What is the Aries Personality Type?

You're an Aries personality type if you have a birthday between March 21 and April 19. Aries is a fire sign represented by the ram. As the first sign of the zodiac, astrologists see the Aries personality as the first “spark.” Known for their carefree attitudes and remarkable strength, Aries personality types are intense, optimistic and sometimes impulsive. 

Aries are popular go-getters, but when you learn about them, there’s more to appreciate than their determination. Here’s everything you need to know about the Aries personality type.

If you’re an Aries, you want to succeed — on your own terms.

Aries personality types aren’t ones to color within the lines. Instead, they’re determined to succeed and see life as a game to win — so it makes sense that Aries people like to set goals for themselves and bask in satisfaction after ticking off some boxes. Aries can handle the bigger picture and short-term, actionable goals, but they can also get distracted if they aren’t careful. 

While these types are goal-oriented, they refuse to let other people sway their actions and decisions. If someone tries to interfere with an Aries’ plan, they simply won’t budge.

You are bold, individualistic, optimistic and adventurous.

Aries is the type of person everyone notices. That’s because these personality types are bold and boisterous. Whether Introverts or Extraverts, it isn’t uncommon for Aries to stand out in how they dress, carry themselves or journey through life.

Aries people are unafraid of trying new things — they’re known for diving into situations headfirst. They often possess a child-like enthusiasm for new people, events and experiences, making Aries popular and well-liked. They’re also optimistic, sometimes to a fault. Aries may go overboard with their optimism when they want to believe the best in people and find themselves blind to unscrupulous characters.

Aries personality types might have trouble finishing things. 

Although Aries personalities are good at jumping into projects, they can sometimes struggle with completing them. When an Aries feels confident they’ve gotten everything they wanted out of a project, they tend to abandon it for the next big undertaking. If it’s a personal project, Aries may not have any repercussions leaving a project with a few loose ends, but if it’s a project for work, it can cause some problems. Part of this impetuosity may be because the Aries has a habit of finishing projects in a straightforward manner. They are more action-oriented than detail-oriented, which can leave some, sometimes necessary, work left undone.

Aries are high-energy dynamos.

Fiery and passionate are two words associated with the Aries personality. They rarely stop to take a breather and find pursuing new experiences energizing. Aries is no stranger to having a full schedule, overbooking themselves and still finding the time to drop by social events to say “hi.” These dynamos don’t know when to stop, and they love staying as busy as possible.

Their “go, go, go” energy can be a lot for other people with different sun signs. Others may find Aries energy levels intimidating and hard to match. 

Fiery rams: Aries can let their temper get the best of them.

If you’re an Aries, you aren’t the type to beat around the bush. Aries people will let you know when they’re upset and won’t try passive-aggressive techniques. Instead of masking their anger, Aries will be upfront and let their temper flare. Their explosive temper is legendary. The good news is that Aries doesn’t stay angry for too long. They’ll unload their feelings in one swift eruption and soon recover, returning to their positive, optimistic selves once the smoke has cleared. 

Which of the 16 personality types is an Aries most likely to be?

Aries shares a lot of traits with a particular 16-type personality: ESTP. Because Aries personalities are among the most outgoing of the zodiac, it isn’t uncommon for Aries to be an Extravert. As for the Sensing factor, Aries would score higher as a Sensor over an iNtuitive because Aries is more about quick, hard facts and achievable results than underlying, hidden messages or abstract analysis.

Aries types also struggle with understanding other people’s feelings. They prefer to make decisions based on tangible data and logic like Thinkers. Like the ESTP, Aries are energetic types who thirst for adventure and aren’t as concerned with planning as seeing where life takes them, making them Perceivers rather than Judgers.

Aries may also type as ISTP, a personality that’s introverted, practical and goal-oriented when it comes to careful, mechanical problem-solving. Every person is different, however. You may type as something different from an ESTP or ISTP.

Which Enneagram type is an Aries most likely to be?

At first glance, an Aries personality might seem a perfect match for the Enneagram Type 7. And it isn’t a wrong assumption to make. However, I think the Enneagram type most like Aries is Enneagram Type 8. Here’s why. 

An Aries person wants to be in control of their life and doesn’t like to follow through with projects unless they’re all in. The Enneagram Type 8 fears being vulnerable and powerless, which could be the core of Aries' adventurous, goal-oriented and competitive spirit. To cope with their fear of being powerless, they ensure they’re always in control of their life. The core motivation of Type 8 also rings true to an Aries personality — they’re motivated by the need to stay independent and in control, and so resist weakness as much as possible, including oppressive forces of authority. 

If I had to pick a second fiddle for the Enneagram type of an Aries, I would go with the Enneagram Type 7. Like Type 7s, Aries people avoid boredom as much as possible and seek to fill their life with novel experiences. They’re fun-loving and fear missing out on the good life has to offer.

Remember, although these are the types an Aries is closest to on paper, you may have a different result. Each person is unique, so results can’t always be the same!

Buttoning it up

Aries combines a fresh perspective of blind optimism, a child-like appreciation for life and an adventurous, bold spirit that’ll stop at nothing to succeed. If you’re an Aries, you are an individualistic go-getter who likes to set goals and achieve them, but you don’t always finish your projects, and that’s okay. Your in-the-moment nature gives you a fresh perspective and helps you embrace new opportunities life offers. 

On the 16-type test, you might find your type is an ESTP, and your Enneagram type might be a Type 8. But whether you find this true or not, you’re still a pro at starting off the zodiac—and leading the way for people in your everyday life.