What Are the Birthstones by Month? (And What Baby’s Gem Represents)

When I welcomed my first little one into the world, I wondered how astrology would play into her life. I was curious about her zodiac sign and birth flower. I even found myself analyzing her birth chart.

If you’re into all things “woo woo” (no shame in that game!), you might wonder about baby’s birthstone too. (Or your own—personally, I’m a July baby and the ruby’s our blood-red symbol.) Here’s how it works: Each month of the year has at least one gem attached to it, and all birthstones have their own meanings. Zodiac signs are also represented by jewels.

Want to find out baby’s birthstone by month? Read on to learn more, check out our birthstones by month chart and discover what your little one’s precious gem represents.

Key Takeaways

• Every birth month has at least one birthstone, but some have as many as three.
• Some months have both traditional birthstones and their modern counterparts.
• Stones can be very rare with high value, or more common, but each one has its own story and meaning.
• Zodiac signs also have their own birthstones, which may or may not align with the birth month stone.

What Are the Birthstones by Month?

Each month of the year has its own birthstone—and in some cases as many as three. While stories of birthstones date back thousands of years, the first official, standardized list was released in 1912 by the National Association of Jewelers in the United States, according to Matt Harris, pearl specialist and jewelry designer.

This original list of birthstones by month included 12 stones, one for each month of the year. However, over time, Harris says, more gems were added to some months for reasons including availability, affordability and trends.

When it comes to birthstone meaning, the idea goes back thousands of years. “Ancient cultures as far back as Mesopotamia and the Greco-Roman world associated gemstones with protection, good health and warding off evil,” notes Sharon Merritt, AJP, FGA, a gemologist at jewelry brand JTV.

Meri Geraldine, founder and director of the ethical jewelry brand Gardens of the Sun, which offers an array of birthstone jewelry, adds that birthstones and their respective meanings weren’t created by a single person. “It’s a mashup of myth, culture and marketing,” she says.

Birthstones by Month Chart

Curious about baby’s (or your own) birthstone by month? Here’s the current list of birthstones by month. Plus, we added birthstones by zodiac sign to compare.

January Birthstone

If you have a January baby, their birthstone by month is the garnet—typically (but not always) a deep-red stone.

Garnet

Garnet was traditionally January’s original birthstone, and it remains the same today. While many people think “red” when this gem comes to mind, it’s actually very unique in that it can be a variety of colors, including red, purple, green, yellow and orange. It can be found in many areas of the world, like the US, Greece, Russia, Sri Lanka, Madagascar and others.

According to Geraldine, the garnet represents courage and renewal. Additionally, since this stone was worn by warriors, it’s considered to be protective. Finally, since it’s most often associated with the color red, it can also represent vitality, love and light.

February Birthstone

The birthstone for February birthdays is the beautiful, contemplative amethyst.

Amethyst

Signifying wisdom and peace, according to Geraldine, the amethyst is the traditional and only birthstone for those born in February. It’s a gorgeous purple gem that can range from a light hue mimicking a pink-violet color to a deep purple. The gem is often associated with royalty, since you’ll find it in the jewel collections of royals in Europe and Asia. It may be associated with healing, mental clarity and spirituality.

Amethysts can be mined in Africa and South America. However, they can also be grown in a lab, so this birthstone shouldn’t be a hard one to get your hands on.

Amber H., a mom of two in Richmond, Virginia, was thrilled to find out one of her sons was due in February. “My favorite color is purple, and I love the excuse to add more purple to my jewelry collection,” she says.

March Birthstone

March babies have two birthstones: the bloodstone is the traditional option, while the aquamarine is its more modern counterpart.

Bloodstone (traditional)

The traditional birthstone for March is bloodstone, which is dark green with red flecks. It can be found in Brazil, China, Australia and the US, and the stone represents strength and youth. In fact, some even call it a lucky charm (fitting for March).

Aquamarine (modern)

The modern birthstone for March is the aquamarine, which is a gorgeous blue-green stone that resembles the water. These stones always have light color saturation, so you’re unlikely to find dark blue or dark green variations. But if you do happen to stumble on a rare dark-blue Aquamarine, it’ll be worth more than the typical light colors.

The aquamarine represents safety, since it was once believed to keep people safe while at sea, and happy marriages. The stone is mostly mined in Brazil, but it can be found in other parts of the world, such as Nigeria and Zambia.

April Birthstone

April birthday babies are lucky to have the gem of all gems—the diamond—as their birthstone.

Diamond

It’s no surprise that, according to Geraldine, April’s birthstone represents strength and devotion, since diamonds are notoriously strong and often used in engagement and wedding rings.

