Your Day of Birth
Phase 4 of 8 · Refinement

Waxing gibbous moon

More than half lit and swelling toward full. Gibbous comes from a Latin word for "humped."

When to look
Rises in the afternoon and is high in the sky through the evening, setting before dawn.
How often
For about six or seven nights in a row every month, between the first quarter and the full moon.

What the waxing gibbous means

RefiningPatiencePreparationAnticipation

Almost full, not quite there: the waxing gibbous is the time to fine-tune, adjust and prepare. Lore says it rewards patience, effort and attention to detail as things build toward their peak.

Born under a waxing gibbous

Those born under a waxing gibbous moon are said to be perfectionists and seekers. They ask why, want to improve everything they touch and are happiest working toward something meaningful.

Gifts

  • Thoughtful
  • Detail-minded
  • Devoted
  • Always learning

Watch out for

  • Perfectionist
  • Overthinks
  • Rarely satisfied

Moon lore

  • Farmers' almanacs called the days before full the best time to graft trees and plant flowering crops.
  • Before streetlights, people planned evening gatherings near the full moon so they could travel home by its light. England's famous Lunar Society met on the Monday nearest the full moon for exactly that reason.

Next waxing gibbous dates

Oct 19 – Oct 25, 2026Waxing gibbous nights
Nov 18 – Nov 23, 2026Waxing gibbous nights
Dec 18 – Dec 22, 2026Waxing gibbous nights
Jan 16 – Jan 21, 2027Waxing gibbous nights
Feb 15 – Feb 19, 2027Waxing gibbous nights
Mar 16 – Mar 21, 2027Waxing gibbous nights

US Eastern time. See this year’s full moons.

Babies born under a waxing gibbous

US births per day
11,372
2000 to 2014 average
Days in the sample
1,177
of 5,479
Vs. expected
+0.1%
after weekdays and holidays

In real numbers, the moon makes no meaningful difference to when babies arrive. See every phase compared. Source: SSA daily birth counts via FiveThirtyEight.

Famous people born under a waxing gibbous

Alan TuringEnglish computer scientistJune 23, 1912John F. KennedyPresident of the United States from 1961 to 1963May 29, 1917Nelson MandelaPresident of South Africa and anti-apartheid activistJuly 18, 1918George H. W. Bush41st President of the United StatesJune 12, 1924Elizabeth IIQueen of the United Kingdom from 1952 to 2022April 21, 1926Neil ArmstrongAmerican astronaut and lunar explorerAugust 5, 1930John LennonBritish musicianOctober 9, 1940Aretha FranklinAmerican singer, songwriter, and pianistMarch 25, 1942Barbra StreisandAmerican singer and actressApril 24, 1942Billy JoelAmerican singer, songwriter, and pianistMay 9, 1949EminemAmerican rapper, record producer and actorOctober 17, 1972ShakiraColombian singer-songwriterFebruary 2, 1977

The moon on your birthday

Uses the US Eastern calendar date. We don’t save your birthdate or link it to you.

The other phases

New moonA fresh startWaxing crescentHope and growthFirst quarterAction and decisionWaxing gibbousRefinementFull moonPeak and illuminationWaning gibbousGratitude and sharingLast quarterReleaseWaning crescentRest and renewal

Phase dates use exact times from NASA (Fred Espenak) in US Eastern time; the day a new, quarter or full moon happens is named for that phase. "Born under" traits and lore come from tradition and astrology and are shared for fun, not fate. Famous birthdays come from Wikidata.