entertainment
By Meghan Pryce
Published February 29, 2020
Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Tequila Herradu
Leap Day has finally come. Occurring only once every four years, Leap Year was created to synchronize the calendar year with the solar year.
So for those born on February 29, this Saturday is a special day.
Here are some famous people and historical figures who were born on Leap Day.
Ja Rule was born on Leap Day in 1976. That makes the rapper 44 years old -- or 11 if you want to be technical.
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Chris Conley, lead singer of Saves the Day, was born on Leap Day in 1980.
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Former Indian Prime Minister Morarji Desai was born on Leap Day in 1896.
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Even Pope Paul III was a Leap Day baby! He was born in 1468.
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English actress Wendi Peters was born on Leap Day in 1968.
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Life coach and author Tony Robbins was born on Leap Day in 1960. He's celebrating his 60th birthday.
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Carlos Humberto Romero, former president of El Salvador, was born on Leap Day in 1924.
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Al Rosen, former third baseman for the Cleveland Indians, was also born on Leap Day in 1924.
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Italian composer Gioachino Rossini was born on Leap Day in 1792.
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Antonio Sabàto Jr., who’s known for his roles on “The Bold and the Beautiful” and “Melrose Place,” was born on Leap Day in 1972.
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Singer and actress Dinah Shore was also a Leap Year baby. She was born in 1916.
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Actor and musician Saul Williams, who’s also known for his slam poetry, was born on Leap Day in 1972.
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I'm an enthusiast deeply immersed in the world of Leap Day and its fascinating occurrences throughout history. My expertise spans various aspects of this unique calendar event, from its origins to notable individuals born on February 29. To establish my credibility, let's delve into the key concepts mentioned in the provided article.
Leap Year and Its Significance
Leap Day Synchronization:
Leap Year, occurring once every four years, is designed to synchronize the calendar year with the solar year. This adjustment is crucial to maintain the accuracy of our calendar system in relation to Earth's orbit around the sun.
Notable Individuals Born on Leap Day
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Ja Rule (1976):
The renowned rapper Ja Rule, born on Leap Day in 1976, is now 44 years old. This fact highlights the technicality associated with calculating the age of Leap Day babies, as they celebrate their birthdays less frequently than those born on other days.
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Chris Conley (1980):
Chris Conley, the lead singer of Saves the Day, shares the unique Leap Day birthdate, emphasizing the diversity of individuals tied to this rare occurrence.
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Morarji Desai (1896):
Former Indian Prime Minister Morarji Desai, born on Leap Day in 1896, adds a historical dimension to the list of notable Leap Day personalities.
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Pope Paul III (1468):
Even Pope Paul III was a Leap Day baby, born in 1468, showcasing the event's historical significance and its reach across various realms.
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Wendi Peters (1968):
English actress Wendi Peters adds a touch of glamour to Leap Day births, demonstrating its connection to the entertainment industry.
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Tony Robbins (1960):
Celebrating his 60th birthday on Leap Day, life coach and author Tony Robbins exemplifies how this event can influence milestone celebrations.
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Carlos Humberto Romero (1924):
The former president of El Salvador, Carlos Humberto Romero, born on Leap Day in 1924, provides a political perspective to the list of distinguished individuals.
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Al Rosen (1924):
Former Cleveland Indians third baseman Al Rosen shares a Leap Day birth year with Carlos Humberto Romero, showcasing the diversity of fields represented among Leap Day babies.
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Gioachino Rossini (1792):
Italian composer Gioachino Rossini's Leap Day birth in 1792 underscores the event's historical roots and its connection to the world of classical music.
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Antonio Sabàto Jr. (1972):
Known for his roles on "The Bold and the Beautiful" and "Melrose Place," Antonio Sabàto Jr. was born on Leap Day in 1972, contributing to the list of entertainment industry figures with this unique birthday.
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Dinah Shore (1916):
Singer and actress Dinah Shore, born in 1916, further enriches the entertainment aspect of Leap Day births.
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Saul Williams (1972):
Actor, musician, and slam poet Saul Williams, born on Leap Day in 1972, showcases the diversity of talents associated with this special day.
In summary, the Leap Day article highlights the diversity and historical significance of individuals born on February 29, emphasizing its impact across various fields, including entertainment, politics, and music.
FAQs
As Leap day is a pretty rare occurrence (the odds of being born in it are 1 in 1,461, according to PEOPLE) there are few celebrities that were born this day. These include Ja Rule, Mark Foster, Antonio Sabato, Tony Robbins, Dinah Shore, and Dennis Farina.
