Leo Personality

On this page: Leo Personality Overview * All Things Associated with Leo * Famous Leos

Leo traits: affectionate, altruistic, attention-seeking, bossy, competitive, confident, courageous, creative, energetic, entrepreneurial, friendly, generous, impatient, loyal, moody, opinionated, optimistic, passionate, possessive, protective, self-indulgent, sensitive, straightforward, strong, stubborn, vain, warm-hearted

Leo Personality Overview

The Typical Leo Is Confident and Friendly

The confident, sunny, generous Leo nature often ensures popularity. Leos are very sociable and love to host and attend parties. They also love to talk, and some have a tendency to brag. Negative Leos can be bullies or snobs who dominate conversations. However, Leo confidence (or overconfidence) more often manifests as charisma and a propensity for risk-taking than overbearing behavior.

Leos are good at promoting themselves and marketing their considerable talents. They are assertive enough to get what they want out of life, and most have the ability to achieve much of what they set their minds to. Although they can be lazy around the house, Leos are hardworking and driven when something interests them.

Leos Are Passionate and Protective

Leos are sensual and passionate in their romantic relationships, and ferociously protective of lovers, friends, family, and even their home nations (Leos tend to be patriotic). Most are willing to take great risks or even die to protect those they care about.

Passionate intensity combined with assertiveness can manifest as belligerence in negative Leos, causing them to become argumentative or domineering, though more sensible Leos pick their battles wisely. Most Leos are good fighters, both in a verbal argument and in a physical confrontation. However, because they are highly reactive and emotionally intense, Leos often speak or act impulsively in emotionally charged situations and regret it later on.

Forthright Leos wear their hearts on their sleeves. Despite their natural optimism, they tend to be moody, and if they feel that others don’t appreciate them, they can grow depressed and sullen. They are swift to anger and equally quick to forgive. Although they may sulk for awhile in response to minor slights, particularly blows to their pride,  they tend to recover quickly.

Most Leos Seek Attention, Excitement, and Adventure

Typical Leos are appearance-conscious, which keeps their tendency toward self-indulgence in check, as they will usually reign in their eating or drinking if their looks start to suffer. The confident, self-assured Leo persona often masks worries about their attractiveness, so Leos work hard to keep themselves looking good. Most love beautiful, fashionable clothing, flashy cars, and expensive gadgets. They like to surround themselves with attractive things and take great pride in their wardrobes, homes, and belongings.

Leos usually dress to be noticed, and they are bold enough to make statements, verbal or otherwise. They have the guts to put themselves forward and don’t mind the whole world looking at them. In fact, they prefer it.

A combination of creativity and a need for the spotlight suits many Leos to careers that involve either performance or working with the public in some capacity. Leos love to be the center of attention, so fame is a powerful draw for this sign. Many have dramatic talents, which may lead them into the film industry or related professions, though Leo creativity can also manifest as a talent for arts and crafts.

The Leonine flair for drama causes many Leos to exaggerate when telling a good story, but with their forthright natures, they don’t typically lie outright unless their ascendants fall in more secretive or deceptive signs.

Leos tend to be energetic and athletic, and they love a challenge, physical or otherwise. Typical Leos are adventurous and inclined toward risk taking. They like to try new things and some even crave a little danger, so unless their ascendants fall in more cautious and sensible signs, they may be drawn to extreme sports, and in some cases, stormy romantic affairs with highly unsuitable partners.

Many Leos Are Entrepreneurial and Leadership-Oriented

Leos are entrepreneurial and often succeed in businesses of their own. Even when working for others, they tend to rise through the ranks to end up in positions of authority.

Because Leos have excellent natural leadership skills and good organizational abilities, people often look to them for guidance. Leos must guard against letting this go to their heads and repress their natural inclination to be bossy, both at work and at home.

The Leo Nature Is Altruistic and Generous

The typical Leo is generous to a fault. Leos love to spoil friends, family, and romantic partners, buying extravagant gifts or blowing their money on good times for all. Leos can’t resist luxuries and the good life, even if they can’t afford them. They believe they need to have the best and that everyone they like should have the best as well. Most are also excellent cooks, and they enjoy feeding others.

Leo is suited heroics due to a combination of bravery, altruism, generosity, protectiveness, and the need to be admired. Leos will stop to help someone in need, and if they have money, most have a tendency toward philanthropy. They also tend to be soft-hearted, with a particular fondness for children and animals.

The Atypical Leo

The sun sign isn’t the only element that influences personality. Aspects and planetary placements, particularly the moon sign and rising sign (ascendant), are also important. For example, a Leo with Aquarius rising will be less vain and motivated to seek attention and fame than a typical Leo. A Virgo ascendant can also have a dramatic effect on the Leo personality, making a Leo less physically demonstrative and prone to risk taking and more practical, intellectually oriented, and sensible with money.

