In J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, Harry Potter’s birthday is 31 July.
Harry’s birth date is stated in the books and is also notable because it matches J.K. Rowling’s own birthday. Harry was born in 1980, according to the series chronology, while Rowling was born on 31 July 1965.
The date helps place Harry’s age at the start of each school year. Hogwarts begins on 1 September, so Harry is typically nearly a year older than classmates whose birthdays fall later in the school year. His birthday is also used as a recurring story occasion, including the opening of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
Readers sometimes confuse Harry’s birthday with other major dates in the series, such as 1 September, the Hogwarts school opening, or 31 October, the date associated with his parents’ deaths.