6 Aquarius Personality Traits That Explain, Well, Everything

With Aquarius season right around the corner, you may be asking yourself what there is to know about Aquarians. Though some of the most common Aquarius personality traits include quirkiness and free-spiritedness, Aquarians are also often known as being the "changemaker" of the zodiac. This is because Aquarians often strive for independence and have forward-thinking ideas.

If your birthday happens to land between Jan. 19 and Feb. 18, you're an Aquarius. But, of course, if your moon sign or rising sign is Aquarius, you may also feel connected to some common Aquarius characteristics, too. The Uranus-ruled zodiac sign is all about calling out the status quo and enforcing the value of uniqueness, though Aquarians can often be misunderstood and considered oddballs.

To learn more about Aquarius personality traits, PS spoke with astrologers Ryan Marquardt and Tara Bennet below. Whether you love an Aquarius or you're an Aquarius yourself, here's what to know about the 11th sign of the zodiac.

Experts Featured in This Article:

Ryan Marquardt is a full-time professional astrologer and tarot reader.

Tara Bennet is a professional astrologer for Mediumchat, a spiritual platform where you can connect with psychics, mediums, card readers, and more.

What Is an Aquarius?

If someone is born during Aquarius season, which falls between Jan. 19 and Feb. 18, it means that they are an Aquarius. As the 11th zodiac sign, the Aquarius zodiac sign comes right after Capricorn and right before Pisces. Associated with the 11th house of society and hope, Aquarians are committed to seeing the evolution of humanity. "Aquarians not only wants to change the world for the better, they have the abilities to make it happen," Bennet says.

In modern astrology, Aquarius is ruled by Uranus, the planet of innovation and change. "It's a planet that pushes us forward into a new era, whether we're ready for the change or not," Marquardt says. Aquarius is also an innovate air sign, which means people with this sign tend to be more curious, intellectual, and inventive, as opposed to the other zodiac elements. Best known for being "unique intellects with insatiable curiosities," Bennet says that Aquarians tend to "swim against the current, searching for answers to questions others haven't even thought of."

What Are Aquarius Personality Traits?

Aquarians are trendsetters. From popularizing edgy beauty trends to inventing catchphrases, Aquarians are known to make a statement. Marquardt says this trait is so common among Water Bearers because they practically live in the future.

Aquarians are humanitarians. Marquardt explains that Water Bearers have an innate desire to make the world a better place, valuing equality over everything. Aquarius is also a sign of altruism and community, so most people with Aquarius somewhere in their birth chart tend to be hellbent on progressing the collective forward for reasons that go beyond themselves.

Aquarians are authentic. "Aquarians are the most genuine and authentic of all the signs," Bennet says. In other words, what you see from an Aquarius is what you get. They don't pretend to be anyone they're not, even if that often gets them labeled as weird, unique, or eccentric.

What Are Aquarius Weaknesses?

Aquarians are know-it-alls. Blame it on their air-sign intuition or forward-thinking nature, but Aquarians have all types of knowledge up their sleeves, and they aren't afraid to brag about it. "As the eldest air sign, Aquarius has been through all of the communicative phases and knows how to use their knowledge in powerful ways," Marquardt says. Their knowledge also tends to extend beyond academia, as they love exploring obscure topics that require a lot of mental gymnastics.

Aquarians are contradictory. If one thing is true, it's that Aquarius zodiac signs are a walking paradox. Their glyph is a Water Bearer despite being an air sign. They pride themselves on individuality but also tend to preach the power and necessity of collectivism. They're the sign of friendship and society, but they crave independence. And even though they show allegiance toward being different, Marquardt says it's often their desire to stand out that creates distance between them and those they want to connect with. "It gives them an aloof vibe, which isn't very approachable for other people either, so they might not seem like the easiest sign to get to know," Marquardt says.

Aquarians tend to isolate. "They are loners who prefer to stay on the edge rather than be the center of attention," Bennet says. Because they prefer to spend their time independently, they don't always pick up on social cues or know how to interact with other people. For this reason, Bennet says it's best to be direct when communicating with someone who is an Aquarius. "If you need something from an Aquarian, drop the hints and ask outright."

What Is an Aquarius Like in Love?

Aquarians are very loyal, which is great for those of you who value this in a partner. "They often just have a person, and that person is their world," Bennet says. Additionally, you'll find that dating an Aquarian is like dating your best friend. Though they aren't known for big romantic gestures or physical touch, they still want to know you "inside and out," Bennet says.

The downside? You may take a backseat to an Aquarian's passion project. Bennet says they tend to be all consumed and preoccupied by their latest fixation and projects. But on the bright side, Aquarians tend to have a great sex life. "Aquarians are the best partners to explore your kinks with," Bennet says. "They're very open-minded, and their insatiable curiosity drives them to try anything once."

— Additional reporting by Taylor Andrews

Brittany Beringer-Tobing is a freelance writer, mystic, and creator and a full-time Aquarius based in San Diego. She's contributed to PS, Bustle, Well+Good, Frenshe, Thought Catalog, and more. She was an astrology writer at Bustle, where she covered all things mystical — from lunar forecasts and numerology to manifestation rituals and retrograde dos and don'ts. Brittany's work lives in the lifestyle space and includes topics like astrology, wellness, sex, dating, and the intersections between them.

Taylor Andrews (she/her) is the balance editor at PS, specializing in topics relating to sex, relationships, dating, sexual health, mental health, travel, and more. With seven years of editorial experience, Taylor has a strong background in content creation and storytelling. Prior to joining PS in 2021, she worked at Cosmopolitan.