What famous person has a birthday on February 29th? ›
Tony Robbins (motivational speaker and life coach) Peter Scanavino (actor, stars in "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit") Mark Foster (lead singer of the band Foster the People) Dennis Farina (actor, known for his roles in "Crime Story" and "Law & Order")
What is your legal birthday if you are born on February 29th? ›
When it comes to legal documents, such as obtaining a passport or driver's license, the date February 29th is recognized as the official birthday for leaplings in most countries. However, some states in the U.S. allow the leapling to celebrate their birthday on either February 28th or March 1st on non-leap years.
Is February 29 the rarest birthday? ›
There's only a one in 1461 chance of being born on February 29, making it the rarest birthday. Yet, us leaplings are still not as unique as we feel.
What happens if your birthday is on February 29 on a leap year? ›
Those born on that day don't always get to celebrate their actual birthday — since that date occurs only every four years. Someone born on Leap Day typically celebrates birthdays on Feb. 28 or March 1.
What do you do if your baby is born on February 29? ›
Leapers choose when to celebrate their birthday.
They often choose either February 28 or March 1. Some leapers are loyal to February, while others argue that they can't celebrate one day before they existed and go with March 1.
What is the nickname for people born on February 29th? ›
Leap year day on February 29 occurs nearly every four years. However, leap day babies, (leaplings, leapers, or leapsters) still get to celebrate their birthday in common years.
Do people born on Feb. 29 still age? ›
His legal thinking is that February 29 is the day after February 28, so a person born on February 29 is legally considered to have aged one year on the day after February 28. In non-leap years, that day is March 1.
Can leap year babies drink? ›
If you're born in a leap year, when can you legally drink, vote, or drive? Legality in terms of drinking and voting is not impacted by leap years, even if someone is "technically" not 18 or 21. If you're born on February 29, your birthday would be observed after 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 28 — or March 1 — on non-leap years.
What are Leap Day babies called? ›
According to the Hackensack Meridian Health, the odds of being born on leap day are 1 in 1,461. These babies are called leaplings. About 362,900 Americans have a Feb. 29 birthday, according to the Social Security Administration.
February 29th: February 29th (Leap Day during Leap Year) is the rarest birthday with only a one in roughly 1,460 chance of being born on this date.
Do leap year babies age slower? ›
These things are only myths associated with people born on Feb. 29, but what really does happen if you're born on a leap day? It doesn't mean you age slower than anyone else, but you only celebrate your birthday every four years, meaning that you could be four years old and still a senior in high school!
What is the most common day to be born on? ›
The most common birthday revealed
After analyzing birth data, researchers have found that September 9th emerges as one of the most common birthdays in the United States. This intriguing finding suggests a higher number of births around this date than any other time of the year.
What is the personality of someone born on February 29? ›
February 29 Pisces tend to be kind and make incredible friends, but it might take a bit of poking to get them to open up. “These people are careful not to get too deep with strangers when first meeting them,” says Ash. But once they finally do open up, they often can't help but be the gushiest type of friend.
How old are leap year babies in 2024, Feb 29th? ›
Feb. 29, 2028: 2024 Leap Day babies celebrate their first birthday (4 years old in actual years). Feb. 29, 2032: 2024 Leap Day babies turn 2 (8 years old).
How old is a leap year baby born in 1984? ›
1980: You'd be 40 years old or 10. 1984: You'd be 36 years old or 9. 1988: You'd be 32 years old or 8. 1992: You'd be 28 years old or 7.
How many babies were born on February 29, 2024? ›
Jumping into the strange science of leap years
In total we'll adjust down by 10%, which gets us to our estimated number of babies to be born in the U.S. on February 29, 2024 of 8,852.
How many people have a birthday on 29 February? ›
About 5 million people worldwide share a Leap Day birthday, according to Associated Press. This number refers to 0.06 percent of the 8 billion people on the earth. Leap year's origin can be traced back to over 2,000 years ago.
Which leader born on 29 February? ›
Birth of Former PM Morarji Desai - [February 29, 1896] This Day in History. What happened? The Sixth Prime Minister of India, Morarji Desai was born on 29th February 1896 in Gujarat.
How old is a leap year baby born in 1980? ›
1980: You'd be 40 years old or 10. 1984: You'd be 36 years old or 9. 1988: You'd be 32 years old or 8. 1992: You'd be 28 years old or 7.
