December birthday facts and statistics turn out to be far more surprising than the holiday rush lets on. Yes, twelfth-month babies share their big day with the busiest season of the year, but the science of being winter-born runs deeper than combined gifts and snow.
Below you will find 20 facts backed by real research, from the rarest birth dates on the calendar to the quiet longevity edge December babies seem to carry. Zodiac signs, blue birthstones, and a few famous December twins round out the list.
Use them to celebrate your favorite December-born friend, or to win the next trivia night.
4 Key Facts About People Born in December
These four December birthday month facts top the list and are the perfect way to start your birthday research.
- Sleep Habits: A National Library of Medicine study determined people born in fall and winter tend to go to bed earlier than those born in summer.
- Longevity: More validated semi-supercentenarians (people who reach age 105 or older) were born in December than any other month, giving them a survival edge of roughly 16 percent above average.
- Floral Symbols: The two birth flowers for December are Holly and Narcissus. Holly is a traditional symbol of Christmas, while Narcissus represents rebirth.
- School Age: When December babies enter school, they are often nearly a year younger than the rest of their classmates due to cutoff dates.
20 December Birthday Facts and Statistics
These unique facts highlight how special a December birthday is, even when it competes with a month full of popular holidays.
1. The Youngest in Class
Children born in December are often the youngest students in their grade level. A child born in January has nearly 20 percent more life experience than a classmate born 11 months later in December. Many parents struggle to decide whether to let their December-born kids join school a year late, but the decision is ultimately a personal one (1).
2. Rare Birthdays
While December is a fairly common birth month overall, it is genuinely rare to be born on Christmas Day itself. December 24 and December 25 are the two rarest days to be born in the United States, sitting at the very bottom of the list (2). Only about 6,574 babies arrive on December 25 in a typical year, far fewer than an average day, so these birthdays often end up sharing wrapping paper with Christmas gifts.
3. Healthier Hearts
According to data from a Columbia University study, those with December birthdays seem to have better overall health. Researchers analyzed over 1.5 million people and revealed an interesting statistic. December-born people were least likely to be at risk for major diseases, including neurological and cardiovascular ailments (3).
4. Even Tempered
While predicting every child’s personality is impossible, a baby born in December is statistically less likely to experience irritability. According to The Atlantic, babies born in warmer months had a “sunnier” outlook, but the winter-born were less prone to irritable moods. They tend to be steady and calm compared to summer babies (4).
5. Early Risers
If you are lucky enough to have a baby born in December, they may grow up to be the ultimate morning person. Research by the National Library of Medicine involving college students indicated that people born in fall and winter prefer falling asleep earlier than their spring and summer counterparts (5).
6. Sagittarius Charm
Sagittarius-born people are said to be some of the most charming members of the Zodiac. They are known for being funny, philosophical, and knowledgeable about many topics at the same time. They value freedom and honesty above almost anything else (6).
7. Dental Destiny
A United Kingdom study by the Office of National Statistics found some interesting trivia about December birthdays. They discovered that more dentists were born in December than in any other birth month. Your December baby can do anything, but they may naturally be inclined to provide winning smiles (7).
8. The 100 Club
December babies may be built for the long haul. In an age-verified study of people who reached 105 or older, known as semi-supercentenarians, more were born in December than any other month, and the December-born showed about a 16 percent higher chance of getting there than average. Being born at the start of winter may quietly set them up for a long, fruitful life.
9. Natural Athletes
People born in December often possess natural athletic ability. In a study by the International Journal of Sports Medicine, kids born in colder months fared better in athletics. While November and October scored the highest, December kids also scored high on strength, stamina, and power (8).
10. Holiday Overload
Most people know about Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa taking place in December. However, many other random holidays occur during this month as well. It is home to National Fruitcake Month, Write-a-Friend Month, and Bingo Month. The second week in December is also Human Rights Week (9).
11. A-List Celebrities
Many massive stars celebrate a December birthday, including global icon Taylor Swift on December 13 and Brad Pitt on December 18. Other famous personalities include Walt Disney on December 5 and Ludwig Van Beethoven on December 16 (10). It is a month filled with creative talent.
