Which Gilmore Girls Character You Are, Based on Your Enneagram Type
It’s the time of year for pumpkin spice lattes and curling up on the couch to re-watch classic fall favorites like Gilmore Girls. One thing we love about the quirky characters from Stars Hollow is their unique personalities — which clash (and then make up) with each other repeatedly throughout the series.
Is there a certain character that resonates with you? Is there another that you just can’t stand for some reason? How you relate to each character may depend on your Enneagram type. Take a look at which character best represents each of the nine types!
Paris Geller: Enneagram 1, The Perfectionist
One thing Rory can always count on from her high school nemesis turned college bestie is honesty. While it doesn’t always make her the most well-liked (i.e., getting voted out as editor of the Yale Daily News), Paris’ high standards and expectations of herself and others are qualities that set her apart from the other characters on the show.
Like most Ones, she can be overly critical but, ultimately, she is focused on the best way to go about things in all areas of her life. As a One, she prioritizes personal growth and hires a life coach to help her deal with her perfectionism, improve her relationships, and learn how to relax and enjoy hobbies for fun. Ultimately, Paris will always do what she feels is the right thing to do — even if it’s not the popular thing.
Enneagram 2: Sookie St. James, The Giver
Friendly, kind and sometimes a little too generous for her own good, Sookie St. James displays many characteristics similar to that of the Enneagram Two. Sookie constantly goes above and beyond for Lorelai, even when it's not convenient or fair to her. Because of her generosity, Lorelai often has high expectations of her best friend, like when she expects her to be available to help with the Dragonfly Inn opening, even though Sookie has just had a baby.
Like many Twos, Sookie struggles with setting boundaries and asking for help when needed. When she is on bed rest, she struggles to delegate her work tasks to other employees and ends up staying in a room at the Inn so she can secretly micromanage the kitchen staff. Throughout the series, Sookie develops healthier Type Two traits as she learns to set boundaries and become more assertive.
Richard Gilmore: Enneagram 3, The Achiever
Richard’s success in life is not an accident — like many Threes, his desire for success and significance are major drivers behind everything he does. After he is forced to retire from his company, Richard becomes listless and depressed. Eventually, he returns to work, starting his own multinational insurance company (which goes on to get bought out by the same company that let him go).
Richard shows love to others by helping them to become as successful as he is — from encouraging Luke to franchise his diner to paying for Rory to attend Chilton and Yale. He often (incorrectly) assumes that others share his Type Three need for attention and admiration, like when he donates a large sum of money to Yale so that they will name a building after Rory.
Jess Mariano, Enneagram 4, The Individualist
Jess is not afraid to go his own way, even if it means going against the grain. As an Enneagram Four, Jess has always felt somewhat different from his peers and family members, and he sees Rory as someone who finally understands him and shares interests he’s passionate about, like literature and music. Luke’s attempt to keep his nephew in school ultimately fails, and Jess drops out of school and ends up fleeing to California to live with his father.
Outside of Rory, others see Jess as aloof, rebellious and a bit self-centered. But he is determined to live his life on his own terms. Even though his authenticity can appear off-putting to other characters on the show, namely Rory’s ex-boyfriend Dean and Lorelai, Jess is a reminder that it is important to be true to yourself, even if it means being different.
April Nardini: Enneagram 5, The Investigator
Luke’s pre-teen daughter, April, shows up in season six on a mission: she’s trying to find out who her father is, and like a true “Investigator,” she successfully tracks Luke down. However, her motivation is less relational and more logical — she’s trying to win the school science fair.
As an Enneagram Five, April is curious, bright and constantly focused on learning and accumulating knowledge about the world around her. She frequently has her nose in a school textbook, and her hobbies include rock collecting and star gazing. April is more social than some Fives, as seen in her attempts to fit in with her peers and talk to boys. But she struggles and often feels insecure in those sorts of social situations.
Luke Danes: Enneagram 6, The Skeptic
There is possibly no character more loyal to the people he cares about than Luke Danes, Stars Hollow’s diner owner, and Lorelai’s will-they-won’t-they romantic interest. As an Enneagram Six, Luke is comfortable with his way of life and struggles with change. These traits are very opposite of Lorelai’s spontaneous, fun-loving attitude towards life and, throughout the series, we see how the two different personalities complement each other.
Luke brings stability into Lorelai’s life and is always there to give a helping hand. From showing up to fix things around her house to volunteering (sometimes begrudgingly) to help with community events and causes, Lorelai and the folks of Stars Hollow know they can count on Luke. Luke’s sense of loyalty and responsibility can also be seen in his relationship with his sister and her son, Jess, and in his relationship with his daughter, April. While his desire to help is admirable, he can sometimes overstep boundaries because of his need to fix every situation. And his struggle with change is ultimately what drives a wedge between him and a certain Enneagram Seven.
Lorelai Gilmore: Enneagram 7, The Enthusiast
Lorelai’s fun and upbeat nature make the protagonist a fan favorite. She’s always planning exciting new experiences, whether celebrating Rory’s 21st birthday in Atlantic City, putting on the ultimate sleepover experience for Luke’s daughter, April, or planning the perfect Stars Hollow experience for her guests at the Dragonfly Inn. As an Enneagram Seven, Lorelai is a pro at making every moment special, but she struggles to deal with sad or unpleasant emotions, which can sometimes get her into trouble.
Lorelai’s impulsive behavior is often seen in the context of her romantic relationships. When she’s upset over Rory dropping out of Yale, Lorelai spontaneously proposes to Luke, turning a sad day into a happy one. When Lorelai is feeling upset after a breakup with Luke, she immediately starts up a new relationship with Rory’s dad, Christopher, and is quickly able to repress any feelings she still has for Luke. She gets engaged and even married several times throughout the series and struggles in her relationships when things get tough.
Emily Gilmore: Enneagram 8, The Challenger
The Gilmore matriarch is strong, decisive and not afraid to speak her mind, but her biggest flaw is her need to control every detail of her life — and everyone else in it. From her wait staff (who she’s constantly firing) to her daughter’s and granddaughter’s love lives, Emily Gilmore knows precisely what must be done if only everyone else would listen to her for once!
Enneagram Eights are motivated by a desire to be independent and in control, and we see this motivation in Emily throughout the series. She has full reign over her household and struggles when anything gets in the way of her ability to do exactly what she wants, like when Richard retires and suddenly wants to spend all of their free time together, encroaching on her independence. While her antics in Lorelai and Rory’s lives cause a lot of friction in the relationships, ultimately, she believes she is protecting them from making mistakes.
Rory Gilmore: Enneagram 9, The Peacemaker
Rory is a complex character who shares traits of several Enneagram types. She can be self-critical like a One, ambitious like a Three and studious like a Five. But ultimately, Rory seems to be most motivated by her desire to maintain peace and avoid conflict, like the Enneagram Nine. Rory’s struggle to deal with conflict and unpleasant emotions can be seen in numerous examples throughout the series.
When she is told she’ll never make it as a journalist, her lifelong dream, she drops out of Yale, leading to a months-long silent feud with Lorelai. She knows her mom is unhappy with her choice, and rather than confront or try to reason with her, she avoids speaking with her until she decides to return to school. She often plays the role of peacekeeper between her mom and her grandparents, attempting to understand where both sides are coming from. In typical Nine fashion, she keeps her frustration repressed until she can’t any longer, which usually leads to out-of-character spontaneous decisions (like stealing a yacht).
What Enneagram type are you? Take our free Enneagram test.
