Born in January: birthstone, flower, zodiac and meaning
Everything tied to a January birthday: its birthstone and flower, the zodiac signs that share it, where the name comes from, and a few calendar quirks.
- Birthstone
- Garnet deep red; symbolises protection, constancy.
- Birth flower
- Carnation Also snowdrop. Meaning: love, fascination.
- Zodiac signs
- ♑︎ Capricorn / ♒︎ Aquarius Capricorn until the 19th, then Aquarius.
- Half birthday month
- July Same date, six months on.
Where the name January comes from
Named after Janus, the two-faced Roman god of doorways and beginnings, who looks back at the old year and forward to the new.
A January calendar quirk
January was added to the Roman calendar around 700 BC by King Numa; the Romans made it the start of the civil year in 153 BC.
January personality, according to tradition
Astrology splits January between two signs: early-month birthdays belong to Capricorn (ambitious, dry-humoured, plays the long game), later ones to Aquarius (independent, inventive, a little aloof). Birth-month personality lists online mostly repackage these two signs. For a reading of your own date, try what your birthday says about you.
Check a January birthday
Questions people ask
What is the birthstone for January?
The modern January birthstone is Garnet. It is said to symbolise protection, constancy.
What is the January birth flower?
The January birth flower is the carnation, with the snowdrop as a second flower, traditionally meaning love, fascination.
What zodiac signs are in January?
January birthdays fall under Capricorn or Aquarius, depending on the date.