April’s well-loved stone is typically mined in South Africa, Russia, Australia and Canada. While the diamond is a high-valued stone, it’s not overly rare. In fact, we can grow diamonds in labs that have the same optical, physical and chemical properties of a naturally grown diamond—with a much more affordable price tag than mined diamonds.

In terms of color, diamonds are technically colorless, but they often have a sparkly, rainbow effect in the light, depending on the cut of the stone. You may see the stone reflect colors like blue, yellow and red.

“I still feel like I hit the jackpot with my April baby,” says Sarah G., a mom of three in Cincinnati. “Diamond is the prettiest birthstone there is, in my opinion.”

May Birthstone

The blooming month of May has the greenest birthstone color: the emerald.

Emerald

Emeralds are classic, bold and regal. The deeper the green (think Emerald City), the more valuable they are. The rarest (and most valuable) emeralds are a deep green-blue color. Colombia is the primary mining location for emeralds, with the darker, more valuable stones coming from Muzo.

As for what this birthstone means, your May baby is in luck. According to Geraldine, emeralds represent growth and abundance. Additionally, they’ve been known to promote healing—and may even help the person wearing the gem predict the future.

June Birthstone

Geminis and some Cancers—aka those with June birthdays—have a few different glimmering jewels to choose from: the pearl, the alexandrite and the moonstone.

Pearl (traditional)

The traditional birthstone by month for June is timeless. Pearls can be white, green, gold, silver and various pastel shades, and both saltwater and freshwater pearls can be found in several places throughout the world. Geraldine says they represent change and intuition, and they’re also said to mean honesty, purity and wisdom.

Alexandrite (modern)

Alexandrite can appear blueish-green or purplish-red, depending on the lighting. In fact, it’s sometimes called an “emerald by day, ruby by night.” The stone was named in honor of the Russian Czar Alexander II, and is worn to enhance intellect and bring on good luck.

Moonstone (modern)

Moonstone has a shimmery, milky color and an appearance that has been said to slightly change with the phases of the moon. The stone can represent love, passion and fertility, and is said to bring good luck. Moonstone can be found in the US, India, Sri Lanka, Brazil and other locations.

July Birthstone

Of all the birthstones by month, July’s is arguably the most eye-catching: a perfectly red ruby.

Ruby

The ruby represents passion and protection, says Geraldine. In ancient India, the deep red stone was referred to as the king of precious stones because it’s one of the hardest stones, second to the ultra-strong diamond.

By and large, rubies are a deep red color, though occasionally, you may find one with some orange or pink undertones. Rubies are considered rare, and because of this, they’re extremely valuable and can even cost more than diamonds, depending on size and quality.

August Birthstone

August birthday babies have their pick of birthstones: the sardonyx, the peridot and the spinel.

Sardonyx (traditional)

The sardonyx is a reddish gem with white stripes thanks to its formation with layers of sand and onyx. This stone represents the strength of spiritual life, and it can be found in several places, including Brazil, Germany and the US. Stones from India are known to have the best contrast of red and white colors.

Peridot (modern)

Peridot is a lime green stone that represents protection and can be found in a variety of places—including space. “Peridot … has been found in pallasite meteorites,” says Merritt.

Spinel (modern)

Spinel can be a variety of colors, including vibrant pink, bright red, purple, blue and green. Since it can form in so many different hues, Merritt says it “spent centuries being mistaken for other gems.” In fact, she says, “the famous Black Prince’s Ruby set in the Imperial State Crown of Great Britain turned out to be a red spinel.” The stone is said to ease anger and promote harmony, and it’s typically found in Vietnam, Tanzania, Pakistan, Myanmar and Tajikistan.

September Birthstone

Those born in September can count the iconic sapphire as their birthstone.

Sapphire

Most of us know the sapphire for its deep blue color, but it’s like the ruby in that it can also come in a variety of other colors. Sapphires in shades other than blue are called “fancies,” and pink sapphires can sometimes be categorized as rubies, depending on color saturation.

These royal stones can be found in Australia, Thailand, Cambodia, Madagascar and the US. They’re most historically found in Kashmir, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. According to Geraldine, sapphires represent loyalty and truth, and it was once thought to be an antidote to poison.

Jillian B., a mom of one in Raleigh, North Carolina, loves the sapphire and was low-key disappointed that she didn’t end up with a September baby. “Sapphire is my favorite stone, and I wish I could use it in a mother’s ring design.”

October Birthstone

If I were to pick a favorite birthstone month, it’d be October, because both its traditional and modern stones are stunning.

