Spotlight: August Arrivals
What do Michael Jackson, Madonna, Usain Bolt, Lucille Ball, Louis Armstrong, Davy Crockett, and Napoleon Bonaparte have in common? They were all born in August. While there are no government holidays in August, there are plenty of birthdays to celebrate. Four U.S. Presidents were born in August – Barak Obama, Bill Clinton, Herbert Hoover, and Lyndon Johnson. Looking to Hollywood, Alfred Hitchcock, Richard Gere, Sean Connery, Jennifer Coolidge, Ben Afflack, and Macauley Culkin all have August birthdays. In the world of sports, August ushered in Tom Brady, Kobe Bryant, Wilt Chamberlin, and Tim Tebow. Turning to the science realm, Sir Alexander Fleming, who discovered penicillin, astronaut Neil Armstrong, and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak were born in August. In the fashion and cosmetic industry, department store founder Marshall Field, Coco Chanel, and Max Factor, Jr. all share the same birthday, August 18th.
Babies born in August fall under two very divergent Zodiac signs - bold, charismatic Leos (July 23–August 22) and practical, detail-oriented Virgos (August 23–September 22). A Vanderbilt University study found individuals with August birthdays are at a lower risk of developing depression. Scientists link this to the fact that mothers who give birth in August are exposed to high levels of natural vitamin D during the late stages of their pregnancies due to the sunny days and longer daylight hours.
In the United States, August consistently ranks as the month with the highest number of births. The CDC estimates that there were 322,000 births in August 2023. Looking backwards by nine months, that means late fall and early winter (end of October through December) are the most common times to conceive. Seasonal changes contribute to this. Fertility research indicates that colder temperatures and less daylight hours tend to increase fertility in both men and women. It is also likely that the holiday period, with more celebrations and time off of work, plays a part. Alcohol consumption during this time might also be an instigator. Many of these factors carry over to September as well. While it is only a 30-day month, nine of the top ten individual birth dates fall during mid-September. September 9th is the most common individual birthday in the U.S., with an estimated average of 12,300 babies born that day each year. Leo Tolstoy, Colonel Sanders, Joe Theismann, Michael Bublé, actress Michelle Williams, Adam Sandler, Hugh Grant, country star Hunter Hayes, and singer/songwriter Otis Redding were all born on September 9th.
