What Is the Rarest Zodiac Sign? The Answer Might Surprise You

When it comes to zodiac signs, chances are that a few signs show up more than others within your friend group. Sure, you can chalk this up to being attracted to similar traits specific to your zodiac sign, but there is a deeper, more data-driven explanation as to why some zodiac signs may be more common, while others seem relatively rare. In fact, based on a few key measures, we can pretty safely estimate that the rarest zodiac sign is the ambitious, practical, and self-disciplined Capricorn.

Capricorn season, which spans from Dec. 22 to Jan. 19, is the shortest zodiac season, encompassing just 29 days, compared to other signs that span 30 or more. And, according to data collected by researchers at FiveThirtyEight — which lists the average number of births by day from 1994 to 2014 — Capricorn season also includes the three least common birthdays: Christmas (Dec. 25), New Year's Day (Jan. 1), and Christmas Eve (Dec. 24). While this is likely a result of births being scheduled around the holidays, with few exceptions, birthdays in this time period seem to be less common, making Capricorns relatively rare, too.

The data from FiveThirtyEight suggests that more people are likely to conceive during the winter months, creating a "boom" of sorts later in the year, with many of the most common birthdays falling between July and October. There might be a few different reasons for this. For one, the holidays (such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day) all fall within a month or so of each other, which also tends to be a time when people are going on holidays and taking time off of work. More time away likely means more time to make babies.

Another reason could be attributed to environmental factors, such as the cold, winter weather that December and January bring. Research has shown that the seasonality of births directly correlates with the change in local temperature and day length, according to Smithsonian Magazine. When it's cold outside, people are more likely to want to stay inside and be warm, which can lead to cuddling and all the other fun stuff that follows.

The rarity of a Capricorn is something to be cherished. A true grounded earth sign, their dedication to tradition and rules, along with their hardworking and honest nature, makes them great friends and lovers. So, if you have Capricorn in your life, be sure to tell them what a gem they are.