There are many websites that offer free chart calculation to determine other planetary placements and aspects. Learning these other planetary placements is recommended, as it provides a more comprehensive personality profile.

All Things Associated with Leo

Ruled by: the sun

Symbol: the lion

Element: fire

Quality: fixed

Metal: gold

Gemstones: amber, ruby, carnelian, peridot (August)

Parts of the Body Ruled by Leo: heart, upper back, spleen, head

Number: 1

Places Associated with Leo: Romania, Italy, France, Rome, Prague, Bath, Bristol, Los Angeles, Chicago, Damascus, Philadelphia, Hollywood

Animals: swan, lion, seal, cat, rainbow salmon

Trees: birch, holly, hazel, trees bearing citrus fruit

Plants and Herbs: rosemary, saffron, juniper, chamomile, frankincense, mistletoe, angelica, bay, marigold, sunflower

Foods: lemon, orange, hazelnut, sunflower seed, almond

Colors: gold, yellow, bright blue, royal purple

Other Associations: luxury items, trophies, perfumes, fireplaces, parties, limousines, jewelry, sports, entertainment, ceremonies, children, art, culture, the stock market, the lottery, flashy cars, extravagance, royalty, egotism, narcissism, generosity, grandiosity, entertaining, decadence, rich foods, style, fame, leadership

Famous Leos

• Aldous Huxley
• Alex Haley
• Alexandre Dumas
• Alfred Hitchcock
• Alfred Lord Tennyson
• Amelia Earhart
• Andy Warhol
• Angela Bassett
• Anna Kendrick
• Anna Paquin
• Antonia Banderas
• Arnold Swarzenegger
• Barack Obama
• Beatrix Potter
• Ben Affleck
• Benito Mussolini
• Bindi Irwin
• Carl Jung
• Carroll O’Connor
• Casey Affleck
• Casey Stengel
• Cassandra Clare
• Cecil B. DeMille
• Charles Bukowski
• Charlize Theron
• Chief Dan George
• Chris Hemsworth
• Christian Slater
• Claude Debussy
• Coco Chanel
• Connie Chung
• Coolio
• Daniel Radcliffe
• Danielle Steel
• David Duchovny
• Davy Crockett
• Demi Lovato
• Dorothy Parker
• Dustin Hoffman
• Earvin “Magic” Johnson
• Edward Norton
• Emily Bronte
• Enid Blyton
• Erwin Schrodinger
• Estelle Getty
• Esther Williams
• Ethel Barrymore
• Fidel Castro
• Gary Larson
• Gene Kelly
• Gene Roddenberry
• George Bernard Shaw
• Gillian Anderson
• Gus Van Sant
• Guy de Maupassant
• P. Lovecraft
• Halle Berry
• Helen Mirren
• Henry Ford
• Herman Melville
• Hilary Swank
• Hugo Chavez
• Hulk Hogan
• Isaac Hayes
• K. Rowling
• Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
• James Cameron
• James Dean
• Jean Piaget
• Jennifer Lawrence
• Jennifer Lopez
• Jim Davis
• Joe Jonas
• John Stamos
• Jonathon Frakes
• Julia Child
• Kate Beckinsale
• Kenny Rogers
• Kevin Spacey
• Kylie Jenner
• Leon Uris
• Lisa Kudrow
• Loni Anderson
• Lori Loughlin
• Louis Leakey
• Lucille Ball
• Lynda Carter
• Night Shyamalan
• Madonna
• Mae West
• Mara Wilson
• Marcel Duchamp
• Martha Stewart
• Martin Sheen
• Mata Hari
• Matt Leblanc
• Matthew Perry
• Maxfield Parrish
• Meghan Markle
• Melanie Griffith
• Meriwether Lewis (of Lewis and Clark, explorers)
• Michael Beihn
• Mick Jagger
• Mila Kunis
• Napoleon Bonaparte
• Neil Armstrong
• Norman Schwarzkopf Jr.
• Ogden Nash
• Orville Wright
• Patrick Swayze
• Percy Bysshe Shelley
• Pete Sampras
• Peter Jennings
• Peter O’Toole
• Ray Bradbury
• Reverend Jerry Falwell
• Robert De Niro
• Robert Redford
• Roger Federer
• Roman Polanski
• Ron Paul
• Rosalynn Carter
• Sam Elliot
• Sandra Bullock
• Sean Penn
• Sharon Creech
• Shelley Winters
• Simon Bolivar
• Stanley Kubrick
• Suzanne Collins
• Taylor Momsen
• Theo van Gogh
• Tipper Gore
• Tom Brady
• Tony Bennett
• Tove Jansson
• Usain Bolt
• Veronica Roth
• Vivica A. Fox
• Walter Dean Myers
• Wes Craven
• Wesley Snipes
• Whitney Houston
• William Clark (of Lewis and Clark, explorers)
• Wilt Chamberlain
• Woody Harrelson
• Yves Saint Laurent
• Zelda Fitzgerald