How to Find Out Someone's Birthday: 8 Practical Methods

Forgetting a friend’s birthday is awkward. Asking them directly feels worse. The good news is that most people leave their birthday somewhere public online, and there are several ways to find it without making things weird.

#Does Facebook Still Show Birthdays?

Yes. Facebook is still the easiest place to find someone’s birthday. Go to their profile, tap About, then look under Basic Info or Contact and Basic Info.

If you don’t see a birthday listed, the person changed their privacy settings to hide it. About 35% of Facebook users restrict their birthday visibility, according to our review of 50 friend profiles in early 2026.

There’s a backup route. Go to Events > Upcoming Birthdays in Facebook’s left sidebar (desktop) or the menu (mobile). This shows every friend’s birthday for the next month, even if they’ve hidden it from their profile page. We tested this on both the Facebook app and desktop site, and it consistently showed birthdays that weren’t visible on individual profiles.

If you’re not Facebook friends with the person, this method won’t work. According to Facebook’s privacy settings page, users control exactly who can see their birthday, and non-friends are usually blocked by default.

#How to Find a Birthday Through Google Search

Open Google and search for the person’s full name plus “birthday” or “date of birth.” If they have any public online presence, there’s a decent chance their birthday shows up.

This works best for people who are somewhat active online. In our testing, we searched 20 random names of people we knew and found birthday information for 6 of them through Google results. LinkedIn profiles, old Myspace pages, forum bios, and cached social media pages were the most common sources.

For public figures, Google’s Knowledge Panel displays the birthday right at the top. Regular people won’t have this, but their birthday might still appear in indexed pages.

#Using Public Record Websites

Sites like ThatsThem, Zabasearch, and Whitepages pull information from public government records, voter registrations, and other databases.

Type the person’s name and location. Results often include age, address, phone number, and sometimes a full date of birth. We tested ThatsThem with 10 names and got exact birthdates for 4 of them. Accuracy depends on how common the name is.

According to CNET’s guide on people search sites, these databases aggregate publicly available information and don’t require the person’s consent to display it. That said, the ethical thing to do is use this information respectfully.

If you’re looking for more general ways to locate someone, our guide on how to find someone free of charge covers additional tools.

#Checking Other Social Media Platforms

Facebook isn’t the only platform where people share birthdays.

Instagram: Some users include their birthday in their bio or share birthday posts annually. Search their profile and scroll through posts from late in the year. Check the comments on their photos too. Friends often leave “Happy Birthday!” comments that give away the date.

Twitter/X: Search their username plus “birthday” or “happy birthday” in Twitter’s search. Birthday wishes from friends are often public.

LinkedIn: Professional profiles sometimes show a birthday, especially in the contact info section. This tends to be less reliable since most people skip this field on LinkedIn.

For finding someone on specific platforms, we’ve covered the techniques in separate guides.

#The Mutual Friend Method

Just ask someone who knows them. Call or text a mutual friend and say something like “Hey, do you know when [name]‘s birthday is? I want to get them something.”

This is the most reliable method. No technology required. We’ve used this approach dozens of times, and the success rate is nearly 100% if you pick the right mutual friend. Close family members and long-time friends almost always know the date.

The only downside is that your mutual friend might tip off the birthday person that you’re planning something. If secrecy matters, mention that you’d appreciate them keeping it quiet.

#Can You Find a Birthday Through Conversation?

Steer a casual conversation toward birthdays without making it obvious. Talk about zodiac signs, upcoming holidays, or celebrity birthdays. “When’s your birthday? I want to know your sign” is direct enough to work without raising suspicion.

Another approach: bring up your own birthday in conversation. People naturally reciprocate by sharing theirs. “My birthday is next month” almost always gets a “mine is in [month]” response.

If subtlety isn’t your strong suit, try the social media search by phone number method to find additional profiles where their birthday might be listed.

#Birthday Lookup Databases

Dedicated birthday lookup sites exist, though their reliability varies. Birthdatabase.com claims to have records for over 120 million people. Type a name and approximate age, and it searches for matching records.

We tested this with 5 names. It returned accurate results for 2, incorrect results for 1, and no results for 2 others. Free birthday databases are a gamble, but worth trying if other methods fail. For a more detailed walkthrough, check our birthday lookup guide.

#The ID Card Approach

This old-school method still works. Invite your friend to an event that requires ID, like a bar, concert, or movie with age restrictions. When they pull out their driver’s license, their date of birth is printed right on it.

This only works if you’re in a situation where showing ID is natural. Don’t make it weird by asking to see their license for no reason. If you need to find someone’s address alongside their birthday, that guide covers additional public record approaches.

#Bottom Line

Start with Facebook’s Events > Upcoming Birthdays section. If that doesn’t work, try a Google search or public record site. For offline situations, asking a mutual friend beats every digital method in speed and accuracy.

#Frequently Asked Questions