Skip to content

January zodiac sign: Capricorn or Aquarius?

A January birth falls under Capricorn or Aquarius.

  • Capricorn
  • Aquarius
  • time zone
January: Capricorn, then AquariusChange between the 19th and the 21st
The essentials

The January sign at a glance

For you

January moves from Capricorn’s patience to Aquarius’s independence: on the day of the changeover, only the time of birth decides.

January 1 to 18
♑︎ Capricorn
January 22 to 31
♒︎ Aquarius
Read more
Calculate my sign

By Thomas Guilhot · updated

The signs of January

In January, two signs follow each other

The Sun leaves Capricorn for Aquarius between January 19 and 21, depending on the year.

15101520253031
CapricornChange between days 19 and 21, depending on the yearAquarius
  • CapricornJanuary 1 to 18, sometimes until the 21st
    Sign dates
    December 22 – January 19 (approximate)
    Element, modality
    Earth, cardinal
    Ruler
    Saturn

    Capricorn embodies the patient climb: building, ascending, and taking on responsibilities over the long term.

    The Capricorn sign 
  • AquariusJanuary 22 to 31, sometimes from the 19th
    Sign dates
    January 20 – February 18 (approximate)
    Element, modality
    Air, fixed
    Ruler
    Saturn (modern: Uranus)

    Aquarius embodies freedom of thought: inventing, sharing a vision, and staying true to your ideas.

    The Aquarius sign 

Go further

How is it calculated?

The Sun enters Aquarius at a precise moment, legal time in Paris: before, Capricorn; after, Aquarius.

Frequently asked questions about the January zodiac sign

What is the zodiac sign for a January birth?

Capricorn for most of the month, Aquarius for the last few days. The boundary falls after the middle of January and shifts a little from year to year; the grid on the page gives the exact moment. For a birthday on January 3 or January 12, there is no doubt: the Sun is in Capricorn.

Born on the day the sign changes in January: Capricorn or Aquarius?

It all depends on the time. Before the moment the Sun reaches 0° Aquarius, the sign remains Capricorn; after it, the sign is Aquarius. If that moment falls at 3 p.m., a birth at 9 a.m. is Capricorn and a birth at 8 p.m. is Aquarius. If the time is unknown, both signs remain possible: the full birth certificate, issued by the town hall, includes it.

Why does the birth place matter on the day of the changeover?

Because the moment of the changeover is universal, but the time written on the certificate is local. A birth at 11 p.m. in Paris and another at 11 p.m. in Pointe-à-Pitre are five real hours apart in winter. If the Sun changes signs between the two, they do not share the same sign. The calculation first converts the local time to universal time.

The 12 months

The sign for each month