Opal (traditional)

Opal looks almost iridescent with its shimmery finish and changing colors. The name originates from the Greek word “opallios,” or “to see a change in color,” which perfectly describes its multi-colored appearance. Opal often represents light and magic. Fun science fact: Unlike most other birthstones, opal isn’t technically a mineral: “Opal is an amorphous mineraloid formed from tiny silica spheres,” explains Merritt.

Tourmaline (modern)

The tourmaline can be a variety of different colors, and it can even have multiple colors in a single crystal. Some believe that the stone has healing and stress-relieving properties, even soothing broken hearts, while others say it represents creativity.

November Birthstone

The Scorpios and Sagittarians of November have two birthstones to call their own: topaz and citrine.

Topaz (traditional)

Topaz can come in several colors, though for a long time, it was thought to be exclusively yellow. In fact, for a while, all yellow gems were called topaz (but we know better now). The hard, durable stone is commonly found in Brazil as well as in Mexico, Nigeria, Madagascar, the US, Sri Lanka, Namibia and Russia. According to Geraldine, topaz represents joy and prosperity.

Citrine (modern)

Citrine has a yellow-orange hue and its name is derived from the word “citron,” French for lemon. Given its sunny-colored hue, it’s no surprise that the stone represents happiness and healing. If you’re looking for some citrine, it’s commonly found in Brazil, which is its largest supplier, as well as Bolivia, France, Russia, the US and Madagascar.

December Birthstone

Winter babies born in December can count turquoise, tanzanite and zircon as their birthstones.

Turquoise (traditional)

You’ve probably seen the turquoise stone, which is greenish blue with black veins. It’s well-known in the US, because it’s the world’s largest turquoise supplier, with most stones coming from Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, California and Colorado. It’s also a common gem used in American Indigenous jewelry. The turquoise is said to bring health and good fortune.

Tanzanite (modern)

The tanzanite is named after Tanzania, where it’s sourced from. Since it can only be found in this location, it’s considered a rare and valuable gem. It has a gorgeous blue-purple indigo color, which is sometimes described as “velvety.” It’s said to enhance spiritual awareness. In addition to being a birthstone, the tanzanite is also associated with 24th wedding anniversaries.

Zircon (modern)

The zircon can be tricky to spot, because it can be a range of colors, including red, orange, yellow, brown, green and blue. It can also be colorless. In fact, the colorless version can often be confused with a diamond; however, zircon is much more brittle. At one time, the stone was said to help lull people into a deep sleep and keep evil spirits away. This versatile rock can be found in Sri Lanka, Australia, Myanmar, Vietnam and Cambodia.

What Are the Birthstones by Zodiac Sign?

If you’re into astrology, you might choose a birthstone that aligns with baby’s zodiac sign, rather than their birth month. “The zodiac system actually predates the calendar system,” notes Merritt, adding that depending on when you’re born, you might end up with multiple birthstones—by month and by zodiac sign.

While there’s no universal birthstones by zodiac sign list, Merritt follows this one:

• Aries (March 21 to April 19) – Ruby
• Taurus (April 20 to May 20) – Emerald
• Gemini (May 21 to June 20) – Citrine
• Cancer (June 21 to July 22) – Pearl
• Leo (July 23 to August 22) – Peridot
• Virgo (August 23 to September 22) – Peridot
• Libra (September 23 to October 22) – Opal
• Scorpio (October 23 to November 21) – Topaz
• Sagittarius (November 22 to December 21) – Turquoise
• Capricorn (December 22 to January 19) – Garnet
• Aquarius (January 20 to February 18) – Amethyst
• Pisces (February 19 to March 20) – Aquamarine

Following Merritt’s list, as a July baby and a Cancer, I could theoretically pick between July’s ruby or Cancer’s pearl birthstone. (Either way, it’s a win!)

“Every birthstone has a meaning—usually relating to love, protection or strength,” says Harris. Pick baby’s birthstone by month—or their birthstone by zodiac sign—and wear it with pride.

How We Developed This Article

To learn about birthstones by month (and zodiac sign!)—and what these beautiful, dazzling stones mean—we spoke with a gemologist, a pearl specialist and historian (and jewelry designer), and the founder and director of a jewelry brand. We also consulted the Gemological Institute of America and the American Gem Society. Finally, we spoke with three real moms. After editing, this article was thoroughly vetted through fact-check. Learn more about how we ensure the accuracy of our content through our editorial and medical review process.

About the author: Ashley Ziegler—whose birthstone is the ruby—writes pregnancy and parenting content for The Bump. She’s been writing professionally for nearly a decade. She’s also a mom to two sweet and silly daughters, Eva and Indy.