Leo is the fifth sign of the zodiac, symbolised by the Lion.
People born from July 23 to August 22 are Leos.
Leo is a Fire sign, which in astrology describes a more passionate, quick-to-act temperament, and Fixed, meaning steady and resistant to change once a position is settled. It's ruled by the Sun.
Where the Symbol Comes From
The lion associated with Leo traces back to Greek mythology's Nemean Lion, a creature said to have a hide no weapon could pierce. Killing it was the first of the twelve labours assigned to Heracles, and the lion was later placed among the stars to mark the feat. The constellation itself is far older than that story — it appears in Babylonian star records centuries before the Greek myth was attached to it.
What Leo Is Like
In astrology, Leo is associated with warmth and presence — someone who takes up space comfortably, leads without much hesitation, and wants what they care about to matter openly rather than quietly. That same presence has a less comfortable side. Leo can become sensitive to being overlooked or undervalued, and pride can sometimes make it difficult to admit when something has hurt.
Strengths: warm, generous, confident, loyal, naturally creative.
Challenges: can be prideful, stubborn, or drawn to seeking attention.
Leo in Love
In relationships, Leo tends to want the same thing plainly, without much disguise: to be genuinely seen — not glanced at, not politely appreciated, but actually noticed. That want can show up as generosity: showing up loudly for the people they care about, remembering the details, making a partner feel like the most important person in the room. It can also show up as difficulty when that attention isn't returned in kind — not jealousy exactly, more a quiet unease at being taken for granted. Once Leo commits, the fixed quality of the sign tends to hold. Loyalty runs deep, and the relationship, once chosen, isn't treated lightly.
Leo in Friendship
Among friends, Leo often becomes the one who sets the tone — organising the gathering, picking up the tab, turning an ordinary evening into an occasion. The warmth is usually real rather than performed, but it can crowd out quieter voices in the group without Leo quite noticing. Loyalty here works the same way it does in love: once someone is inside the circle, Leo will defend them fiercely, sometimes before all the facts are in.
Compatibility
Leo is often considered compatible with Aries and Sagittarius, which share its Fire element and can match its energy and enthusiasm. Libra and Gemini are also traditionally associated with Leo, bringing a social and communicative quality that can complement Leo's warmth. Compatibility in astrology, however, depends on much more than Sun signs alone.
What Makes Leo Different
Leo's opposite sign is Aquarius — the two sit directly across the zodiac wheel from each other, and are traditionally read as a study in contrast: Leo's focus on individual expression against Aquarius's focus on the group. Leo is also the only Fixed Fire sign. Aries and Sagittarius share the same Fire element but move on quickly — Aries as Cardinal Fire starts things, Sagittarius as Mutable Fire moves past them — while Leo, as Fixed Fire, is built to stay and sustain what it starts.
Famous Leos: Barack Obama, Jennifer Lopez, Madonna, Ben Affleck, Daniel Radcliffe,Napoleon Bonaparte, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Alexandre Dumas.