What Day Is July 31? J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter's Birthday
July 31 is the 212th and last day of July. J.K. Rowling was born in 1965; she gave Harry Potter the same birthday. Saint Ignatius of Loyola's feast is also July 31.
About July 31
July 31 is the 212th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (213th in leap years) and the last day of July. There are 153 days remaining until the end of the year. On this date, a real birthday and a fictional one coincide.
The Significance of July 31
J.K. Rowling was born on July 31, 1965, in Yate, Gloucestershire. She studied French and Classics at the University of Exeter, worked as a researcher and bilingual secretary, and began drafting Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone on a delayed train from Manchester to London in 1990. After twelve rejections from publishers, Bloomsbury accepted it in 1996 and published it in 1997. She gave Harry Potter the same birthday as herself. The full seven-book series has sold over 500 million copies in more than 85 languages and spawned eight films, a stage play, and a theme park franchise.
July 31 is also the feast of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, the Basque soldier who founded the Society of Jesus — the Jesuits — in 1534. He died in Rome on July 31, 1556, having built an order that put equal emphasis on rigorous scholarship and missionary work. Today Jesuit universities, schools, and hospitals operate in more than 100 countries.
Get this day by email
We'll remind you of July 31 every year.
On This Day in History
- 1556Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), died in Rome. He had founded the order in 1534; today Jesuit institutions operate in over 100 countries.
- 1965J.K. Rowling was born in Yate, England. She went on to write the Harry Potter series — seven novels that have sold over 500 million copies in more than 80 languages.
Baby Names for This Day
July 31 falls under Leo and is the last day of July. Names from Rowling's universe and the Jesuit tradition:
- JoanneGirl
J.K. Rowling's given name — born July 31, 1965.
- HarryBoy
Harry Potter, born July 31 in the novels — Rowling deliberately matched her own birthday.
- HermioneGirl
Rowling revived this Greek mythological name; it is now one of the most recognized in the world.
- LunaGirl
Luna Lovegood — one of the most beloved characters in the series, and a name that suits Leo's night sky.
- IgnatiusBoy
Saint Ignatius of Loyola — feast day July 31; founder of the Jesuits.
- AlbusBoy
Albus Dumbledore — Latin for 'white'; the headmaster who gave Harry a place to belong.
Frequently Asked Questions
What day is July 31?add
July 31 is J.K. Rowling's birthday (1965) and, by her own design, Harry Potter's birthday in the novels. It is also the feast of Saint Ignatius of Loyola.
What number day of the year is July 31?add
July 31 is the 212th day of the year, or the 213th in leap years, with 153 days remaining. It is the last day of July.
What sign is July 31?add
July 31 falls under the sign of Leo.