A fun, traditional Chinese calendar–style gender predictor based on mom’s lunar age and month of conception.
The Chinese Baby Gender Prediction Calendar, also known as the Chinese Gender Chart or Chinese Birth Chart, is an ancient folklore method that claims to predict whether you'll have a boy or girl based on the mother's lunar age at conception and the lunar month when conception occurred.
Legend says this chart was discovered in a royal tomb near Beijing over 700 years ago and was used by the Chinese imperial family. While its exact origins are debated, the chart has been passed down through generations and remains one of the most popular gender prediction methods used for entertainment today.
This Chinese gender predictor is for entertainment purposes only. Scientific studies consistently show its accuracy is approximately 50%—no better than flipping a coin. The only reliable ways to determine your baby's sex are medical methods like ultrasound (typically after 18-20 weeks), blood tests (NIPT), or amniocentesis.
The traditional Chinese gender prediction method uses a chart with two key inputs:
In Chinese tradition, a baby is considered one year old at birth, and everyone ages one year at Chinese New Year rather than on their individual birthday. This means your "lunar age" is typically 1-2 years older than your Western age. Our calculator uses a simplified approximation: conception year minus birth year plus one.
The Chinese lunar calendar doesn't align exactly with the Gregorian calendar. Each lunar month begins with a new moon and is about 29-30 days long. The lunar new year falls between January 21 and February 20. For simplicity, our calculator uses the Gregorian month you provide.
Once you know the mother's lunar age and lunar month of conception, you find where they intersect on the chart. Each cell is marked either "Boy" or "Girl," giving you the prediction. The chart covers maternal ages from 18 to 45 and all 12 months.
The Chinese baby gender calendar is a beloved cultural tradition that has entertained expecting parents for centuries. While it has no scientific basis, many families enjoy:
Multiple scientific studies have tested the Chinese gender calendar's accuracy:
The perceived "accuracy" people report is likely due to confirmation bias (remembering hits, forgetting misses) and the fact that with only two outcomes, you have a 50% chance of being "right" by pure luck.
The Chinese calendar is just one of many entertaining folklore methods people use:
Dangle a ring on a string over the pregnant belly. If it swings in a circle, it's said to be a girl; back and forth means a boy.
Some believe fetal heart rate above 140 bpm indicates a girl, below 140 indicates a boy. Medical research has found no correlation.
Craving sweets supposedly means a girl; craving salty/sour foods means a boy. There's no scientific basis for this.
More severe morning sickness is sometimes thought to indicate a girl. Some studies show a slight correlation, but it's not reliable enough for prediction.
Carrying "high" supposedly means a girl; carrying "low" means a boy. In reality, belly shape depends on muscle tone, body type, and baby's position.
If you want to know your baby's sex with certainty, these are the only reliable methods:
A standard anatomy scan can reveal sex with 95-99% accuracy when the baby is positioned well. Earlier ultrasounds (12-14 weeks) can sometimes determine sex but are less reliable.
Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing analyzes fetal DNA in the mother's blood. It's highly accurate (99%+) and is primarily used to screen for genetic conditions, with sex determination as a bonus.
These diagnostic procedures are 100% accurate for sex determination but are invasive and typically only performed when there's a medical reason.
No. Large scientific studies find its accuracy is about 50%—the same as random guessing. It's best viewed as a cultural tradition or entertaining game, not a reliable predictor. The only accurate methods are medical tests like ultrasound or NIPT blood tests.
Absolutely not. Only medical methods (ultrasound, blood tests, amniocentesis) can reliably determine your baby's sex. Always follow your healthcare provider's recommendations for prenatal care and testing.
Traditional lunar age adds 1 year at birth (so you're "1" when born) and everyone ages at Chinese New Year. A simplified method is: conception year minus your birth year plus 1. For example, if you were born in 1990 and conceived in 2024, your lunar age would be 35.
You can estimate by counting back about 2 weeks from your last missed period, or use the date your doctor estimated. Since this is just for fun, an approximation is fine. Your healthcare provider can give you a more precise conception window.
This is likely due to confirmation bias—people tend to remember when the prediction was correct and forget when it was wrong. With only two possible outcomes, you have a 50% chance of being "right" by pure luck, which feels meaningful when it happens to you.
They're different systems, though both involve lunar calculations. The Chinese gender calendar is specifically for predicting baby's sex. Chinese astrology involves the zodiac (12 animals, 5 elements) and is used for personality predictions and compatibility readings.
Some people try to use the chart to "plan" for a specific sex by timing conception. There's no scientific evidence this works—baby's sex is determined by the sperm chromosome, not timing. Sex selection for non-medical reasons also raises ethical concerns.
NIPT blood tests can accurately determine sex as early as 10 weeks. Ultrasound can typically determine sex between 18-20 weeks with high accuracy, though some technicians can tell as early as 14-16 weeks. Ask your healthcare provider about your options.