12. Blue Birthstones
All three December birthstones lean toward a shade of blue. The most recognized Sagittarius birthstone is turquoise, named for the “Turkish stone” that first reached Europe through Turkey (11). The other two are newer additions: blue zircon joined the list in 1952 and tanzanite in 2002. Tanzanite is a purplish blue and doubles as the traditional gemstone for a 24th anniversary (12). It is also mined in only one place on Earth, the hills of northern Tanzania, which makes it far rarer than diamond.
13. Festive Flowers
The two birth flowers for December are holly and narcissus. Holly is a traditional symbol of Christmas, and ancient Romans used to give holly for Saturnalia, the winter solstice festival. Narcissus includes flowers like daffodils and paperwhites. Greek mythology tells of Narcissus, who fell in love with his reflection in the water, and these flowers were said to grow in that very spot.
14. The Archer
Those born by December 21 fall under the Sagittarius zodiac sign. Their birth symbols include the archer, his arrow, and the planet Jupiter. In astrology, Sagittarians are known for their passion and courage. However, they can sometimes be impulsive or overly reactive when bored (13).
15. Lefty Tendencies
Baby boys born in December are more likely to be left-handed, according to the University of Vienna. The study showed that males born between October and February fell into this category often. Interestingly, the season of birth did not seem to affect female handedness (14).
16. Born to Travel
Sagittarians born in December are natural lovers of travel. They have mutable fire signs, which means they see themselves as explorers. Traveling to unknown lands, discovering new cultures, and having a fun adventure is their favorite way of understanding the world (15).
17. The Sea-Goat
If your favorite December-born person arrives after December 22, they are a Capricorn. Capricorns are represented by the Sea-Goat, a creature with a goat’s body and a fish tail. They are determined types who typically stay on whatever path they are walking in life. They value structure and discipline (16).
18. Mood Risks
Those born in December may have a slightly higher risk of certain mood disorders. Some reports show that winter-born babies with a pre-existing genetic makeup may develop bipolar disorder due to “viral interactions” common in winter. However, the good news is that winter babies are statistically less likely to experience schizophrenia (source).
19. Food Sensitivities
Research revealed that babies born in winter months, like December, are more likely to experience food allergies (17). They may also be more likely to have asthma, perhaps because of indoor air quality during fall and winter months.
20. Romantic Compatibility
A Sagittarius born in December will most likely gravitate toward other fire signs, like Aries and Leo. Air signs are also somewhat compatible. A December Capricorn is usually drawn to Earth signs, like Virgo and Taurus. They appreciate partners who are grounded and practical.
How Rare are December Birthdays?
December falls sixth in the list of 12 months regarding birth popularity, fitting neatly in the middle. However, the specific dates of December 24 and December 25 are the two rarest dates of the year to be born. This is likely due to scheduled C-sections and inductions being planned away from the holiday (18).
FAQs
What Is the True Meaning of December?
Are December-Born People Successful?
December-born people rank near the bottom for early-life success, listed as the second-least successful birth month just above November, while October is considered the most successful (20). The trade-off is a strong one, since December babies tend to live the longest, hold some of the rarest birthdays, and are often the youngest yet sharpest students in their class.
Are December Babies Sensitive?
It depends on which of December’s two signs a baby falls under. Those born through December 21 are Sagittarius, known more for humor and a love of travel than for sensitivity, while those born from December 22 are Capricorn, sensitive souls who pair that trait with ambition and a strong sense of responsibility (21).
Are December Babies Loyal?
Yes, loyalty is one of the traits most tied to December babies. Sagittarius friends come across as authentic and independent, and once you earn their sometimes hard-won loyalty, it tends to last a long time (22). Capricorns are just as committed, sticking with the people they care about through the good times and the bad (23).
What Is the Most Common Birthday in December?
The most common December birthdays land in the middle of the month, well before the holidays, and see noticeably more births than the end of the month. The rarest sit at the opposite extreme, on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, when scheduled inductions and C-sections are steered away from the holidays.
