The “Monday’s Child” rhyme
This traditional English fortune-telling rhyme was first written down in the 1800s and has been recited to children for generations:
| Day | The rhyme says |
|---|---|
| Monday | Fair of face |
| Tuesday | Full of grace |
| Wednesday | Full of woe |
| Thursday | Has far to go |
| Friday | Loving and giving |
| Saturday | Works hard for a living |
| Sunday | Bonny and blithe, good and gay |
It’s just for fun, of course! Every day is a good day to be born.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common day of the week to be born?
In the US, weekdays (especially Tuesday) see more births than weekends, partly because scheduled deliveries usually happen on weekdays.
Does my birthday fall on the same weekday every year?
No. It moves forward one day each year, and two days after a leap day.
Sources
- Traditional English nursery rhyme, recorded by A. E. Bray, 1838
Last reviewed: November 2026 · By the GoldenYearsTools team at XplainedDaily · How we build our tools