and sole source of your parent’s attention, you are mature beyond your years because you spend your childhood around adults. Like a firstborn, you are conscientious, diligent, and a natural leader. You are also shyer around people your own age and have a perfectionist streak in you.
Leader, always needing to be in charge, and confident in your ability to succeed.
Mature beyond your years, patient, and diligent. You have a very hard time sharing things with others.
Very intelligent and well spoken. Can easily talk to people of all ages, but the nervous type.
With a very active imagination, you are emotionally mature but hesitant about taking risks. Highly intuitive to what’s going on around you.
A natural leader with tons of creative talent. You are very generous and think of others before you think of your own needs. Loyal to a fault.
You are an old soul with a type A personality. A perfectionist who is meticulous, diligent, and wise beyond your years. You are also painfully shy in new situations.
Idealistic, easygoing, and can be gullible. You see all sides of a problem by being mature and objective.
Very secretive and stubborn. You can become very passionate about things that matter to you. You want everything to be perfect. Highly intelligent and cunning.
Intellectual and philosophical, you speak with the wisdom beyond your years with little tact. You are a straight shooter with a clever sense of humor.
Ambitious and disciplined, you are a classic Capricorn. You have the maturity to not rush into things, willing to wait to get the things you desire. An adult sense of humor.
You are an original. You are smart, creative, and honest to a fault. You may come across as detached from reality, but you truly care about the people in your life. If you were a fictional character, you would be Luna Lovegood.
Idealistic creative type, you tend to be shy and keep to yourself. You’re sensitive and can be hurt easily.
And remember — astrology and birth order are only a few pieces of the puzzle! Your upbringing, environment, and even your siblings’ and parents’ zodiac signs can play a big role in what makes you… you!
Ellen Ricks is a writer and fashion blogger who loves leopard print. Follow her on Instagram.
Photo: Bruno Nascimiento via Unsplash
