Leo: Dates, Meaning, and the Lion Explained

The lion zodiac sign — its dates, symbol, mythology, and why it's one of the easiest constellations to actually spot.

Leo is the fifth sign of the zodiac, covering July 23 through August 22. Its symbol is a lion, and unlike many zodiac constellations, Leo genuinely looks like what it's supposed to be — a backward question-mark of stars forming the mane and head, with a triangle trailing behind for the hindquarters, anchored by the bright star Regulus at the lion's heart.

Leo dates and basic facts

• Dates: July 23 – August 22
• Symbol: The Lion (Leo)
• Element: Fire
• Modality: Fixed
• Ruling planet: The Sun
• Brightest star: Regulus, magnitude ~1.35 — "the heart of the lion," sitting almost exactly on the ecliptic (the sun's apparent path)

Where the lion symbol comes from

Leo is identified with the Nemean Lion, the monstrous beast from the first of Heracles's twelve labors. Its hide was said to be impervious to any weapon — arrows, swords, nothing could pierce it — so Heracles was forced to wrestle it and strangle it with his bare hands. He later wore its impenetrable skin as armor. After the labor was complete, Zeus placed the lion among the stars, reportedly in tribute to the fight itself rather than the lion's own virtue.

What Leo is said to represent

As a fixed fire sign ruled by the Sun, Leo is traditionally associated with confidence, warmth, and a natural pull toward the spotlight — generous and loyal to people it considers its own, but with a real need for recognition and a low tolerance for being ignored. The fixed modality adds staying power: once a Leo commits to a role, a person, or an identity, it tends to hold that position with real conviction.

Why Leo is easy to find in the night sky

Between Regulus's brightness and the lion's genuinely lion-shaped outline — the sickle-shaped mane is one of the more recognizable star patterns in the whole sky — Leo is consistently ranked among the easiest zodiac constellations to identify without any equipment, a rarer trait than most of the zodiac can claim.

See your own sign's star map

CosmicByMe renders every zodiac constellation — including standout ones like Leo — from real star and constellation-line data, centered on the sky as it actually looked from your birth date, time, and location. Generate your own card on the homepage to see it.