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Leo Zodiac Sign Personality Traits & Characteristics

Born to lead, ambitious, and (sometimes overly) confident.

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Unless you’ve been hiding in a bunker for the last few years, chances are you’ve noticed that astrology has skyrocketed in popularity. It seems like everyone is talking about whether Jupiter is retrograde or their daily horoscope. Humans have looked to the stars for guidance since the dawn of time. Still, for many people, the realm of zodiac signs is completely new. If, according to your birth chart, you’re a Leo — what exactly does that mean? Am you a “true Lion,” or is this celestial input just a bunch of hocus pocus? Let’s find out about this zodiac sign together. 

Leo 101: The Basics

In astrology, sun-ruled Leo is the fifth sign of the zodiac and governs the period from July 23 to August 22. According to Greek mythology, its representation as a mighty Lion is linked with the Nemean Lion, which was slain by Hercules. 

Here are some other quick facts about Leo:

Dates: July 23 — August 22

Element: Fire

Symbol: The Lion

Ruling Planet: Sun

Modality: Fixed Sign

Famous Personalities: Coco Chanel, Sandra Bullock, Meghan Markle, Jennifer Lopez, Madonna

Leos are ruled by the sun, which perfectly represents their innate belief that they’re the center of the universe. While this may sound a bit annoying to some, the determined Lion works hard to be number one, so you’ll be happy to let them take the spotlight. This sign of the zodiac is warm, welcoming, protective, charming, loyal, and generally great company. 

Leo Personality Traits

Roll out the red carpet because the all-mighty Lion has arrived! Here are some Leo characteristics that are common in all celestial Lions:

Natural Leader

Arguably the strongest trait that attracts people to Leos is that they are natural-born leaders. They always crave to be on the tippy-top, are hungry for the spotlight, and can guide others with their motivational and optimistic wisdom. The bold fire sign is born with a rich aura and unwavering confidence, which can easily draw in a crowd.  

Ambitious

Leo zodiac signs are ambitious, and their strength gives them the power to accomplish their goals and turn dreams into reality. While outsiders may think the sun-ruled Lion is always trying to compete, the truth is that Leo suns just love themselves enough to know that they deserve the best (and the limelight). They never want to live in a shadow and will make sure they’re the center of attention — especially during Leo season.

Stubborn

You’ll rarely find a brazen Lion who accepts someone else’s opinion or point of view. This astrological sign tends to take an authoritative stance, become unbelievably headstrong, and pay no attention to anyone else’s perspective. They stick to what they think and what they want, often ignoring what others have to say. Even in the face of a major setback, Leos only listen to their own advice. 

Loyal

The trust-worthy Lion is basically as loyal as they come. Once committed, these proud cats will stick by your side no matter what. In short, this fire sign makes for an extremely encouraging and supportive companion.

Wise

As fire signs, Leos have an innate sense of what’s right and wrong — and they stay true to it. The sage Lion learns from the past and is not one to be easily fooled. In other words, it’s pretty difficult to pull one over on a Leo. This zodiac sign will meticulously weigh out all the pros and cons before giving a balanced opinion on all matters. 

Confident

Leos are one of the most confident signs in the bunch. This big cat energy thrives on self-confidence and never shies away from expressing their true selves. They aren’t afraid to speak their mind and don’t like coming across as vulnerable to others. The sun-ruled fire sign is the ultimate cheerleader for their friends and carries a sense of encouragement that can motivate just about anyone.

Protective

These warm-hearted cats are also extremely protective. They’re vigilant when it comes to their loved ones and will jump at any chance to defend them. After all, they are ruled by the sun, and in the same way, they find purpose in protecting the lives of others. Like a lioness protecting her cubs, Leos are always protective of what’s theirs, but sometimes their defensiveness comes off as self-serving.

Brave

Naturally born with lionhearts, Leos are some of the bravest people around. They are unafraid of adversity in their everyday lives and are always ready to embark on an adventure into the unknown. Their prowess combined with a sympathetic attitude — thanks to their fifth house ruler of love and pleasure — makes for the perfect combination of courage and compassion. 

Jealous

As we know by now, Lions love being at the top. They don’t feel threatened by other people’s success and are pretty secure with their lives. Still, when it comes to their loved ones — particularly their significant other — this fire sign can spiral into total jealousy due to their possessive, self-centered, and territorial traits.  

Leo Compatibility

Now that we’ve covered some of the qualities that are common in Leos, let’s chat a bit about compatibility. While any sign of the zodiac can be an ideal match for the cosmic Lion, certain pairings may be better than others. With this in mind, here are some of the zodiac signs that are thought to be most compatible with Leo:

Aries

These two fire signs are a fun-loving BFF duo that makes for some awesome gossip, debates, and adventures. Thanks to their never-ending stream of energy, the Lion and Ram drive each other to be the best they can be. In terms of a romantic relationship, Leo and Aries are a match made in heaven. However, to make things work, this pair will need to learn how to meet each other halfway, push their egos to the side, and let their passionate energy lead to positive outcomes rather than heated arguments. 

Libra

Leos need unconditional love and comfort — which is exactly what Venus-ruled Libra brings to the table. These two signs are also super sociable, incredibly romantic, and driven by passion. Together, they are an unstoppable power couple with a relationship built on honesty, admiration, and appreciation. What’s more, there’s a rich foundational friendship, too. Strengthened by their commonalities and heightened by their variances in personality, a Leo-Libra pairing is one that can last a lifetime.      

Gemini

Leos love this celestial twin. Both zodiac signs are extremely pleasant, warm, and welcoming, which can cause each to quickly capture the heart of the other. Their differences are complementary: Confident Leos help indecisive Geminis, and intelligent Geminis can steady naive Leos. In addition, Mercury-ruled Gemini is infamous for getting bored quickly, but since Sun-ruled Leo thrives on adventure, spontaneity, and fun, their air sign partner will be entertained for a long time. 

Sagittarius

Another excellent match, Leo-Sagittarius relationships are exciting, strong, and passionate — they’re both fire signs, after all. Ruled by the sun, Leo zodiac signs are assertive, adventurous, and always up for a good challenge. On the other hand, the celestial Archer is vivacious, courageous, and full of life. Together, these fiery zodiacs can find eternal bliss. However, as expected with two fire signs, tempers can flare. When they do, explosive fights follow suit. As long as this spicy pairing can get ahold of their intense energy when things go south, it’s a perfect match. 

The Final Word

Born to lead, ambitious, overly confident, and jealous? Yeah, that definitely sounds like Leo. If your qualities don’t match up to the common traits of a Leo horoscope sign, chances are good that there isn’t much fire in the rest of your chart. Remember, while your sun sign (a.k.a. “star sign”) is supposed to be your soul’s essence, there are other planets in the birth chart that add nuance to your personality. 

You might handle your anger differently from your sun sign stereotype due to a strong Mars placement, or perhaps you communicate in a certain way because of your Mercury sign. At the end of the day, the best way to truly understand what makes you tick is to explore all the signs that make up your birth chart. As a Leo woman, you certainly have fire in your veins — but it’s possible you’ve got some earth, water, and air thrown into the mix, too.

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